Agassi Returning With New Coach

For Andre Agassi, the conservative path of rehabilitation of his injured right wrist appears to have been the correct one as he has been given medical clearance to resume tournament action.

Agassi is expected to return for the Siebel Open in San Jose, starting Feb. 25, accompanied by a new coach, Australian Darren Cahill. Agassi told The Times last week Cahill was his top selection to replace Brad Gilbert but needed to receive the go-ahead from his hand surgeon, Leonard Gordon of San Francisco.

The 31-year-old Agassi, who withdrew from the Australian Open because of the injury, said at a luncheon/news conference in San Francisco on Wednesday that Cahill will work with him during the six-week, hard-court season.

“With some real good direction, I’ve managed to make some good progress, so I have high hopes of being ready,” Agassi said.

Gordon was also at the news conference and said the wrist is “healthy at this point.”

The San Jose event would be Agassi’s first tournament of 2002, and only his second since getting married to Steffi Graf and becoming a father in late October. Agassi had been preparing to contend for his third straight Australian Open singles title when he hurt the wrist in an exhibition against Pete Sampras two days before the event in January.

In an interesting twist, U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt, coached by Cahill for three years, is expected to make his return in San Jose. Shortly before the Australian Open, Hewitt was hit by a case of chickenpox, and, greatly weakened, lost in the first round. Cahill and Hewitt parted mysteriously in December, and Hewitt is now coached by Jason Stoltenberg.

Agassi has taken note of Cahill’s success with Hewitt.

“He’s familiar with playing the game of tennis and he’s familiar with a baseliners’ approach to the game, through Lleyton,” Agassi said. “I want to feel if I’m at my best I can win. I think it will be that way for awhile longer.”

Cahill told the Melbourne Age last week that Agassi contacted him a few hours after the breakup with Gilbert was announced. Gilbert and Agassi had been together since 1994.

“I think working with someone who’s as great a tennis player as Andre is, and as dedicated and professional as he is, it’s always a great challenge to try and find other areas in which he can improve,” Cahill told The Age.

Agassi said last week that it has been difficult to hold back, among other reasons, because he is excited about working with Cahill.

“On the sidelines, it’s tough. Especially this time of the year, it’s always been such a great time of the year for me,” he said. “I spent many years not playing Australia, and jumping into the year with fresh legs, a fresh mind. Now it feels like I’m starting the year a bit late and starting it, fighting off a lot of things.”