http://www.smh.com.au/news/tennis/a...nny-disposition/2005/12/01/1133422051864.html
AS the dust settled on prodigal daughter Jelena Dokic's return to Australia and the comeback of Martina Hingis, the Australian Open received another boost yesterday with the announcement four-time winner Andre Agassi will again return to Melbourne next month.
The 35-year-old American confirmed yesterday that he would take his place in the Kooyong Classic, his tournament of choice in preparation for the opening grand slam of the year.
With Kim Clijsters set to return to Australia after missing the 2005 tournament because of a wrist injury, as well as the renewed interest of Hingis and Dokic, tournament chief executive Paul McNamee is delighted with the week's events.
"I am thankful that it is shaping up well and the first day of summer has brought some great news," McNamee said yesterday.
After 20 years on the tour, speculation will inevitably mount that the trip will be Agassi's last to Melbourne but few are prepared to declare this his farewell tour. "He is very articulate, almost guru-like and he is very clear in saying that he won't put any time limit on it while he is as competitive as he is," said McNamee. "So it doesn't necessarily mean it's the last time but let's just be thankful for what it is."
Kooyong Classic tournament director Colin Stubbs is another who believes Agassi - who reached the US Open final in September before falling to Roger Federer - may continue beyond 2006. "It's not only good for us, it's good for tennis; it looks like he is going to go around in '06 and maybe even longer, and he still seems to have a fire in his belly," Stubbs said.
The classic has once more attracted some of the biggest names in tennis, with world No.1 Federer and American No.3 Andy Roddick again set to complete their preparations for the year's first grand slam at Kooyong.
Agassi's commitment to Kooyong is so renowned that McNamee became concerned the veteran was not coming to Melbourne at all because he had yet to book his spot in the round-robin event. "He has never come down and just played the Australian Open, so that was a concern and it was good that Stubbsy held a place for him," McNamee said.
With Agassi's confirmation, there is just one place remaining in the eight-man field. Stubbs said he hoped to make an announcement next week. "We are very close to finalising something," he said. "It's a little bit out of left field, it's not a high-profile player - it's one of my speculative forays, I suppose."
AS the dust settled on prodigal daughter Jelena Dokic's return to Australia and the comeback of Martina Hingis, the Australian Open received another boost yesterday with the announcement four-time winner Andre Agassi will again return to Melbourne next month.
The 35-year-old American confirmed yesterday that he would take his place in the Kooyong Classic, his tournament of choice in preparation for the opening grand slam of the year.
With Kim Clijsters set to return to Australia after missing the 2005 tournament because of a wrist injury, as well as the renewed interest of Hingis and Dokic, tournament chief executive Paul McNamee is delighted with the week's events.
"I am thankful that it is shaping up well and the first day of summer has brought some great news," McNamee said yesterday.
After 20 years on the tour, speculation will inevitably mount that the trip will be Agassi's last to Melbourne but few are prepared to declare this his farewell tour. "He is very articulate, almost guru-like and he is very clear in saying that he won't put any time limit on it while he is as competitive as he is," said McNamee. "So it doesn't necessarily mean it's the last time but let's just be thankful for what it is."
Kooyong Classic tournament director Colin Stubbs is another who believes Agassi - who reached the US Open final in September before falling to Roger Federer - may continue beyond 2006. "It's not only good for us, it's good for tennis; it looks like he is going to go around in '06 and maybe even longer, and he still seems to have a fire in his belly," Stubbs said.
The classic has once more attracted some of the biggest names in tennis, with world No.1 Federer and American No.3 Andy Roddick again set to complete their preparations for the year's first grand slam at Kooyong.
Agassi's commitment to Kooyong is so renowned that McNamee became concerned the veteran was not coming to Melbourne at all because he had yet to book his spot in the round-robin event. "He has never come down and just played the Australian Open, so that was a concern and it was good that Stubbsy held a place for him," McNamee said.
With Agassi's confirmation, there is just one place remaining in the eight-man field. Stubbs said he hoped to make an announcement next week. "We are very close to finalising something," he said. "It's a little bit out of left field, it's not a high-profile player - it's one of my speculative forays, I suppose."
