Agassi Might Skip Olympics

Andre Agassi is expected to relinquish his position on the U.S. Olympic tennis team for this month’s Sydney Games because of concern over health problems suffered by his mother and sister.

According to a report in the Washington Post, Agassi, who was ousted last week as the top-seeded player in the U.S. Open, apparently wants to spend as much time as possible with his mother, Betty, and sister, Tami, both of whom have breast cancer.

Judy Levering, president of the United States Tennis Assn., said Agassi’s withdrawal from the Olympic team is “probable.”

“He called me today, and I got the impression that he was very seriously considering not coming,” Levering said Tuesday.

Levering did not offer a reason for Agassi’s decision.

“Tennis players play a very difficult sport,” she said, “so any time one does pull out, they usually have a reason.”

Agassi had been expected to join Michael Chang, Todd Martin and Jeff Tarango in representing the U.S. in singles. Alex O’Brien and Jared Palmer will play doubles. Levering refused to speculate on who might replace Agassi on the team.

“We’d have to talk to the IOC and be sure to comply exactly with whatever their procedures are,” she said.

In an Aug. 28 interview with CBS, during which he revealed the conditions of his mother and sister, Agassi said he doubted whether he should be playing tennis at all, telling reporter Mary Carillo that “it has been a difficult year.”

Agassi was eliminated in the second round Thursday by Arnaud Clement of France. In the past seven months, Agassi’s most impressive result has been a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon. In the seven months before that, he won three of the four Grand Slam events.

Agassi was involved in a car accident after his return from Wimbledon. He took some time to return to form, reaching the final of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic last month in Washington, where he lost in straight sets to Spain’s Alex Corretja.