U.S. OPEN NOTES : Becker Puts His Mouth in Agassi’s Shoe Again

Boris Becker was given and declined a chance to retract or tone down remarks he made after Wimbledon, suggesting that Andre Agassi was scheduled to play on the show courts at the All England Club because of the power wielded by his shoe company, Nike.

“I thought I had a point, and I still think I have a point,” Becker said Wednesday. “I didn’t talk about Andre or other players personally. I talked about his company and how powerful of a role it plays, unfortunately, in major championships. I think I have a point there if you look back the past 12 months.”

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Not that anyone is paying attention, but Conchita Martinez has sneaked into the semifinals, advancing over Brenda Schultz-McCarthy.

Martinez meant well when she said of Schultz-McCarthy, “She serves like a man today,” a respectful reference to Dutchwoman’s occasional 120 m.p.h. serves.

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Is Monica Seles is on the verge of being overexposed?

She has been prowling the sidelines at a Monday night football game, been seen at two Broadway shows. Seles will be seen tonight, presenting an award at the MTV Music Video Awards at Radio City Music Hall.

Need more Monica? A local New York television station is running a Monica Fix several times a day. It’s 30 seconds of giggling, grunting and non sequiturs.

Next? All Monica, All The Time.

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Seles is nursing a gash on her left forearm that required a physician’s attention. Seles, who is left-handed, said she was unsure how she was cut, but the cut appeared last week. Seles said she was forced to stop practice one day because she was unable to feel her arm.