Andre Agassi is out at the Lipton Championships, and he says he’s done with Davis Cup.
Hampered by an inconsistent serve and sore hamstring, the ninth-ranked Agassi lost his opening match to Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Agassi has yet to reach a final or beat a top-20 player this year. After the loss, he announced his pledge to quit Davis Cup.
Agassi tied Bill Tilden’s U.S. record of 16 consecutive Davis Cup singles victories last year, but he said he’s angry about the recent firing of the U.S. team physician, a personal friend.
“That’s the last straw for me,” Agassi said. “I’m done with it. I never say never, but I’m never playing again.”
George Fareed, lost his position because the USTA changed the qualifications required for the physician’s job, USTA executive director Rick Ferman said.
Pete Sampras defeated Jim Courier, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). Carlos Moya won his first match as the world’s top-ranked player, beating Davide Sanguinetti 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Boris Becker played perhaps his final singles match in the U.S., losing to Marat Safin 7-5, 6-0. Becker plans to retire after playing Wimbledon.
Defending Lipton women’s champion Venus Williams won her opening match against Tara Snyder 6-3, 6-4, and No. 2 seed Lindsay Davenport beat Sabine Appelmans 6-0, 6-3.
