Praying for rain

Tonight I watched the replay of the Agassi-Baghdatis match. It had all the elements of an epic battle. A seasoned,accomplished veteran in the swan song of his career. A man whose body betrays his skill and determination. His road this year has been harder than any of his previous journeys to the Open; the matches he's played have been incredibly demanding both physically and mentally. This one is no exception. His forehand is noticeably slower and he is having difficulty keeping those sideline volleys in bounds, but what he has lost in physical ability he more than makes up for with superb shot selection and unequalled finesse. His opponent, younger and stronger, begins to fatigue and appears exhausted but continues to make great plays on the ball. Agassi fought on. Thousands of fans chanting his name between every point. A whole stadium hoping for the unthinkable. And he delivers. Again and again. Wisdom and intestinal fortitude win the battle against age and time. It will not be the last match of his career, but it may prove to be the best of his final outing. He desperately needs time to recover from the strain so he can play his heart out again, showing us that unbelievable champion's resolve one more time. His next game will be tomorrow, unless it is delayed by the weather. They will let him play through the pain, but not the rain!