Madrid Flashback: Andre Agassi conquers the first edition without playing the final

The first edition of the Madrid Masters 1000 event took place in the third week of October 2002, with the Spanish capital replacing Stuttgart as the penultimate tournament of this series. Tommy Haas (2001 Stuttgart winner), Andre Agassi, Marat Safin and Tim Henman led the draw when the difference between the players from the top and those behind them wasn't that significant, with three of those losing already in the second round! Haas had to retire against a qualifier Fabrice Santoro while another player who passed the qualifying round, Agustin Calleri, stunned Marat Safin in two tie breaks. Paradorn Srichaphan took down Tim Henman, and it was Andre Agassi who remained the top favorite for the trophy. In the third round, Andre prevailed against the young Spaniard Feliciano Lopez (only the second Masters 1000 tournament in a career) 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 with a single break in the entire encounter, advancing into the quarters together with Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sebastien Grosjean, Jiri Novak and Roger Federer, who were the remaining seeds left in the battle for the title.

The American was rock-solid against Juan Carlos Ferrero in the next round, scoring a 6-3, 6-2 triumph to enter the last four, where he faced Sebastien Grosjean, who halted Agustin Calleri in straight sets. Jiri Novak ousted Paradorn Srichaphan to set the semi-final clash against Fabrice Santoro, who toppled Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3 in 78 minutes. In the semis, Agassi prevailed against Grosjean 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 for the third Masters 1000 final of the season, facing Jiri Novak after the Czech ousted Santoro 6-2, 6-4 in swift 67 minutes.

In 2002, Andre Agassi became the first Madrid Masters champion.

Novak was through to the first Masters 1000 final but couldn't go out and fight for the title against Agassi, withdrawing before the match due to a leg injury suffered against Santoro. In the press conference, Jiri said he experienced the pain during one point against Fabrice but could stay on the court and finish that match before feeling even worse on Sunday morning, having to give Andre a walkover.

It was the first Masters 1000 final without a single point played since Rome 1998 when Albert Costa gave Marcelo Rios a walkover, with Agassi celebrating the fifth title of the season and the 15th Masters 1000 crown. With these points, Agassi moved only 43 behind Lleyton Hewitt in the ATP Race, battling with the younger opponent who managed to finish ahead of the veteran thanks to that Masters Cup title he claimed. Previously, Agassi conquered Miami and Rome that season, embracing three Masters 1000 shields for the first time since 1995 and claiming the first indoor crown at this level since Paris 1999.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Gpm3zv