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<\/p>\n No 1 Club
\n Agassi\u2019s ‘historic’ return to No. 1 in 2003, through Melzer’s eyes<\/p>\n
Melzer, who fell to Agassi in crucial Houston SF, speaks exclusively to ATPTour.com<\/p>\n
April 01, 2026<\/p>\n
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Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
At 33, Andre Agassi became the oldest World No. 1 in history, at the time, after his semi-final win in Houston in 2003.
\n By Jerome Coombe<\/p>\n
At 33 years old, Andre Agassi<\/a> produced a standout run to the Houston title in 2003 to secure another double-triumph in his storied career.<\/p>\n With his 6-4, 6-1 semi-final victory over a 21-year-old Jurgen Melzer<\/a> at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship<\/a>, Agassi reclaimed the World No. 1 spot and became, at the time, the oldest player in history to sit atop the PIF ATP Rankings. While Agassi added another compelling chapter to his career, the moment also left an imprint on Melzer, who stepped directly into a piece of tennis history as it unfolded in real time.<\/p>\n \u201cComing into that match, I actually knew what he was playing for,\u201d Melzer told ATPTour.com, reflecting on their 2003 clash. \u201cSo if he beats me, he would become the oldest No. 1 at that time. It was being talked about in the locker room. It was being talked about in the press conferences before.<\/p>\n \u201cSo when we shook hands after the match, I congratulated him on being the oldest No. 1 and told him, \u2018If somebody had to lose that match, I’m glad it was me.\u2019 Because I was part of history at that point.\u201d<\/p>\n What defined that week, however, went beyond the milestone itself. Agassi\u2019s level remained uncompromising even on clay, one of the surfaces that could be considered one of his least natural. From the earliest exchanges, Melzer encountered a tempo that stripped away preparation time, forcing him to react instantly and leaving little margin for adjustment against one of the cleanest ball strikers of his generation.<\/p>\n \u201cPlaying someone like Andre, if you have never played him before, the first time you play him and you start warming up with him, he’s just ripping balls,\u201d Melzer said. \u201cI knew going into the matches against him afterwards that I really had to warm up close to the match because you’re not going to get any rhythm.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s going to just launch rockets at you from the get-go. That was his thing, that was the way he warmed up and it was pretty intimidating, but I learned my lessons for the next two times.\u201d<\/p>\n For a young player still establishing himself on Tour, the experience quickly became an education in the demands of facing a player operating at a No. 1 level. Agassi had already captured his eighth and final major earlier that season at the Australian Open<\/a>, reinforcing his position among the sport’s elite, while Melzer was only beginning to make his mark on the ATP Tour.<\/p>\n
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