The Engelstad Open: Holding Court

Tennis icons Agassi, Roddick bring out the youth in fans of all ages

Duddy Weisser ran up the stairs like he was in his youth tennis days Tuesday afternoon at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Andre Agassi, the men’s tennis icon, was getting away.

As Agassi was in the concourse area heading for the exits, Weisser caught him. The Grand Forks Central boys tennis coach wanted Agassi to sign a pair of tennis shorts his mother bought for him prior to his teen years.

Agassi used to wear the model. Ever the gentleman, Agassi obliged and signed the shorts. Weisser said his mother would be pleased.

Weisser was pleased, too.

Local tennis leaders - young and old - were giddy Tuesday, as two of the best professionals in the world came to Grand Forks to put on an exhibition at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Agassi and Andy Roddick both are ranked in the top 10 in the world. Each has won a Grand Slam event.

Weisser caught Agassi in the afternoon, before his match against Roddick.

Agassi made many act like young fans. Even Terry Paukert, a former high school tennis star himself and a high school tennis coach for more than 30 years, could hardly believe Agassi was in Grand Forks, N.D.

“He said “hi” to me,” Paukert said only half jokingly of meeting a legend.

More than 8,000 people came to watch Roddick and Agassi at the tennis match, which Agassi won 6-4, 7-6(8-6).

But some didn’t even have to go to the event to catch a glimpse of the stars. Andy Roddick dropped in on a popular Grand Forks restaurant Tuesday.

The first thing Roddick said when he was asked about Grand Forks was this: “I did get to the Red Pepper, and had a helluva sandwich.”

Folks at the Red Pepper said Roddick ordered a half a ham grinder with taco meat.

How much did Roddick like the sandwich?

“Before he left, he wanted to get another one to go,” said Max Weisser, the brother of Duddy and a former Central tennis player who works at the Pepper.

Max Weisser said he and another employee recognized Roddick. Otherwise, he said, “Nobody really noticed him.”

By the time Roddick left, word had gotten around.

Agassi spent Tuesday night at the Hilton Garden Inn in Grand Forks. Roddick flew out of town Tuesday night because he had a prior commitment. Agassi flies out of Grand Forks today for a tournament in Madrid, Spain.

In the afternoon at REA, Agassi met with UND women’s tennis players in the stands. Agassi was told that the women’s team members would be ball boys for the event.

’so if they whip it over your head, don’t get too mad,” said Tom Wynne, UND coach.

Agassi told the Sioux players: “Watch out for Andy’s serve.”

Roddick, of course, has the world record with a 155 mph serve. Asked if he thought one might see the 156 mph mark at the REA, Agassi said:

“I hope you don’t, because I know it’s not going to be coming from my racket.”

A radar gun wasn’t on hand to clock Roddick’s serve Tuesday night on the makeshift REA court. But Jackie Reede, an Aberdeen, S.D., resident who attended the match, says Roddick’s serves had some heat.

Reede was sitting in the front row, directly behind where the serves of Agassi and Roddick sometimes left the court, mostly on aces. All that stood between Reede and a fastball from Roddick’s racket was a 3-foot curtain.

“It was pretty intense,” Reede said. “I did get hit in the left shoulder. It had a little sting to it.”

Her husband, Nathan Reede, said: “It was definitely a good seat, but it was a dangerous seat.”

Agassi was impressed by the $100 million-plus building, which was built by the late Ralph Engelstad, who owned and operated a casino and hotel in Las Vegas.

Agassi lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Steffi Graf, and their two children.

“It seems quite extraordinary, something the university should be very proud of,” Agassi said of the arena that is home to UND hockey. “I wish we had this in Las Vegas.”