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Andrei loses to Agassi

Andre Agassi came back from a two-set deficit and the brink of certain defeat to win the French Open 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 and find his place with the greats of the game. The American became only the fifth player to win all the four Grand Slam events. Agassi also became the only player to win the majors on all surfaces -- clay, grass, hard court and Rebound Ace.

Tennis greats Rod Laver, Don Budge, Roy Emerson and Fred Perry are the other players who have won all the Grand Slam titles. The last time a player came back from a deficit of two sets to win a French Open final was Ivan Lendl, who beat John McEnroe way back in 1984.

"I'm really proud right now," said Agassi appearing in his eighth Grand Slam final. "I never dreamed I'd be back after all these years."

After a nervous start against born-again Ukrainian Andrei Medvedev, the 13th seed found his rhythm in the third set when he was facing certain defeat to pull back and display the game that separates the men from the boys.

After breaking Medvedev to go 4-5 up in the fourth set, there was no looking back for the American who displayed some sublime tennis and took advantage of an early break in the fifth set to close out the set 6-4.

Agassi, however, failed to convert his matchpoints at 3-5, 15-40 on Medvedev's serve. The champion eventually won the match at 40-15 off his own serve.

After the sliced service winner the emotional American threw his hands up in the air and cried for a good five minutes before gesturing towards the crowd in jubilation.

"Andre has a right to make the argument that he's a greater player than Pete Sampras now by winning all the Grand Slams," Medvedev said.

"He just played unbelievable," Medvedev said. "He deserves it."

The Las Vegan had earlier managed to make it to the finals at the Roland Garros in '90 and '91 but failed to win on both occassions.

The unseeded Ukrainian was pretty proud of his performance."I don't have to say I'll be back again, because I'll be here to try and try every year until I die. I came up short, but these have been the best two weeks of my life."