Unleashing Greatness: Andre Agassi's Career Grand Slam Triumph in Paris

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• Blast From the Past

Andre Agassi wrote tennis history at Roland Garros 1999, becoming the fifth player with a career Grand Slam and the first since Rod Laver! Agassi, a charismatic youngster from Las Vegas, found instant chemistry with Roland Garros.

The American reached the semi-final at 18 in 1988, followed by two finals in 1990 and 1991. Andres Gomez and Jim Courier were too strong for him in the title clashes before Jim halted him in the semi-final in 1992. Nothing seemed to be normal in the career of this super-talented rebel, including the fact his first Major came at Wimbledon 1992, where no one expected him to win the title!

After poor years in Paris, Andre started to struggle in every tournament and on every surface! Agassi hit rock bottom in 1997, finding himself outside the top-140 and climbing back in 1998 and 1999 to return to where he belonged.

Nonetheless, an injury was his main concern in that spring of 1999, withdrawing from the Dusseldorf event a week before Paris due to an inflamed tendon in his right shoulder. Andre's Roland Garros participation was also in doubt, arriving with Brad Gilbert on Saturday, just before the start of the tournament.

Two weeks later, after all kinds of drama and excitement, Agassi produced a miracle return in the final against Andrei Medvedev to lift the elusive trophy that had been running away from him. Thus, the American became the fifth player after Don Budge, Fred Perry, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson with all four Major crowns!

Andre was two points from defeat against Arnaud Clement in the second round. In the following duels, he had to work hard against the defending champion Carlos Moya and Dominik Hrbaty, passing all the obstacles to reach the final against world no.

100 Andrei Medvedev.

Andre Agassi completed a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros 1999.

The Ukrainian had a solid career on clay, winning four Masters 1000 titles at a young age and earning a chance to fight for a Major crown half a decade later.

Medvedev did everything right against Agassi in the final's first part, playing well and building a 6-1, 6-2 advantage. However, the American produced a remarkable comeback and prevailed 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 52 minutes.

Thus, Andre became the first player since Ivan Lendl in 1984 who overcame two sets to love deficit in the title clash in Paris. Medvedev fired 23 aces and finished the match with seven points more than Agassu thanks to those opening two sets.

The Ukrainian saved 11 out of 15 break points and kept the pressure on the American. Andre had to work hard in his games, fending off 14 out of 19 break chances and recovering his game after a terrible start to secure a place among tennis immortals.

Andrei had an enormous lead in the shortest points, dominating with his serve and the initial forehand. However, Andre earned the victory with a rock-solid display in up to eight shots in the mid-range points. Also, he claimed the crucial rallies in the exchanges that reached the tenth shot, taking five points more than Andrei in those.

This title gave Agassi a massive boost, and he played the Wimbledon final a month later before winning the US Open in September. Andre became world no. 1 for the first time since 1996 and remained competitive until the retirement in 2006.