But it did cause him difficulty when the 112th ranked German and some friends tried to get a seat in the Arthur Ashe Stadium Thursday night to scout his legendary opponent who is playing in his last tournament before retiring.

Becker was surprised when ushers told him he needed a ticket for Agassi's match against Marcos Baghdatis, which turned out to be a classic five setter.

"I was trying to watch it in the stadium but there were no seats," Becker said Friday. "I had to stand in an alley and then they kicked us out. So I went to the hotel and watched it at the hotel."

Becker said he wasn't expecting such a high-tempo match.

"I was just amazed by the game because it was an unbelievable match," he said. "It was so interesting, one of the best matches I have ever seen on TV. I really got into it and after awhile I was just a spectator."

Becker received a scholarship to attend Baylor University in Texas. But he said nothing in his past would have probably prepared him for Saturday night where he knows 23,000 people will be giving him the Bronx cheer.

"I played college tennis. I had sometimes maybe 200 people cheering against me.

"We played at Texas Tech. People were standing on the court. They were so close you could hear whatever they said to you. Of course, twenty thousand people is a little different."

Becker said his coach made him walk around Arthur Ashe Stadium Thursday for five minutes to try and imagine the atmosphere when it is electric.

"I am trying to prepare for that because that is something I have never experienced," he said. "I'll be nervous.

"I will try to be aggressive and take control of the points. Trying to serve big and put pressure on him and make him move. I don't want to be trying anything different."

Becker said he grew up idolizing both Agassi and his namesake Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam winner.

"It's funny," he said. "I remember the matches they had when Andre still had long hair, the orange Donnay racquet and colourful clothes. I grew up watching Boris Becker from Germany and Andre because he was so charismatic."