Agassi Uncertain About Australia

A lingering ankle injury has slowed Andre Agassi’s preparation for the Australian Open in January, raising legitimate questions about the four-time champion’s participation in Melbourne.

Agassi rolled his left ankle and suffered a grade-three sprain eight weeks ago when he was playing racquetball and then exacerbated his condition by playing one match and withdrawing from the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

One tournament official there ripped Agassi, who, on Wednesday, said he thought that criticism was “irresponsible.”

He lamented attempting to play in Shanghai and said the ankle is worse now than it was two weeks ago. This has rendered him unable to put in his demanding hill work in Las Vegas, a hallmark of his Australian preparation. He also said he was hampered during a recent exhibition.

“It’s actually now becoming concerning for Australia how it’s been the last few weeks,” Agassi said Wednesday.

” ... I’m Def Con 2 1/2 right now. Def Con 3, it comes in a week, Def Com 4 in two weeks. So if I can keep this from interfering with the natural progression of my training, I’ll feel confident and excited for the upcoming start to the season.”

Agassi was speaking with reporters at the Home Depot Center in Carson following an official announcement of Agassi’s Safe Passage All-Stars. The academy is to be launched in the spring of 2006 in partnership with AEG and the L.A. Junior Chamber of Commerce/Safe Passage Tennis Program. The tennis and academic program is expected to involve 20 youngsters, and some elements will be modeled on Agassi’s tennis academy in Las Vegas.

He hit with a group of youngsters afterward, good-naturedly telling some of them, “Hit. Hit. Come on.”

Agassi was in equally good humor with the media, retelling the story of his racquetball mishap, helpfully spelling the name of his opponent and friend, Ron Bareta.

“I’ll tell you what kind of friends I have,” Agassi said. “I’m up 12-0. I sprain my ankle and I’m hopping. I’m refusing to go down on the floor. Finally, it buckled.”

Bareta went to get Agassi some ice for the ankle but got in the last shot.

“He looks back and says, ‘That’s a W!’” Agassi said, smiling. “He’s never beaten me in racquetball. He’s down 12-0 and he’s screaming at me that’s a ‘W’ as he’s going to get me ice.”

Even at 35, Agassi is learning new tennis lessons.

“Through my experience in Shanghai, I can confidently say I’ll never get on the court again unless I’m 100% ready,” he said. “I was absolutely resentful I made the decision to go there with less than my best.”

Shanghai wasn’t the only educational moment in 2005. Agassi said he will miss the French Open in 2006, skipping the clay-court season, having lost in the first round at Roland Garros in 2004 and 2005.

“Two years in a row as a result of trying to still compete on clay, I’ve been unable to compete at Wimbledon,” he said. “I think it’s a good decision for me in the bigger picture. But I have to call my shot, take my best guess as to what I need and not playing the clay at this stage of my career beats the alternative which is putting myself through it and jeopardizing more realistic goals for me.”

Davis Cup would be one. Agassi said he is tempted to play next year, and said he left the door open on playing Feb. 10-12 against Romania in the first round at La Jolla.