Return-machine ready for another winner

Agassi has not played an ATP match since an opening-round loss at the French Open in May. A nagging sciatic nerve problem kept him out of Wimbledon for the second year in a row and fueled rumours his days on the tour might be numbered.

“I want to feel healthy,” Agassi said. “I want it to be about the tennis. I haven’t played matches in a while so this is struggling a little bit. Then I’m in my wheelhouse and I’ll figure it out.”

Eight-time Grand Slam champion Agassi said he plans to stay in the game as long as his body will allow.

“I don’t know what’s going to go into my decision as far as I do this but I can tell you one thing – I don’t want to be on the court unless I’m at least engaged, letting my game fly and feeling good.”

Agassi took a two-set lead in his Roland Garros opener against Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen before losing.

“If there’s one thing I learned in Paris, limping around in front of the world is not a comfortable thing to do,” Agassi said.

“It’s like a car going uphill with no brakes. You’re either going forward or backwards,” Agassi said. “I feel like when I’m at home watching it, I’m going backwards.”

Agassi has won three titles here and is the top seed but is not putting himself under extra pressure to win a title in his comeback event.

“I can’t think of a better place for me to come out try to find my best tennis again,” Agassi said. “This is a tournament I’ve always played so well at, winning here a number of times and using it as sort of a springboard into my summer. I enjoy being a part of it.

“I certainly look forward to having more memories out there. I’ve had some real good matches here and I’ll have a few more chances hopefully this week.”

While Agassi has not given up on himself, it appears long-time sponsor Nike has. After 17 seasons wearing a Swoosh, Andre Agassi has parted ways with Nike in favour of a three-year sponsorship deal with rivals Adidas.

Agassi now will use the same German-based clothing and footwear brand as his wife, German tennis star Steffi Graf, who still has a sponsorship deal five years after her retirement.

“I’m excited about my new partnership,” Agassi said. “How it plays out, time will tell.”