Agassi Out of L.A. Tennis; Spadea May Withdraw Next

The list of headliners at the Mercedes-Benz Cup shrank even more Monday when top-seeded Andre Agassi withdrew from the L.A. tennis tournament because of continuing back pain, aggravated by a July 9 auto accident.

Agassi joins marquee players Gustavo Kuerten, Thomas Enqvist and Goran Ivanisevic on the absentee list.

Vince Spadea, hospitalized overnight in Spain after his U.S. Davis Cup loss because of low electrolyte levels, may withdraw too. His status will be determined after being examined by the L.A. tournament doctor.

“I am very disappointed with the way things are going this summer,” Agassi said at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. “I had to miss the Davis Cup, and now it’s creeping into the rest of the summer. But my priority is to get 100% healthy.”

Agassi practiced at the tennis center on Sunday, but woke up overnight with muscle spasms, prompting him to withdraw.

“I’m not ready to compete yet,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve picked up the racket [since July 9].”

Davis Cup doctor George Fareed said that Agassi had so much wanted to play in the U.S.-Spain semifinal that the Australian Open champion had received injections a couple of days after the July 9 rear-end collision in Las Vegas to help him heal. Fareed said he made the decision that Agassi should not play in the Davis Cup.

Agassi’s initial treatment was followed by anti-inflammatory medication for his lower back spasms.

He said he was hoping for a Wednesday night opening match in L.A., but his condition did not improve enough.

“Andre has not responded to anti-inflammatory treatment,” said L.A. tournament doctor Domenick Sisto. “It is still very tight and tender in [the lower back] area. He is in consistent pain and its best that he not play.”

ATP rules state that a player who is playing in an international match in another continent or a Davis Cup in another continent can have a Wednesday start date. Agassi did not play in last weekend’s Davis Cup, so a later first-round match was not an option, as it would be for Spadea.

Agassi said he did not want to speculate on his status had he been granted a Wednesday match.

Tournament director Bob Kramer said that despite the withdrawal of Agassi and other top players, ticket sales are up 30% from last year.

“But I’m sure Andre dropping out will affect [future] sales,” he said. “It’s a real disappointment.”

Sisto said Agassi’s recovery will be assessed weekly, but he is still scheduled to play next week at the Tennis Masters Series in Toronto and Aug. 7 at the Tennis Masters Series in Cincinnati.

“I felt that every 24-hour period, I’d be in a better position to play,” Agassi said, “but that was probably high hopes because I wasn’t in the position to play. But I’m going to pursue next week the same way.”

Agassi said his pain has gradually worsened. “Initially after the accident I was not in pain, I was more startled than anything,” he said. “As the evening wore on, it gradually got worse.”

Agassi, who lost to Pete Sampras in the final of last year’s tournament, said that an MRI exam showed he had a muscular problem rather than a structural one.

“It feels like I got kicked in the back,” Agassi said. “But I’m hoping I’ll get better later in the week.

He said the car accident did not cause the injury but aggravated an already weak back.

“I have a long history of back problems this year,” he said.

He cited back problems beginning in late January after he had won the Australian Open. Days later, he played in the Davis Cup in Zimbabwe but had to withdraw from the Sybase Open in San Jose after experiencing back-muscle cramps and dehydration because of the 36-hour flight.

Agassi also fell badly on his back during the third round at the Queen’s Club in England in June. He said he took a week and a half off before Wimbledon, where he reached the semifinals, but not without pain.

Agassi had been scheduled to play Taylor Dent of Newport Beach today in the first round, but will be replaced in the draw by lucky loser Lionel Roux of France.