| | Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- Top-seeded Andre Agassi, injured in an
automobile accident earlier this month, withdrew from the Mercedes
Benz Cup on Monday, citing a lower back strain.
"I'm very disappointed with the way things are going this
summer," Agassi said at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
|  | | Andre Agassi says he hasn't bounced back from the auto accident, which aggravated a back injury, fast enough to play this week. |
"I had to miss the Davis Cup, and it's now creeping into the
rest of the summer."
Agassi's car was rear-ended on July 9, shortly after his return
to his Las Vegas home from Wimbledon, where he lost to Patrick
Rafter in the semifinals.
"Andre has not responded to treatment," said Domenick Sisto,
the tournament doctor. "It is still very tight and tender in that
area. He is in consistent pain and it's best that he not play."
Agassi said following the accident that he'd be unable to
compete for the United States in the Davis Cup semifinals at Spain
this weekend. The Americans were swept 5-0.
Agassi hoped to be ready to begin play in the Mercedes Benz Cup,
which started Monday, but was obviously in pain as he spoke at a
brief news conference.
"I hit for 40 minutes yesterday, and then I started getting
spasms at midnight," he said. "I'm not ready to compete yet. This
is the first time I've picked up the racket, and I was hoping for a
Wednesday night (opening match)."
Agassi said an MRI exam showed he had a muscle problem rather
than a structural one.
"I love playing here, especially after playing Davis Cup at the
Forum (in April)," said Agassi, who lost to Pete Sampras in the
finals of this tournament last year. "This is the longest I've
been out in a while."
In first-round singles action Monday, fifth-seeded Wayne
Ferreira of South Africa overpowered Anthony Dupuis of France 6-2,
6-2; No. 8 Arnaud Clement of France defeated Marcos Ondruska of
South Africa 6-3, 6-2; Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe topped Ronald
Agenor of Haiti 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4, and Jan Kroslak of Slovakia
eliminated Cyril Saulnier of France 6-2, 6-2.
In the night's final match, Justin Gimelstob defeated James
Sekulov of Australia 6-3, 6-3.
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ALSO SEE
Monday's results
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Andre Agassi talks with Dan Patrick about his ailing back.
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