Agassi Says To Put Your Bets On Him
Andre Agassi calls himself “a betting man,” not so surprising for a fellow from Las Vegas, and he tipped bettors at the Australian Open to put their money on him.
“What am I, 5-2?,” Agassi said today after breezing to the fourth round without losing a set so far. “I don’t like those odds as much as at the U.S. Open. At the U.S. Open it was, like, 20-1, but it’s worth a few bucks, I think.”
Asked whether he’ll put his own money down on himself at the legal betting booth outside the stadium, he said, “No, I don’t do that. I’ve got enough on the line as it is.”
It was a strange day at the year’s first Grand Slam. First came a light rain, then a wild wind, then a nasty chill, and by the time Agassi finished winning his third no-sweat match, the sun shone again.
The capricious weather played tricks with balls as three seeded players lost, former two-time champion Stefan Edberg struggled again before winning, and Patrick McEnroe kept going with his eighth straight victory.
Eight Americans reached the men’s round of 16 - the most at the Australian since 1982 - and none will play the other. Heading the list are No. 1 Pete Sampras and No. 2 Agassi, who beat Canadian Greg Rusedski 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.
“You never know how the weather is going to be here. It can change four times in a day,” said women’s No. 1 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, who beat Zina Garrison Jackson 6-1, 6-3. “It can be very hot, it can be very windy, it can rain, and after that it can come back and be sunshine again. When it’s really hot, it probably is the hottest Grand Slam you can play in. But also you have to be ready because it can be an indoor tournament.”
The roof stayed open all day despite the morning drizzle.
Naoko Sawamatsu, whose family home in Japan was destroyed in the earthquake a few days ago, reached the round of 16 by upsetting compatriot and No. 7 seed Kimiko Date 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Also out is No. 15 Lori McNeil, beaten 2-6, 6-3, 8-6 by Angelica Gavaldon of Mexico.
No. 3 Jana Novotna beat former NCAA champion Lisa Raymond 6-1, 3-6, 9-7.
Edberg, No. 6, beat Hendrik Dreekmann of Germany 7-6 (10-8), 6-2, 6-3 to reach the fourth round along with McEnroe, who beat David Prinosil of Germany 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Aaron Krickstein also advanced, beating Petr Korda 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1), and Jacco Eltingh knocked off No. 14 Thomas Muster 6-3, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
Sampras’ coach, Tim Gullikson, was resting comfortably in a hospital after becoming dizzy and weak following a pre-match workout with Sampras on Friday. Gullikson, 43, underwent brain and heart exams and was expected to remain hospitalized for at least two days for further testing.