By Oleksandr HONCHARUK, Petro MRUSENKO, The Day
Kyivan Andriy Medvediev became one of the heroes of Open Tournament in
France. his final game with 29 year-old Andre Agassi will surely go down
in Rolland-Garros history. Two antipodes entered the tennis-court. Agassi
counterpoised the well-organized defensive play to the Kyivan's mighty
attacking style.
"The Roland Harros Tournament finals," Meritorious Trainer of Ukraine
Anatoly Krzhevin told The Day's correspondent, "have not seen play of such
class in fifteen years. Andriy showed class and was flourishing. He was
stronger in the first two sets, 6:1 and 6:2, but with Agassi one has to
fight to the last volley. The American managed to turn the tide and win
the next three sets 6:4, 6:3, 6:4. It seems to me that this can be explained
by the physical stress on Medvediev, who has had five tough encounters
in two weeks.
Russian chief team coach Shamil Tarpishchev said that the Kyivan had
scored a success just by making it to the finals and will of course want
to taste victory next time out. "And if after going through yet another
extremely complicated eye operation and after that played in only a few
tournaments, then I have to add that his real capabilities place him in
the top twenty players. Unfortunately, Ukraine currently lacks any other
players even close to him in strength."
We need not feel too sorry for our compatriot. After all, his opponent
did sweep the tournament and is now ranked fifth in the world.
Rounding off Medvediev's performance in Paris one can note that in all
seven games he was marvelous. Second place in Big Helmet tournament and
his advance from his hundredth ranking into the top thirty - such results
speak for themselves. And, what is more, Andriy behaved like a true gentleman,
telling the fans, "I love you," a phrase that has long fascinated Parisians.






