Andre Agassi had cheeky message for wife Steffi Graf after matching her Miami Open record
After winning the Miami Open in 2002, Andre Agassi ensured his competitive nature was still displayed off the court. Agassi missed the Australian Open at the beginning of the year through injury, but was fit enough to appear at Key Biscayne, Florida. Agassi met Federer in the Miami Open final in 2002Getty He beat the Swiss star to seal his fifth title at Key BiscayneGetty He returned as the reigning champion to beat Greg Rusedski, Agustin Calleri, Thomas Johansson, Nicolas Lapentti and Marcelo Rios. Awaiting him in the tournament decider was Roger Federer, the up and coming talent making his first ever appearance in a Masters final. Agassi had already won seven of eight Grand Slam titles by then and his experience showed in a 6-3 6-3 3-6 6-4 victory. It was the fifth Miami Open crown of his career and saw him match the tally of his wife and fellow tennis royalty Steffi Graf. The pair first met at Wimbledon after their men’s and women’s wins in 1992 before marrying at their Las Vegas home nine years later. Graf retired in 1999 following a glittering career in which she won 22 singles Grand Slams and tasted Miami Open victory on five occasions. So when Agassi beat Federer he drew level with his wife on titles in Florida, but he was also quick to focus on surpassing her success. “You know, the way things are going, I have a shot at passing her,” he said during his press conference. “Because I know she’s not [laughs]… She’s not gonna win another one. So… You know, I’m moving up in the household.” Agassi was also asked about whether or not he and Graf shared a fun rivalry away from the tennis court, insisting she remains humble. Agassi’s wife Graf had her own fair share of Miami Open successGetty She also won the title five times to kickstart a series of triumphs in the familyAFP “I suppose in my own mind there is, you know?” he said. “I think we take separate approaches towards it. “She certainly wants the best for me and she doesn’t really think much about any of her stats over the years. “I kind of know more about them than she does. But, yeah, I know mine pretty well. I’m relatively quick to remind her of it. “But I don’t get very far, you know. She takes it with a lot of humility.” It didn’t take long for Agassi to outdo Graf at the Miami Open as he won the tournament for a sixth and final time in 2003. This time round he beat Carlos Moya 6-3 6-3 in the final to complete his hat-trick and claim the most men’s singles titles. Agassi won yet again a year later to overtake his wife and make tournament historyGetty He joked that beating Graf’s tally was the biggest takeaway from his victoryGetty During his post-win interview, he said with a cheeky grin: “That’s the best accomplishment of it all, beating my wife at something. “I can’t do anything better than her but I found a way to get through today, which was huge, huge for me.” Agassi has since seen Novak Djokovic equal his record tally of six wins at the Miami Open, with the Serbian’s last triumph coming in 2016. He could therefore top the charts himself this year, doing so off the back of a disappointing outing at Indian Wells. Djokovic is the fourth seed and received a bye into the second round to face either Rinky Hijikata or fellow Serb Hamad Medjedovic.
After winning the Miami Open in 2002, Andre Agassi ensured his competitive nature was still displayed off the court.
Agassi missed the Australian Open at the beginning of the year through injury, but was fit enough to appear at Key Biscayne, Florida.
He returned as the reigning champion to beat Greg Rusedski, Agustin Calleri, Thomas Johansson, Nicolas Lapentti and Marcelo Rios.
Awaiting him in the tournament decider was Roger Federer, the up and coming talent making his first ever appearance in a Masters final.
Agassi had already won seven of eight Grand Slam titles by then and his experience showed in a 6-3 6-3 3-6 6-4 victory.
It was the fifth Miami Open crown of his career and saw him match the tally of his wife and fellow tennis royalty Steffi Graf.
The pair first met at Wimbledon after their men’s and women’s wins in 1992 before marrying at their Las Vegas home nine years later.
Graf retired in 1999 following a glittering career in which she won 22 singles Grand Slams and tasted Miami Open victory on five occasions.
So when Agassi beat Federer he drew level with his wife on titles in Florida, but he was also quick to focus on surpassing her success.
“You know, the way things are going, I have a shot at passing her,” he said during his press conference.
“Because I know she’s not [laughs]… She’s not gonna win another one. So… You know, I’m moving up in the household.”
Agassi was also asked about whether or not he and Graf shared a fun rivalry away from the tennis court, insisting she remains humble.
“I suppose in my own mind there is, you know?” he said. “I think we take separate approaches towards it.
“She certainly wants the best for me and she doesn’t really think much about any of her stats over the years.
“I kind of know more about them than she does. But, yeah, I know mine pretty well. I’m relatively quick to remind her of it.
“But I don’t get very far, you know. She takes it with a lot of humility.”
It didn’t take long for Agassi to outdo Graf at the Miami Open as he won the tournament for a sixth and final time in 2003.
This time round he beat Carlos Moya 6-3 6-3 in the final to complete his hat-trick and claim the most men’s singles titles.
During his post-win interview, he said with a cheeky grin: “That’s the best accomplishment of it all, beating my wife at something.
“I can’t do anything better than her but I found a way to get through today, which was huge, huge for me.”
Agassi has since seen Novak Djokovic equal his record tally of six wins at the Miami Open, with the Serbian’s last triumph coming in 2016.
He could therefore top the charts himself this year, doing so off the back of a disappointing outing at Indian Wells.
Djokovic is the fourth seed and received a bye into the second round to face either Rinky Hijikata or fellow Serb Hamad Medjedovic.
