Tennis: Andre Agassi's 14th and final Wimbledon fling was ended in brutal fashion by second seed Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard winning 7-6 6-2 6-4 on a baking hot day on Centre Court.
The 36-year-old American was given a thunderous reception when he walked on court and an emotional one at the end as he bowed and blew kisses to the crowd in the historic arena he has graced so many times.
"I've had so many incredible years here," Agassi, one of only five men to have won all four grand slam titles, told fans.
"I will never be able to repay you for how you've embraced me over the years. You're awesome tennis fans and you've shown me so much love."
For more than an hour the Las Vegan rolled back the years to 1992, his sole Wimbledon triumph, going toe to toe with the merciless 20-year-old double French Open winner who had bounced on to court like a prize fighter.
The precocious Nadal, who appears to be revelling in the challenge of mastering grasscourt tennis, added his tribute to Agassi after a masterly display.
"It's unbelievable for me," he said. "To play one of the best players in the history of tennis on Centre Court.
"This was my best match on grass, I'm very happy."
Nadal's relentless baseline power stretched every sinew in Agassi's creaking frame in a riveting first set, but the 1992 champion refused to buckle, fending off break points at 1-2 and 2-3 and then saving three set points at 4-5.
Agassi looked to have gained the upper hand when he led 5-2 in the tie-break, but he threw away the initiative with a couple of costly errors before an astonishing running forehand pass and an ace clinched the opener for Nadal.
Agassi, who played his first grand slam match when Nadal was only two months old and who is retiring after this year's US Open, wilted in the second set, dropping serve twice.
With his wife Steffi Graf watching from the royal box, Agassi re-grouped in the third and kept his nose in front on serve until the seventh game when Nadal's pressure earned him another service break.
There was no way back for Agassi and three games later Nadal ended the contest with an ace to reach the fourth round of the grasscourt slam for the first time where he will play Irakli Labadze of Georgia.