ESPN.com - Australian Open 2003 - Chalk up a fourth Aussie for Andre
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Friday, July 18
Chalk up a fourth Aussie for Andre
By MaliVai Washington

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Going into Sunday's final, Andre Agassi is going to be a heavy, heavy favorite. There's no part of me that believes he is going to lose this match to Rainer Schuettler.

Mal's Picks
MaliVai Washington
Washington
Former ATP Tour pro MaliVai Washington is providing ESPN.com with analysis during the Australian Open.

On a tennis court, the person who keeps the ball in between the lines the most wins the match. But in a Grand Slam final, so much of winning the match has to do with controlling one's emotions and playing one's best tennis in the moment. Andre Agassi has been in this moment 13 times, and he's been successful seven times. Rainer Schuettler has never been in this situation, so he has no idea what it's going to feel like to be in a major final.

On top of all of that, Schuettler's game matches up very well for the type of tennis Agassi likes to play. Schuettler plays from the baseline, but he won't be able to overpower Agassi. He's not going to be able to hurt Agassi with his serve -- he's only served 20 aces in the tournament. And that's what Agassi does as well as anyone is return serve.

The only way I see Rainer winning this match is if he plays the best match he's ever played -- and Agassi plays one of his worst matches.

Pick: Agassi in straight sets.

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