Andre Agassi’s historic return to No. 1 in 2003, through the eyes of Jurgen Melzer

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Agassi’s 'historic' return to No. 1 in 2003, through Melzer's eyes

Melzer, who fell to Agassi in crucial Houston SF, speaks exclusively to ATPTour.com

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At 33, Andre Agassi became the oldest World No. 1 in history, at the time, after his semi-final win in Houston in 2003. By Jerome Coombe

At 33 years old, Andre Agassi produced a standout run to the Houston title in 2003 to secure another double-triumph in his storied career.

With his 6-4, 6-1 semi-final victory over a 21-year-old Jurgen Melzer at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship, Agassi reclaimed the World No. 1 spot and became, at the time, the oldest player in history to sit atop the PIF ATP Rankings. While Agassi added another compelling chapter to his career, the moment also left an imprint on Melzer, who stepped directly into a piece of tennis history as it unfolded in real time.

“Coming into that match, I actually knew what he was playing for,” Melzer told ATPTour.com, reflecting on their 2003 clash. “So if he beats me, he would become the oldest No. 1 at that time. It was being talked about in the locker room. It was being talked about in the press conferences before.

“So when we shook hands after the match, I congratulated him on being the oldest No. 1 and told him, ‘If somebody had to lose that match, I'm glad it was me.’ Because I was part of history at that point.”

What defined that week, however, went beyond the milestone itself. Agassi’s level remained uncompromising even on clay, one of the surfaces that could be considered one of his least natural. From the earliest exchanges, Melzer encountered a tempo that stripped away preparation time, forcing him to react instantly and leaving little margin for adjustment against one of the cleanest ball strikers of his generation.

“Playing someone like Andre, if you have never played him before, the first time you play him and you start warming up with him, he's just ripping balls,” Melzer said. “I knew going into the matches against him afterwards that I really had to warm up close to the match because you're not going to get any rhythm.

“He's going to just launch rockets at you from the get-go. That was his thing, that was the way he warmed up and it was pretty intimidating, but I learned my lessons for the next two times.”

For a young player still establishing himself on Tour, the experience quickly became an education in the demands of facing a player operating at a No. 1 level. Agassi had already captured his eighth and final major earlier that season at the Australian Open, reinforcing his position among the sport's elite, while Melzer was only beginning to make his mark on the ATP Tour.

Although the Austrian had earned a notable victory against World No. 2 Tommy Haas in Vienna the previous year and showed early resistance in Houston, the match ultimately underlined the separation that Agassi’s timing, anticipation and relentless baseline pressure could create once he settled into his rhythm.

“After I won my quarter-final, the match was happening… You've always dreamed when you were a kid to play against someone like that, and at the same time, you're starting to get a little nervous because of the name you're playing,” Melzer reflected. “Facing someone like him is very special.

“I was 21 years of age back then. It was an amazing experience on the one hand, and on the other, when you get your a** kicked, it's not so nice! If somebody at 33 is close to getting No. 1, age doesn't really matter. He was at the top of his game, so I didn't really think that age was going to matter in that match. It's just an amazing achievement that he became the oldest No. 1.”

That early lesson would prove formative for Melzer, who used the experience as a reference point in the seasons that followed. As his game matured and his confidence grew, the Austrian began to translate those insights into results, eventually turning the matchup in his favour against one of the game’s greats.

Melzer went on to defeat Agassi in each of their next two meetings, in Toronto in 2004 and San Jose in 2005, finishing his career with a 2-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against the American. Those victories formed part of a steady rise, during which he would would reach a career-high No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2011.

“Both matches were probably some of my best matches the whole year at that time,” said Melzer. “I just felt comfortable. I didn't feel rushed by his pace. I had a clear game plan and it worked twice. You have to have a very good day to execute it, but luckily I had that.

“He had the same aura in those matches, but I wasn't that intimidated anymore… And I'm one of the few who could say they have a positive head to head against him. I'm still proud of that. It's a very long time ago, but they are very nice memories.”

Yet even as familiarity reduced the intimidation factor, the sense of occasion that surrounded Agassi never fully faded. For Melzer, the Houston encounter remained unique, shaped not only by the stakes, but by the personal significance of facing a player he had grown up watching during his formative years in Austria.

“With Andre, it was different because he was a childhood hero,” Melzer said. “While I grew up playing tennis, he was a big star and an idol. All the aura that is surrounding him when he's at a tournament is just very special. That's what makes it special to play against him.”

Agassi’s return to No. 1 in Houston was also a powerful reflection of his longevity at the very top of the sport. Having first risen to World No. 1 in 1995, the American completed a full-circle moment eight years later by reclaiming the top spot in 2003, becoming the oldest player to do so at the time.

By the end of his career, Agassi had spent 101 weeks at No. 1, a testament not only to his peak level, but to his ability to evolve and remain among the game’s elite across different eras — hallmarks of a true No. 1 Club great.

For Melzer, it was a week that offered both a glimpse into that level and a place within its history. It was an experience that underscored just how high the bar remains for those who reach, and return to, World No. 1.

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