Back in action, Agassi laughs at retirement talk - 網球

Back in action, Agassi laughs at retirement talk

July 13, 2004
By Paul Levine SportsTicker Contributing Writer


LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - Andre Agassi spent an emotional Sunday with
a heartfelt speech introducing wife Steffi Graf into the
Tennis Hall of Fame. It will be a while before he plans on receiving
a similar honor.

Contrary to whispers, the aging and ailing Agassi, who has not won
a title in 15 months, has no intention of leaving the game after
next month's U.S. Open.

"I have no plans to retire after the U.S. Open," laughed Agassi,
who at 34 is the oldest player on the ATP Tour. "I don't think how
to choreograph the end of career. I hope I don't have to worry
(about that) for a while. My career is going to dictate to me more
(than) I will to it. That will be hindsight."

When asked how he would like to be remembered, the eight-time
Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 had an insightful answer.

"My mind doesn't think like that," he explained. "My mind is always
focused on today and what I'm doing tomorrow. It's not for me to
decide or even to hope. I'll sit back and read it with a great deal
of interest of how somebody else sees it. For me, it's reflective of
things I've cared about."

Agassi's biggest concern at the moment is to scrape off the rust of
a five-week layoff that has seen him lose in the first round in
his last three tournaments, including the French Open.

After crashing out on the grass at the Queens Club on June 7,
Agassi pulled out of Wimbledon to rest a bothersome right hip,
the result of 18 years of court competition.

"Time off was necessary for my body, specifically my hip,"
he explained. "I was training and doing everything I could possibly
do without aggravating it or subjecting it to more wear and tear.
I was in Las Vegas mostly, on a rehabilitation program to help get
everything to calm down in there."

Agassi gave the healing process two "thumbs up."

"It went great considering the other option was to be in pain on
the court, moving at 50 percent," he said. "Between the clay and
the grass, I was 30 percent the player that I expect myself to be.

"I would be grasping at straws to think I could come out and
negotiate at Wimbledon. I made a tough decision but a clear one
- to try to get ready for the summer and try to get myself healthy.
My body seems to be used to the movements on it. Hopefully, I can
play some matches and be ready for the Open."

In preparation for the summer season, Agassi played Team Tennis
last week for Sacramento. However, he will make his return to the
tour Tuesday night, when the three-time winner of this event takes
the UCLA hardcourts as the top seed against American Alex Bogomolov Jr.

"My body is ready to give it a go," Agassi said. "I'm tired of
guessing what's in store for me. You have to start somewhere,
so I can't think of a better place than right here."

Agassi also will be shooting for a milestone as just the sixth
player with 800 victories.

"Hopefully it's one step along the way," he said. "I suppose a lot
of stats reflect or highlight how long I've been doing this,
and this would certainly be one of them. But I'm thinking about
my game, and what I need to be doing on the court."

Agassi, who hasn't won a match since March, expects to be rusty
but thinks he can offset the month-long layoff. While rehabilitating,
he watched bits and pieces of Wimbledon.

"It was great to watch Wimbledon, but kids are the greatest
distraction in the world," he said. "When your son falls down
and almost breaks his nose, it can make you forget Wimbledon pretty
quickly. But I enjoyed waking up, catching up on the results and
watching what was left of it."

Agassi doesn't know when he might walk away from the game but hopes
it is on his own terms.

"It is my commitment to go as long and as hard as I can," he said.
"I owe this game as much as I can give it. At times, I am challenged
by that commitment. I don't lose sight, that's the way
I want it to be.

"If it's my body that decides that's enough, I'll find a way to
live with it. But there's nothing medically right now that would
suggest I can't get through. I'm certainly hoping that's not the
case."

In the first upset of the tournament, unseeded German Nicolas Kiefer
posted a 7-6 (7-0) 4-6, 6-2 victory over fourth-seeded Dominik Hrbaty
on Monday night.

Five other unseeded players advanced earlier Monday.

Seven seeds are in action Tuesday, including
No. 2 Paradorn Srichachaphan of Thailand. He meets defending
champion Wayne Ferreira of South Africa.

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