Agassi says injury will keep him out of Wimbledon

Whether it's his ailing hip or his ailing game, Andre Agassi decided he wasn't ready for Wimbledon. Who knows whether he'll bid an on-court farewell to the All England Club?

Agassi pulled out of the year's third Grand Slam tournament Tuesday, joining the two top-ranked women on the sideline.

"I have been struggling with a hip injury for the past couple of months," the 34-year-old Agassi said.

"Clearly, this is a regrettable decision that I have to make. I will miss the opportunity to play in the most prestigious tournament in the world."

Agassi, whose eight Grand Slam titles include Wimbledon in 1992, dropped his last four matches -- his longest losing streak in seven years. And he wasn't exactly playing the best of the best: Agustin Calleri, currently 40th, is ranked the highest of Agassi's opponents during the drought.

Agassi also lost to a qualifier ranked 339th, a qualifier ranked 271st playing his first tour-level match, and a player ranked 60th. All but one of the four ended in straight sets.

When Wimbledon starts Monday, No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne (recovering from a viral illness) and No. 2 Kim Clijsters (wrist surgery) will be missing from the women's field.

Other withdrawals include French Open champion Gaston Gaudio, three-time major winner Gustavo Kuerten, and Younes El Aynaoui.

Agassi's most recent setback came against Igor Andreev at the Queen's Club grass-court Wimbledon tuneup last week. Agassi skipped a postmatch news conference and was fined $1,000.

Fair or not, the ninth-ranked Agassi now will face questions about how much longer he plans to play. He hasn't won a tournament since April 2003, his biggest stretch since an 18-month gap ended in February 1998.

"Even if healthy, I don't think he was one of the favorites at Wimbledon," U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said. "He probably knew that. He probably doesn't want to hear all the talk that is inevitable, which is: Is this is it for him?"

Agassi's rut includes his earliest exit at a Slam since 1998, bowing out on Day 1 of the French Open to Jerome Haehnel.

Asked whether he'll play at Roland Garros again, Agassi said then: "Hard to say. You want to come back, but you just don't know. ... Chances get less every year, for sure."

His longtime friend and conditioning coach, Gil Reyes, was downcast after that loss.

"They mean a lot more these days. Who knows how many French Opens we have? Who knows how many tournaments we have, period?" Reyes said.

Agassi is one of five men with a career Grand Slam and was ranked No. 1 as recently as last season, the oldest man to hold the top spot. He's also the last man to win consecutive Slam events, at the 1999 U.S. Open and 2000 Australian Open.

So, will he be back at the All England Club?

"My hope and plans," Agassi said Tuesday, "are to see you next year."