Glavna motivacija iza Agassijevog osvajanja Wimbeldona 92-e je bila Steffi Graf!!! Naime pobjednici Wimbeldona su dužni pojaviti se na Champions Ball-u gdje bi tradicionalno otplesali jedan ples a nakon neuspjelog "udvaranja" preko menađera, mladom buntovniku nije preostalo ništa drugo nego osvojiti Wimbeldon (preko bolnih leđa Ivaniševića):
Andre's eyes lift, full of futile hope. "I already tried that," he sighs. "A long time ago...."
It's 1992. He's 22. He comes upon a field of grass. What does it look like?
Faded green, bordered by white lime, surrounded by vintage wooden seats. Intimate.
Sacred.
That's what everyone else calls Centre Court at Wimbledon. To Andre
it's stuffy, a place he avoided for three years. His fluorescent
clothes, black hightops and denim shorts were forbidden by
traditionalists there, the rebel complained, and besides, he needed the
rest.
But this year he needs the grass. Somehow he has become
his sport's richest and most famous player without doing one little
thing: winning when it really mattered. It's his sixth year on the
tour. He has never won a Grand Slam singles title. Credibility. That's
what the sacred meadow offers.
And maybe her.
From the time he first laid eyes on Steffi, his soul knew. She is what he isn't.
She has what he needs. At the French Open a few weeks earlier, he
finally took a deep breath, gathered all his courage ... and asked his
manager to ask her manager if they could meet.
"Meet her?" said Steffi's manager. "In regard to what?"
"Just
to talk," said Andre's manager. "You know, he's not some wild rebel
like they make him out to be. He's really a good, clean kid, very religious, in fact, born again."
Steffi's
manager told Steffi that Andre wanted to talk to her about religion.
Steffi told her manager to tell Andre's manager to tell Andre, No,
thanks.
Her reply, reaching him just before Wimbledon begins, jolts him. They can't even talk? He's that unworthy?
He
has one shot left. The male and female singles winners traditionally
dance together at the Champions Ball at the end of the tournament. If
they both win....
Steffi mauls everyone for the 11th of her 22 majors. Thump-thump....
One
day later Andre survives 37 Goran Ivanisevic aces to win the men's
championship in five sets -- his first Slam title! He sags to his
knees, drops to his back and sobs. Thump-thump, thump-thump.... On to the ball! His stomach tightens. He doesn't know how to dance. He can't wait to dance.
He arrives and stares. Swept-back hair, short white dress, plunging neckline.... That's Steffi Graf? A Wimbledon member sidles up to him. When, asks Andre, is the dance?
Sorry, old chum, he's told, that's been scrapped.
The rebel blinks. What about tradition?
He
can't squeak out a word to Steffi when the photographers put them elbow
to elbow and pop flashes in his eyes. He flies home to Vegas, throws a
party, gets drunk, gets sick, takes off his clothes and ends up on his
lawn, staring at the stars, as naked as...