HOUSTON (Texas), April 27: Andre Agassi became the oldest player to top the world rankings after crushing Jurgen Melzer to reach the final of the US Clay Court Championships on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Agassi continued the form that has brought him 22 victories in 23 matches this year, overwhelming Austrian Melzer 6-4 6-1 to set up a final clash with fellow American Andy Roddick.
Agassi, winner of eight Grand Slam titles, first topped the rankings in 1995.
He replaces Australian Lleyton Hewitt as the world’s top-ranked player, a position he last held in September 2000.
Agassi, the 1992 Wimbledon champion, slumped to No. 141 in the rankings in 1997 following a dramatic slump in form but recovered to climb to number six by the end of 1998.
BARCELONA: Carlos Moya won the Barcelona Open on Sunday after Russian fourth seed Marat Safin was forced to pull out of the final.
The Spaniard was leading 5-7 6-2 6-2 3-0 when Safin retired.
Moya, the number two seed, was edged out in the first set but took the next two sets at a canter and moved 3-0 up in the fourth when Safin pulled out—Reuters/AFP