Andre Agassi's Return to the Top at 33 Years Old - April 28, 2003

Andre Agassi, an American tennis player of Iranian descent, became the oldest player to hold the world number one ranking by defeating Austrian player Jurgen Melzer in the semifinals of the U.S. Championships on clay courts in Houston, Texas. Agassi's victory last Saturday boosted his points enough to surpass Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt and reclaim the number one position he had lost to Pete Sampras on September 10, 2000. Agassi, who turns 33 on Tuesday, April 29, expressed after regaining the top spot: "It's a strange feeling, I think I had forgotten what this feeling is like. There was a lot of nervous energy here tonight." By regaining this title, Agassi replaced Jimmy Connors as the oldest world number one in tennis; Connors held the title at 30 years and 10 months in 1983. Agassi also became one of five players to reach this ranking after the age of 30. Agassi added: "I don't think words can describe how I feel. Achieving this ranking is the result of very hard training and even harder decisions, the result of many victories in various fields and against different opponents." According to Agassi, to be number one, many things must be done correctly. The last thing you want to do is to "change" the right approach you have. Losing your mental focus on the details is not the path to success. Agassi also celebrated his record on Sunday, April 27, as the oldest player to hold the world number one ranking by defeating Andy Roddick in the final of the same tournament and winning the championship.