Agassi joins elite

Andre Agassi has joined an exclusive band of players after winning the 800th match of his glittering career.

11:33 14 July 2004

Andre Agassi has joined an exclusive band of players after winning the 800th match of his glittering career.

The former world number one claimed victory in the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Cup last night, beating fellow American Alex Bogomolov Jr 6-3 6-1 in Los Angeles.

That was 34-year-old Agassi's first win since March, after injury and poor form kept him stuck on 799 victories.

But he has now joined a famous list that also contains Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Guillermo Vilas, John McEnroe and Stefan Edberg and found his form ahead of possibly his last Grand Slam.

Rumours are rife that the US Open, which begins on August 30th, will be Agassi's swansong before announcing his retirement, although he has refused to confirm he has quitting in mind.

But for now, one of the most popular men in tennis is just content to have secured his place in the history of his sport.

"That's quite a group of guys to be in there with," said Agassi.

"It's pretty special. They probably accomplished it in half the time that it took me, but regardless, it feels good."