Just doing it for the kicks

SOME big guys scoffed at the chance to play in Atlanta. No financial rewards, just the honour and the glory. Andre Agassi didn't run away. Mr Nike himself entered the Olympic dream and apart from some words leaving his lips which would make even a blue comedian blush, he has rescued tennis from the mockers.

Stone Mountain ain't no Roland Garros or Wimbledon. But Agassi has stomped on the dreams of his opponents like a giant walking on ants, transforming the coliseum in to a mecca for American tennis fans. He is living out his own Olympic dream, with no pay day at the end.

An Olympic pedigree flows through Agassi's veins. His father, Mike, is a former Iranian Olympic boxer and, by a strange twist, his vanquished semi final opponent yesterday, Leander Paes, was even more steeped in the tradition. Paes's dad played hockey for India in the Munich Games, in 1972, while his mother was a member of the basketball team.

It was a strange kind of day in Stone Mountain yesterday. The rains came, a Ia Wimbledon, to delay play for over 90 minutes. Then, Agassi went on court in the second semi final after Sergi Brugera clinched his final place with a straight sets win over Brazil's Fernando Meligeni to face a player who tried, and more often than not succeeded, to play drop shots from the back of the court.

"Very strange," drawled Agassi afterwards. "He must have played something like 25 drop shots, two of them off my serve for Gawd's sake. I stopped trying to guess what he would do next. But just because he has a strange game doesn't mean he is not good. It was tough."

Agassi eventually won 7-6, 6-3 in a tighter affair than he could have envisaged given that he is ranked seventh in the world compared to Paes's 127th position in the computer listings. And also given the fact that Agassi has accumulated almost $12 million in career prize money (and three Grand Slam titles Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open) in contrast to Paes's meagre, by comparison, career earnings of $380,000 and not a single title.

The American's cursing on court the other day almost got him thrown out. He was on his best behaviour yesterday, merely questioning any dubious call with a cold stare rather than attempting to add to the umpire's vocabulary. At the end, Mr Nike stood centre court and blew kisses to one and all. Doing the nice guy routine.

No doubt Nike will be well pleased with Mr Agassi if he captures the gold. The difference in approach was plain to see yesterday. Paes displayed some innocence, wearing the Olympic rings close to his heart Agassi had the "swoosh" imprinted on his sweat soaked shirt.

Still, he is very much on target to accomplish his mission and push up the United States's gold standard. There is just the matter of a certain Sergi Brugera to overcome now.

"It would be unbelievable to win an Olympic gold medal. It would mean as much, at this stage of my career, as any Grand Slam victory. Honestly. It would a great accomplishment," he said.

Some poor English reporter asked would silver be a major disappointment. Agassi's tongue slipped, briefly. "If you think silver is a disappointment, you're an asshole," he muttered. "I've poured my heart and soul into this and whatever medal I get will be a beautiful reward. Gold would be the greater, but silver is a wonderful thing."

The quest for gold is an addiction, whether it be in the swimming pool, on the athletics track or on the tennis court. Agassi is within touching distance, but if he is pleasantly surprised to have rediscovered his form at just the right time for Atlanta, his final opponent, Brugera, must be ecstatic.

The Spaniard a two time French Open champion is not a noted hard court player. He has also suffered his share of injuries. Back problems. Neck problems. Wrist problems. Name the injury, Brugera has probably had it at some stage.

Not only has he overcome injuries, however, but he has also mastered a dislike for hard court surfaces. When Brugera won his first title on a non clay surface at Bordeaux in 1993, he was presented with a crate of wine. There are no such enticements on offer in Atlanta. No money, either. Just the lure of a gold medal.

Brugera, who bombarded Meligeni, a former world junior number one, with his 115 miles per hour serves to win 7-6, 6-2, knows he is the underdog. "I've had some tough times lately, with injuries, and haven't won many matches this season. I know Andre will be a very tough player to beat. When he is on form, he is the best in the world. Especially on this type of court. It will be a very difficult match for me.

"It is funny the way things work out, though. I wanted badly to win in Barcelona four years ago. I was playing well and could not win. Here, I entered the tournament playing badly and am in the final. Anything can happen," said Brugera.

Indeed, it can. Especially with Mr Andre Agassi on court. He is just the man to silence the tennis knockers.