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'Agassi's long service record won't be broken'
Andre Agassi is setting a new record of 58 Grand Slams played at the French Open this year and it's a mark that most agree will never be broken.
Andre Agassi is setting a new record of 58 Grand Slams played at the French Open this year and it's a mark that most agree will never be broken.
Former French Open champion Carlos Moya believes such a landmark is safe with modern day tennis young guns Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova facing short, sharp careers as the gruelling demands of the tour take their toll.
The 35-year-old Agassi has been on the tour since 1986, but Moya, a comparatively youthful 28, is convinced that record will never be broken.
"When we talk about Andre, we are talking about a great champion," said Moya, the champion here in 1998.
"He's amazing, he's one of the favourites. I admire him and I think he's great for tennis.
"But besides Andre, you don't see too many players over 30 now. That's a sign. It's really hard to be playing at such a high level every week."
Agassi, bidding to become the oldest men's French Open champion, has now gone past the 57 Grand Slam mark shared by himself, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Michael Chang and Wayne Ferreira.
"If you compare the situation 10 years ago compared to now, there were more older players then," added Moya.
"It's increasingly difficult to travel all the time, change the type of court you are playing on, to play increasingly difficult matches."
Agassi's achievements, which have included eight career Grand Slam titles, were also praised by women's top seed Lindsay Davenport.
"Andre's on a level of his own. It's insane what he's been able to accomplish at his age," she said.
"Men's tennis is ridiculous, three out of five sets is just crazy. He's pretty much a physical specimen. I don't know what he puts his body through but it seems like a lot."
Meanwhile, Moya, aclose friend of 18-year-old Nadal with both men sharing the same home island of Mallorca, believes that his compatriot can handle the pressure of coming into his first Roland Garros as title favourite.
"I think he's holding up well," said Moya.
"He's one of the best two players of his generation and has been since he was very young. He is used to winning but the fact that he is coming here for the first time has put extra pressure on him.
"But I think he's managing to turn it into motivation."
