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Journalism of Courage
Four-time Australian Open champion Andre Agassi succumbed to a long-standing ankle injury and officially withdrew from the first Grand Slam event of the year, his management company said today.
Agassi, who had a 26-match winning streak at the Australian Open before he lost to Marat Safin in the semi-finals of the 2004 tournament, attempted to play with the injury in the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai in November, but withdrew immediately after losing in first round. “I attempted to play in Shanghai with an injury that was not fully healed, and it set me back substantially,” Agassi said in a statement.
“I made a commitment to myself not to play unless I can be at my absolute best. Unfortunately, even with the amount of training and rehabilitation I’ve been going through, my ankle is still not 100 per cent,” he said.
Nadal is battling to be ready for the Australian Open as he continues to be troubled by a left foot injury he sustained during the Madrid Masters final last October and which forced him out of the season-ending event in Shanghai.
Nadal informed Sydney tournament officials that he would not be fit enough to play in next week’s event.
Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee said today he had heard nothing from either defending Australian Open champion Safin (knee injury) and Russian Maria Sharapova (shoulder) about their availability for the Open.
