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Agassi Opts for Cincy Instead of Canada
Posted on August 5, 2006
Andre Agassi has decided he will skip next week's Masters Series-Canada to rest for a week and guarantee his participation in the Masters Series-Cincinnati.
Last year Agassi lost in three sets to Rafael Nadal in the MS-Canada final, an effort which caused him injury and kept him out of the MS-Cincy.
"I regret to inform Toronto that I will not be playing in the Rogers Cup," said Agassi in a statement Friday afternoon. "I have many great memories in Canada and wish you continued success. It's a fantastic tournament."
Agassi won the MS-Canada title in 1992 (d. Ivan Lendl), '94 (d. Jason Stoltenberg), '95 (d. Pete Sampras), and lost his only final last year.
"Andre has been a champion his whole life and is a three-time winner of this tournament," said Tournament Director Grant Connell. "He was a finalist last year in Montreal and was not able to compete the following week in Cincinnati. This year he decided to switch events. We are disappointed that he will not be able to play one last time in Toronto but understand his situation. Andre leaves behind a legacy in Canada as one of the greatest players of all time and has served as a tremendous ambassador for the game of tennis."
This week in Washington Agassi admitted to tightening-up against Italian qualifier Andrea Stoppini, losing in straight sets then saying his announcement of a "farewell tour" ending at the US Open may have put more pressure on him than he realized.
"Breaking a racket for me has always been a sign of caring about something that you can't quite get over the hump with," Agassi said of his racquet-smashing fit during the loss. "I was very frustrated. I wanted very bad to get out there and be comfortable and hit my shots. But I felt like with every point, the court got smaller and smaller and I had a hard time keeping the ball on the court."
Rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal head the MS-Canada event, with nine of the Top 10 on the ATP Rankings in attendance.
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