Disappointed Agassi Needs Game to Surface on Grass

He disappeared from Paris much faster than anyone could have expected.

Andre Agassi zipped out of view, out of range . . . and, apparently, out of words shortly after his unexpected second-round loss to Karol Kucera of Slovakia at the French Open.

So, why not another surprise?

For his next move, Agassi caused a stir by accepting a wild-card entry into the grass-court event here at Queen’s Club. It was the first time in his long career he played the traditional Wimbledon tuneup.

This was where Agassi would try to find his form, and more important, his lost confidence. But after only 1 1/2 matches, Agassi didn’t quite find what he was looking for and, picked up an unwelcome addition, an injured back.

The injury occurred when he went tumbling on the grass and out of the tournament, retiring from his match against Gianluca Pozzi of Italy. (By the end of the week, he had resumed practicing with his coach, Brad Gilbert). “There is obviously a confidence factor that starts getting associated with the disappointment,” Agassi said.

The bitterness over his failure to defend his French Open title was tangible. Agassi’s introspective nature simply would not allow him to blithely move on. He apologized to a small group of writers for skipping the postmatch news conference after the Kucera loss and explained why he went silent.

“That’s why I avoided it in the first place, so I wouldn’t be irresponsible in how I represented myself,” he said. “I was disappointed. You plan to try to be ready for the ones you want and when it doesn’t work out the way you anticipated, it’s an opportunity lost.

“At this stage in my career, I realize I have a value for that I probably never did before, an ever-increasing importance I put on certain moments. So I was just . . . disappointed.”

This year has almost been a case study of the roller-coaster nature of Agassi’s career. It started brilliantly with an Australian Open title in January, hit a couple of lulls, a handful of taut Davis Cup singles victories and now, Paris and London. His last singles title was at the Australian Open.

“Last year, this time I was more confident coming off Paris,” he said. “But I had two less Slams [then]. So I try to keep it in perspective. I’ve had some great tennis in the course of this last year. It’s time to start thinking about getting your game on that level.”

Hence, the move to accept the wild card at Queen’s. Throughout the years, his approach to grass was: Less is better.

“I’ve always argued for a game like mine, the longer you play on grass, the worse you get,” he said. “There’s a point of diminishing returns. You start getting little kinks in your swing. Your swing doesn’t stay clean.”

Less time in London made more sense too, considering the scrutiny the tabloids will be giving his relationship with retired tennis star Steffi Graf. Agassi joked about previous media reports about a supposed wedding that was to have taken place last week. (“I’ve got some things to do.”)

He patiently answered a couple of questions from a British reporter about Graf. Suddenly, you had the impression he would have rather talked about the Kucera match than the impending tabloid nightmare.

“Am I prepared for it?” he asked. “I don’t think you’re ever prepared for it, no. If you can tell me how to prepare for it, please tell me. I’m certainly selective about what I choose to talk about.

“I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary for a relationship to have that kind of professional understanding [of sports]. If you do, it’s an incredible asset. It’s going incredibly well. She [Graf] should be here.”

Then, it was back to tennis and Agassi looked relieved. He even made a couple of jokes at his own expense when asked if he could survive another slide in the rankings at age 30.

“It depends on how I slip,” he said. “If I’m getting beat, I’m getting beat. I had to work hard to go down to 140 in the world. I had to work hard at the buffet table. I had to work hard to truly not think about the game.”

*

For Pete Sampras, the French Open seemed long ago. He came home to Los Angeles, put his rackets away for a week and spent some time at Staples Center, cheering for the Lakers in Game 7 against Portland.

From far away, on his beloved grass last week, he worried about the Lakers and the state of Kobe Bryant’s ankle.

Sampras also did something else after the French Open. It came up when he was asked an innocuous question about settling down after his tennis-playing career. He had a funny expression and chuckled.

Was he trying to say something?

“That’s for you guys to find out,” Sampras said, smiling.

Indeed, Sampras got engaged to his girlfriend, actress Bridgette Wilson after the French Open, his representatives said. No date is set for the wedding.

Wonder if he will beat Agassi to the altar?