Chapter 985: Working Together

Sampras has always doubted his ability as a qualified coach.

But in fact, in Agassi's view, his old rival is not only becoming a qualified coach, but also going one step further on the basis of qualification.

Some people might say that Sampras simply placed his unfulfilled ambitions and passion on the court on Gao Wen to continue it.

In this regard, Agassi believes that this does not affect Sampras from becoming an excellent coach because he wholeheartedly plans Gao Wen's career.

If necessary, there is no problem even stepping back and giving up the initiative.

Agassi knew better than anyone how difficult this decision was for Sampras, but Sampras still spoke.

However, Agassi would not confess these words to Sampras. It was absolutely impossible for him to refuse to praise Sampras as an excellent coach.

Agassi looked at Sampras carefully, then said sincerely, "Pete, this is not what we agreed to do."

The original agreement? When Agassi joined Gao Wen's team, they reached an agreement that Agassi would only serve as a consultant and would not participate in Gao Wen's competition schedule.

To be more precise, Agassi is only responsible for giving advice to Gao Wen during his training. Not only will he not follow Gao Wen to compete around the world, but he will also not participate in Gao Wen's daily training during the competition.

His views and opinions are a supplement to Sampras' work. The decision-making power still lies with Sampras, and he will try his best to avoid interfering in other people's affairs.

However, in just a few months, the world has been turned upside down. How much of the original intention is left?

Whether it is Sampras or Agassi, they have been unconsciously drawn into Gao Wen's career, and the entanglement is getting closer and closer.

After Agassi's reminder, Sampras remembered the significance of the title of "consultant".

Sampras opened his mouth, his face full of surprise, countless thoughts surging in his mind, but what finally came out was, "Are you refusing? Don't you care about Gawain?"

"No, Pete, you misunderstood me..."

"So, what do you mean? Why don't you explain it a little more? Don't you want Gao Wen to continue to improve on the clay court?"

"I think……"

"That's it, isn't it? We are all aiming at the same goal, and Gawain needs your help. You should step up, right?"

"Pete, are you hearing yourself? You're handing the initiative over to me. Do you understand? Me?"

"...I understand. There is no need for you to hurt my wounds again and again. If you don't want to, forget it. It doesn't matter to me anyway. Why don't you explain to Gawain yourself why you rejected my proposal?"

"Pete, you're having a temper tantrum."

"Yes, I bet you twenty-five cents that I am in a bad mood. Do you know how difficult this matter is for me, and you treat me like this? Of course I am in a bad mood. I don't like you, Andre, I repeat again, I! Don't! Like! You! Did you hear me? If you didn't hear me, I can repeat it again."

As they were talking, the two of them started arguing again, just like children, their faces flushed, neither giving in an inch. Then, they started talking irrelevantly, each talking to himself, and they were eager to start a fight.

The air fell silent.

Neither Sampras nor Agassi spoke. They just looked at Gawain who was concentrating on training. The California sunshine made the air milder again.

Agassi sighed softly.

"We are all thinking about Gawain, so why should we argue?"

Over the years, as Agassi and Graf have gotten along with each other and as they have grown older, their former edges and sharpness have indeed softened a lot, and they have handled things in a more mature way.

"Peter, I know what you mean, and I know how difficult this is for you."

"But the problem is that if I agree, it means that I have to play with Gao Wen throughout the European season."

"You know, I originally agreed to be a consultant on the condition that I had the initiative in my schedule. I wanted to stay home and be with my children. They are growing up too fast. In a few years, they won't want to stay home. One by one, they will go to college, and the house will be quiet in the blink of an eye."

"I don't know how many more years I can stay with them, or in other words, I don't know how many more years they are willing to stay with me."

“I don’t want to miss it.”

The words were sincere and heartfelt.

Sampras felt annoyed, but after looking at Agassi, he swallowed it and just snorted to express his dissatisfaction.

Agassi didn't mind.

"But if I say that I'm not moved, it would be a lie."

"Peter, when you accepted John's invitation to coach Gawain, you just wanted to see how high this kid could climb. But now, how much of your original intention is left? How much ambition and desire have you fostered? Are you expecting this kid to create more miracles?"

Sampras' words were on the tip of his tongue, but when he thought about it carefully, he didn't know how to react and was stunned instead.

Agassi continued to speak slowly and plainly, but with his own power.

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"Me too."

"When you said just now that you were looking forward to Gao Wen achieving more success on clay and grass, I couldn't help but get excited, as if I was standing on the court and fighting for it myself."

"Looking at this kid, I rediscovered my passion for tennis. You know, it's not easy."

Ordinary fans may not be aware that Agassi actually hated tennis for a very long time. He hated it deeply. There was a short period of time in the mid-1990s when he rebelled against the whole world. This was even more so after his retirement. Agassi didn't even want to see the racket and just wanted to escape from it.

Indeed, tennis brought them glory and honor, and made their names go down in history; but at the same time, tennis also pushed them into the whirlpool of fame and fortune, where they lived a life of drunkenness and dreams, lost themselves, and no amount of money, fame, or power could fill the black hole deep in their souls. That emptiness pulled them at their ankles and they began to degenerate.

Sampras has always known this, and he couldn't help but turn his head and look at Agassi.

Agassi had a faint smile on his face, but it seemed a bit helpless and bitter.

"At first, I agreed to only serve as a consultant, but now this idea has begun to expand and boil, and the original intention has long been thrown to the back of my head."

“Clay season?”

"Like you, I am looking forward to Gawain bringing another surprise. I look forward to fighting side by side with Gawain, just like our struggles before."

At this point, Agassi and Sampras exchanged glances and both laughed.

Throughout their careers, clay has always been a fortress that they have tried to challenge and conquer but always lacked a little bit.

Perhaps, now Gawain can fulfill those unfulfilled wishes on their behalf.

"I realized that my desires were also growing."

"But, Peter, I need to calm down. I don't want to ruin the peaceful life of the past ten years because of impulse. Gawain is important, but I don't want my life to be disrupted."

As difficult as it was, Agassi spoke his mind.

(End of this chapter)