Wilander vs Agassi Roland Garros 1988 SF 5° set 2

[BlueberrySwede]

Although Andre is quite young here (just turned 18), this nice clip clearly demonstrates one of the Agassi trademarks i.e. hitting the ball early, typically on the rise, if possible. This is one of the things that made him so difficult to play against, as an opponent you would only have very little time, before you had to strike back...and then clay is even his least good surface.

[suddenlyitsobvious]

Amazing to think Andre was wearing a wig. Styled by ex-intelligence operative Bolletieri. It's all about social engineering, even tennis.

Agassi played like crap in this set.

[surfjabroni]

@suddenlyitsobvious I thought the wig came a bit later in his career when he started wearing the hat?

[suddenlyitsobvious]

@surfjabroni

Yeah, after a quick search on the net it would seem he only started wearing it in the 90s. It seems bizarre though that in a few years he should have lost so much hair, but hairy guys can easily bald early and sometimes very early.

I've watched a few 1988 interviews & will add that the suspicion arises that his hair was already being VERY CAREFULLY groomed back then, as if to cover areas of embarassment, and that possibly even then it only LOOKED like he had a lot of it...

[babak1982]

I hate Mats Wilander. He is a complete and utter p**is. He's even a tw*t now on his stupid "Game, Set and Mats" show on Eurosport...

[tenniscollector]

Mats was close to loosing this and also in the fourth round Vs Zivojinovic but came back and won in 5 gruelling sets. 1988 was Mats year.

[wildcatp7]

1:02  hair...poor agassi :(

[daycan1]

this is the tournament i fell in love with Andre. I was in eighth grade and sick for a week so i was at home and did nothing but watch andre all day long. this was his breakout year. it was all she wrote for me. i loved this boy with all my heart.

[spjfrat]

These bring back a lot of memories. Thanks.

[ofpeter]

I saw this match...Great Wilander that year...almost unbeateble , but Agassi was growing up

[melende1966]

Great mats wilander in 1988

[sharpasaneraser]

@ofpeter ...and getting ready to buy his first of many hairpieces.

[tomaszek888]

What a great post! Thanks Estel74! Agassi is "raw" here - he's game is, well how to put it, irresponsible; fun to watch

[melende1966]

Go mats wilander,allez mats wilander