Agassi takes another swing at pro tennis
June 25, 2009 - 9:00 pm
Andre Agassi says his back is fine. But there's this itch that has been driving him crazy.
The reality is, almost three years after he retired following the 2006 U.S. Open, he missed playing competitive tennis. Which is why, at age 39, the Las Vegan will scratch that itch by returning to the court next month and play a limited schedule in World Team Tennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms.
"It's been a few years since I retired, and that's been a little unsettling for me," Agassi said Wednesday. "It took some time to try to figure out the best way to stay connected to tennis, and that hasn't been so easy.
"But before I got too far away, I wanted to re-engage, and World Team Tennis seemed like the perfect opportunity."
Agassi is scheduled to play two matches for the Freedoms, the team owned by league founder and longtime friend Billie Jean King. The first one is July 10 vs. Boston in Philadelphia, followed by a July 17 match at Newport Beach, Calif.
"She came out to Vegas and asked if I would be willing to help," Agassi said. "How do you say no to Billie? Not just what she meant to tennis, but what she's done for civilization, how she changed sports. Anyone who has a daughter can appreciate what she has meant to sports."
This will be Agassi's second venture into WTT: He played for the Sacramento Capitals from 2002 to 2004. In Philadelphia, he'll be joined by Travis Parrott and Nathan Healey, with WTA veteran Lisa Raymond and Madison Keys, a 14-year-old who will be the youngest player ever to compete in WTT.
"It's a great format for the players and the crowd," Agassi said. "As a player, you can be aggressive, then pull the plug and let someone else take over. Getting the interaction with the crowd is a great way because of the format."
Unlike in traditional tennis, WTT encourages fans to yell before points are played. Sets are five games long. There's a no-ad system of scoring, and the court is multicolored with men and women sharing equal roles.
Agassi won eight Grand Slam singles championships and is one of six players to win all four major titles.
He is not the only big-name player committed to playing in WTT this summer. Venus and Serena Williams, John McEnroe, Michael Chang, Anna Kournikova, Kim Clijsters, Sam Querrey, and Mike and Bob Bryan also are scheduled to play.
One former star who will not participate is Agassi's wife, Steffi Graf, who turned 40 on June 14.
"Stef's in better shape than I am, but it takes a lot of stress for her to get ready to play," Agassi said. "She worries about her body holding up."
Agassi said he's not going to be just a big name on the court.
"You want to have fun and you want to entertain, but you ultimately find yourself being more competitive," Agassi said. "I will take it seriously."
Agassi, who was forced to retire because of two bulging disks in his back, has been working with longtime trainer Gil Reyes and said he's getting into playing shape.
"Hitting the ball has been relatively easy for me," Agassi said. "You never know how your body will respond, so the jury is still out on that. But I've kept myself in good shape, and Gil knows my body and how to get me to perform at my best, so I'll be ready."
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.