Agassi pulls out of Indian Wells tourney
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-19 09:56

When his highly anticipated match against Lleyton Hewitt was scheduled to begin, Andre Agassi instead stood before fans and apologized for having to pull out.

Agassi was unable to take the court for a match for the first time in his storied career — 1,092 matches. He could not play in the Pacific Life Open quarterfinal on Friday because of a sore and swollen toe.

Andre Agassi of the U.S. waves to the crowd after offering his apologies for withdrawing from the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, March 18, 2005. Agassi injured his foot and could not play his scheduled semifinal match against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt. [Reuters]

Injuries had forced him to pull out in the past before tournaments began, and he has had to retire during matches. But he had never failed to at least start playing when he was scheduled.

Standing on the court, he told the crowd he was really disappointed and said, "I apologize and thank you for your support."

Several fans yelled, "We love you Andre." He drew loud applause both when he walked onto the court and when he walked off.

Agassi, who turns 35 next month, was uncertain what his injury was, but said his left big toe began bothering him Thursday night.

"When I woke up (Friday morning), it was blown up like a balloon, twice the size. I was pretty shocked by what I saw. I can't bend it or move on it," he said, explaining that the soreness was in the knuckle of the toe.

"It's just impossible for me to do anything. This is certainly not the way you want to see any tournament go, for the sake of all those involved."

He was scheduled to undergo both X-rays and an MRI, and doesn't know when he will be able to play again.

Agassi, a former No. 1 currently ranked No. 9, said he was playing very well and was looking forward to facing Hewitt, himself a former No. 1 who's ranked third.

"I am disappointed that Andre had to pull out today," Hewitt said. "We have had a lot of good, tough matches in the past. I have to look at the positive side as well. This just put me into another semifinals at Indian Wells."

Agassi made his ATP debut in the tournament as a 15-year-old in 1986, losing to Mats Wilander in the second round. Agassi won the title in 2001, beating Hewitt in the semifinals and Pete Sampras in the final. Agassi also made the finals in 1990 and 1995.

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