Agassi working his way back - 網球

DELRAY BEACH ITC NOTEBOOK
Agassi working his way back

BY SANDRA HARWITT
Special to The Miami Herald

For much of Andre Agassi's 21-year career, the start of the new season always
came with a rush of enthusiasm after weeks of intensive training.

This year, however, the 35-year-old tennis icon isn't approaching the
beginning of his 2006 campaign with quite as much confidence.

Courtesy of a wild card, Agassi is making his first stop of the season as the
top seed at the $380,000 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships,
which begins Monday. It will be Agassi's first appearance at the ITC.

Since a four-set loss to world No. 1 Roger Federer at the U.S. Open last
September, Agassi has played just one match and spent the rest of the time
recovering from an ankle injury.

''Usually by the time I'm going on the court, I'm firing on all cylinders,''
said Agassi, who drew a sizable crowd during a practice session Saturday at
the Delray Beach Tennis Center. ``But in this case, it's been a while since I
really moved and tested my body and my ankle and all that.

``It's been a bit of a rushed feeling on the court -- more urgency than I can
remember.''

An eight-time Grand Slam champion, Agassi's intention is to find his tennis
legs here before winging his way to upcoming events in San Jose, Calif.,
Dubai and Palm Springs, Calif.

To that aim, Agassi has crafted an agenda he would like to meet here at
Delray Beach.

''Some practices have been better than others, and I just hope I can get
comfortable quick on the court,'' Agassi said.

One advantage Agassi believes he brings to this week is that South Florida
presents a comfort zone for him.

His wife, Steffi Graf, lived in Boca Raton throughout her career and the
couple often spent time here early in their relationship.

Agassi, Graf and their two children arrived in South Florida 10 days ago.

Agassi will face Brazilian Ricardo Mello, the 2004 Delray champion, in the
first round.

In their only other career meeting at the 2003 Houston quarterfinals, Mello
won only one game.

RODDICK FALLOUT

For a few hours Friday afternoon, the International Tennis Championships was
abuzz that world No. 3 Andy Roddick was hoping to compete in the tournament.

Roddick had requested a wild card into the Delray tournament after bowing out
to eventual finalist Marcos Baghdatis in the fourth round of the Australian
Open.

But the three free passes into the ITC draw already had been awarded to Andre
Agassi, Sargis Sargsian, and South Floridian Mardy Fish.

After completing a practice session Friday afternoon, a reportedly agitated
Roddick nixed the idea to attempt to qualify.

ITC tournament director Mark Baron said he harbored no ill feelings toward
Roddick.

''For what reasons he made his decision not to play, I don't know,'' Baron
said. ``But I understood it.''

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