ROME – Andre Agassi slumped to
defeat in his first European clay court tournament of the year
Tuesday, losing in straight sets to Spain's Alex Calatrava in
the first round of the $2.95 million Rome Masters Series event.
|  | | Andre Agassi makes a return against Spain's Alex Calatrava, but didn't hit enough winners in losing 6-3, 6-3. |
It was a disappointing result for the ATP Champions Race
leader who, two years ago, became only the fifth player in
history to win all four Grand Slam titles when he secured the
French Open crown.
"It wasn't a good day, although I felt pretty comfortable
out there," he said after the 6-3, 6-3 setback.
"I felt there was a couple of dozen times where I had the
lead in the point, then I just missed that last shot."
The 31-year-old from Las Vegas hit 35 unforced errors and
appeared a shadow of the player who claimed the Masters Series
crowns at Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year.
Agassi added: "I just felt like I was hitting three or four
good shots and I was never hitting that last one that I felt
like I should have made... I was missing the forehands up the
line today. I missed that maybe 15 times."
But Australian Open champion Agassi, who is playing with Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in the doubles in Rome,
insists his schedule will present him with enough match practice
ahead of the French Open, which begins in Paris on May 28.
After Rome, Agassi will be on clay at the Masters Series
event in Hamburg to prepare for the French.
"I think one extra week will make a huge difference," he
said of his preparations.
"As I look towards Paris, I feel like everything is right
where it should be, although it would have been nice to do well
here." Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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