With the current suspension of the ATP and WTA Tours, we are opening up our US Open vault to bring you full match videos of classic encounters through the years in New York.
Watch on YouTube: Andre Agassi vs. Marcos Baghdatis, 2006 US Open men's singles second round
The 2006 US Open was Andre Agassi's farewell to the professional game. The eight-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 50 on Wednesday, was 36 at the time of his final ATP tournament.
Agassi's goodbye got off to a winning start with a four-set decision over Andrei Pavel—though the American had to fight back after dropping the opening set in Round 1. Things got even tougher in Round 2 against No. 8 seed Marcos Baghdatis, who was in the midst of a career year that included a final run at the Australian Open and a semifinal finish at Wimbledon.
In the nightcap in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the unseeded legend took the first two sets under the lights. But the 21-year-old Cypriot leveled the match to force a dramatic fifth set that continued past midnight.
With the New York crowd willing Agassi on, he saved break points in an eight-deuce game at 4-all in the fifth, Baghdatis threatening despite severe cramps. These were especially tense moments as Agassi played what could have been his last few professional points, a feeling he would recount in detail in his 2009 book, "Open."
Now, fans can watch the match back in full to see how Agassi escaped to find himself in the win column one last time.
The complete second-round match is now available to watch on the US Open YouTube channel. For a coming attraction, view the match highlights below.
