Agassi Outlasts Edberg To Win First Tournament Since Claiming Top Seed

Andre Agassi, vomiting during changeovers because of scorching 118-degree heat, won his first tournament since assuming the No. 1 ranking, beating Stefan Edberg 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 Sunday in the finals of the $675,000 Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C.

Agassi said he felt sick during the first and second sets, throwing up a couple of times during changeovers.

“It was extremely hot, but I felt great before the match,” he said. “Then I started feeling worse and worse, and I had to make a decision about whether to give it everything and possibly not have anything left for the third set or to try to save myself.”

Agassi lost service in the first game of the second set, putting him behind 4-1. He then had a prolonged discussion with chair umpire Dana Laconte, before playing listlessly the rest of the set.

Agassi rebounded in the third set, breaking Edberg in the second game to lead 5-2. But the Swede held serve, then broke Agassi. After Edberg held again, Agassi immediately dropped his racket and ran off the court, returning just as mysteriously minutes later.

After completing a comeback victory over Sergi Bruguera, French Open champion Thomas Muster routed Jan Apell in the final of the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany for his eighth title this year.

The 31st career title allowed Muster to regain the No. 3 ranking in the world, moving him ahead of Boris Becker.

It took Muster only 52 minutes to overwhelm fellow left-hander Apell 6-2, 6-2.