Agassi pulls out of San Jose tournament with strained ba - 網球

Agassi pulls out of San Jose tournament with strained back

February 13, 2006

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Andre Agassi has withdrawn from the SAP Open because
of a strained lower back, the latest injury setback for the star player.

Agassi, who was seeded second in the event which begins Monday, told
tournament director Bill Rapp on Sunday night that he couldn't play. Agassi
experienced severe pain in his lower back and down his legs during a workout
Sunday, tournament officials said in a news release.

"It's really disappointing to miss this year's tournament and I was really
looking forward to playing again in the Bay Area," Agassi said.

Agassi, 35, has played only four matches since reaching the U.S. Open final
last September. He sprained his left ankle playing racquetball Oct. 12.
Agassi aggravated the injury during the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in
Shanghai, where he was upset by Nicolay Davydenko in the first round.

He pulled out of last month's Australian Open because of the injury and then
lost to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the quarterfinals of the International
Tennis Championships earlier this month in his first tournament of the year.

Agassi is currently ranked eighth in the world by the ATP. His only
tournament win last season came in Los Angeles, and he lost to world No. 1
Roger Federer in the U.S. Open final in September.

Updated on Monday, Feb 13, 2006 7:04 pm EST

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