SAN JOSE, CA - Andre Agassi put himself into prime position to make a late run at the 2012 PowerShares Series title by defeating John McEnroe 8-3 in the championship match of the BILT by Agassi and Reyes Champions Showdown Friday night at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.
Agassi - who is slated to compete in each of the last four Series events of the season - leapfrogged from the eighth spot in the rankings all the way up to fifth with the victory, by gaining 400 points. He still trails top-ranked Jim Courier by 900 points, with just three events remaining on the schedule.
"I'm in a good place right now both physically and mentally and I'm ready to compete in these last four events here on this tour," said Agassi. "I've always enjoyed coming here to the San Francisco Bay Area, and it's nice to win the event here in San Jose, before going home to play front of my friends and family tomorrow night in Las Vegas."
For McEnroe, his struggle to notch his second PowerShares Series title of the year continued, as he dropped his sixth consecutive championship match. He now has one victory and seven runner-up finishes on the season. But, he did extend his PowerShares Series semifinal win streak to six consecutive events, with a 6-3 victory over Todd Martin.
In the second semifinal with the match knotted at 3-3, Agassi pulled away from Jim Courier with some vintage power forehands that kept Courier on the move and pinned to the baseline. Agassi was able to earn a late break of serve and secure a 6-3 triumph to advance.
The 2012 PowerShares Series returns to action Saturday night, November 17 for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships, presented by 8 News Now in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Andre Agassi plays in front of his hometown crowd at the Mandalay Bay. He will join Michael Chang, Courier and McEnroe when the action gets under way at 7:30 pm.
For news and stories regarding the entire 2012 PowerShares Series and ticket information for future events, log on to www.powersharesseries.com.
TONIGHT’S SCORES
Semifinal 1: McEnroe def. Martin, 6-3
Semifinal 2: Agassi def. Courier, 6-3
Final: Agassi def. McEnroe, 8-3
UPDATED 2012 POWERSHARES SERIES RANKINGS
1. Courier 1400
2. McEnroe 1200
3. Sampras 1100
4. Rafter 800
5. Agassi 500
6. Chang 400
Lendl 400
8. Martin 200
Wilander 200