Agassi eyes French Open after Rome victory

Andre Agassi said he was heading into the French Open better prepared than ever thanks to his victory in the Rome Masters Series tournament on Sunday.

When asked whether he had ever felt this good so close to the start of Roland Garros, Agassi's answer was emphatic.

"No," he said flatly, "a pretty clear no."

Agassi, who beat Tommy Haas 6-3 6-3 6-0 to win the Roman tournament for the first time, said he was in perfect shape for an assault on the claycourt Grand Slam he has only won once, in 1999. The French Open starts on May 27.

"I think it's a combination of a lot of things," he said.

"I missed Australia. I spent a lot of time training so I'm physically prepared for the demands. And this week has just been a great effort in discipline and patience and shot selection and execution. This is perfect."

Agassi also said the hard work he has been putting in with his coach of four months, Darren Cahill, has given him the confidence to win on clay.

"I've done great work with Darren," he said. "I think Darren has really come into a pretty tough situation and absolutely allowed me to be the best that I can be and is continually pushing me to get better."

Agassi teamed up with Cahill after parting with long time coach Brad Gilbert in February and following Cahill's split with world number one Lleyton Hewitt. Agassi's victory in Rome was his third title under Cahill's tutelage.

In his first two tournaments of the year after pulling out of the Australian Open with a wrist injury, he won at San Jose and the Nasdaq100 Open Masters Series event in Miami.