Two years after winning Wimbledon, Agassi's recruitment of Brad Gilbert proved a masterstroke. As a player, Gilbert lacked any of the flair so prevalent in Agassi's game but his understanding of how to win matches was unparallelled.

The partnership bore fruit immediately. Agassi followed his maiden US Open triumph by winning the Australian Open at the first attempt.

Later that year, he hit world number one for the first time and to complete a dream four years Agassi clinched Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996, the first American to win the title since 1924.