Agassi loses in semis at Rome Masters - 網球

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Agassi loses in semis at Rome Masters

By ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer
May 7, 2005 ROME (AP) --

Andre Agassi wonders if he's done with tennis in Rome.

He lost to Guillermo Coria 7-5, 7-6 (0) on Saturday in the semifinals of
the Rome Masters and made his customary exit with bows and kisses. The
sellout crowd responded with a long standing ovation.

Agassi turned 35 a week ago and has not won since his lone title of 2004
at the Cincinnati Masters last August. He said that after every tournament
the thought crosses his mind that it could be his last visit.

``I think about it all the time really -- 14 times a year the past three
or four years,'' he said, referring to the number of tournaments he plays
each season. ``It was a great atmosphere out there. If I can still walk a
year from now I'm going to try to come back.''

Coria, last year's French Open runner-up, has few doubts about Agassi's
durability.

``Every year you think it's his last and then he comes back and he's
even fitter,'' the 23-year-old Argentine said. ``It's unbelievable how
he runs. I just tried to hold on and make it tough for him.''

On Sunday, the ninth-seeded Coria will play for the title against Rafael
Nadal in this clay-court tuneup for the French Open this month. Nadal
reached his third straight final by beating Spanish countryman David
Ferrer 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to extend his winning streak to 16 matches. He is
a tour-best 30-2 on clay this year.

Agassi, who had not lost a set this week, was on the verge of evening the
match with Coria while serving for the second set at 5-3. On the second
point of the game, however, Agassi overruled a line judge and gave Coria
a second chance by replaying the point. Agassi went on to lose the point
and the game.

Agassi, seeded sixth, dropped to 5-2 against Coria, with both losses on
clay. Coria also won in the 2003 French Open quarterfinals. The Argentine
improved to 13-2 on clay this season.

Agassi criticized the way Coria handled a call earlier in match, saying
he already was pointing as if his ball was out before it landed.

``That behavior is unacceptable,'' Agassi said.

Coria is not sure that matters.

``Even when he's not very fit he runs a lot,'' he said. ``He's still
incredible.''

Updated on Saturday, May 7, 2005 4:16 pm EDT


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