German tennis great Steffi Graf believes her husband Andre Agassi is fit enough to win the French Open, and that age will not count against him when the tournament starts on Monday. Graf wrote an article in a German newspaper that the 32-year-old American's intensive weight training was one of the secrets of his success.
"It's impressive for me to see how his training method has enabled him not only to maintain his fitness but even heighten it in recent years", said Graf. The former tennis legend, who has retired, said Agassi's withdrawal from tennis for two years might have helped him to keep up his motivation and work on his fitness ever harder.
"People keep saying older players lose motivation because they get other goals in their life. Family, they're own children. I say that a family that stands behind you can give you new motivation and new goals. Age in no way rules out success", said Graf. While Graf said she did not expect Pete Sampras to win the French Open, she added, "Whoever wants to win in Paris must be absolutely fit but for me it's not a question of age.
Filed by James Shortt
