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The Scoop:
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11
Agassi says no to Davis Cup final against
Spain
Thinks he will give back more to
game by playing full schedule in '05
By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net
Art Seitz |
| Andre Agassi still won't play Davis Cup. |
American Andre Agassi said that
he won’t play for the US in the Davis Cup final against
Spain the first weekend in December. Agassi told reporters at
the World TeamTennis Smash Hits fundraiser in Irvine, Calif. on
Monday that there’s "no wiggle room" on the subject
despite the fact that the 34-year-old is the U.S.’ most
successful clay courter.
"My reasons for not playing Davis Cup have nothing to do
with winning or losing," Agassi said. "I’m growing
tired, have a family, and it’s time for the young guys who
have gotten the team to the final to have the opportunity to win
it."
Even though top American Andy Roddick says he would welcome Agassi
to the team, the veteran and world’s most popular player
doesn’t feel that his participation in the final is a better
option to his much-spoken task of "giving back to the game"
than his good health and consequent participation in 2005 ATP
and Grand Slam tournaments.
Agassi – who was once a Davis Cup warrior but hasn’t
played since the '00 first round under then US captain John McEnroe
– says that family and other off-court reasons also added
to the decision. The eight-time Grand Slam appears to believe
that winning another Slam title will be more favorably looked
upon historically, even though he hasn’t played a prominent
role, in a US final round Davis Cup victory since 1992.
The US hasn’t won the Cup since 1995, when Pete Sampras
led the team to victory in Moscow.
Somewhat ironically, Agassi and Sampras both skipped the US’
'00 quarterfinal 5-0 loss in Santander, Spain, under John McEnroe,
which largely led to McEnroe’s decision to give up his captaincy
in only one year.
Agassi has never played under US captain Patrick McEnroe, who
is expected to name the same team that beat Belarus in the semis:
Roddick, Mardy Fish and the Bryan brothers.
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