MERCEDES-BENZ CLASSIC II

BATTLE OF THE AGES - MARCH 21, 2005 - TAMPA, FL
TENNIS/CELEBRITY CHARITY EVENT - HOSTED BY JIM COURIER



The Battle of the Ages at the Mercedes-Benz Classic II is in the books. Andre Agassi, and Jim Courier toppled the youngsters, Mardy Fish and James Blake to take the crown on March 21 in front of a packed house of more than 10,000 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

With a DJ spinning tunes from Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw and U2 during changeovers, the energy level on changeovers almost matched the intensity of the matches. James Blake opened the evening with a hard-fought 8-7 win over Courier in the one-set match. Then it was time for Agassi to make his first Bay Area appearance in 15 years against Fish, the silver medalist of Athens. Agassi, long considered the premier showman in professional tennis, didn't disappoint. Andre, now 34, schooled Fish, 23, in a spirited exhibition of magnificent shotmaking, 8-4. In the final match of the evening Agassi-Courier beat Blake-Fish 7-5 in the doubles to clinch the title, 22 games to 17, and score one for experience.