INFINITI OPEN : EARLY DEPARTURE OF AGASSI DID A NUMBER ON ATTENDANCE.Byline: Joe Jares Daily News Staff Writer The Infiniti Open at the L.A. Tennis Center drew 69,614 fans for the week, 4,226 fewer than last year. Not bad, but think what it would have been if Andre Agassi Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. had managed to last more than one round. The Tuesday-night session, when Agassi was upset by tour rookie Justin Gimelstob Justin Gimelstob (b. 26 January 1977, in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American tennis player. He won the 1998 Australian Open and French Open mixed doubles titles with Venus Williams as his partner. , drew 7,086, the best of the week. The atmosphere was electric and glamorous that evening, especially with Johnny Carson
Career Shields' career as a model began in the late 1960s as an infant, and she continued as a successful child model throughout the 1970s. , in the stands. Saturday night's semifinal attracted only 5,742. The fact that the weekend matches were on television no doubt hurt the gate at least a little. Finalities: Thomas Enqvist Thomas Enqvist (born March 13, 1974 in Stockholm) is a former professional tennis player from Sweden, who played on the ATP circuit since turning pro in 1991. He announced his retirement from tennis in April, 2006. has won 11 of his 13 career finals. Both losses have come in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . His victories have come at such widely scattered cities as Bolzano, Italy, Philadelphia, Stockholm (twice), New Delhi, Paris and Marseille. His victims have included such top players as Michael Chang, Michael Stich and Marcelo Rios. But Enqvist holds no grudge against Los Angeles. In fact, he likes the city and likes the Infiniti Open. ``I'll be back and go for it next year,'' he said. Davis Cup doings: The United States plays Australia in the semifinals in Washington, D.C. (Italy plays Sweden in the other semifinal). Infiniti champion Jim Courier has helped the U.S. get this far and hopes to be chosen by team captain Tom Gullikson to face the tough Aussie team of Mark Philippoussis, Patrick Rafter and the ``Woodies,'' Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. Courier has made it plain here that he will consider it highly unfair if he is dumped in favor of world No. 1 Pete Sampras or No. 2 Chang, neither of whom has lifted a racket for the U.S. this year. This is an ongoing problem for Davis Cup captains. The United States Tennis Association “USTA” redirects here. For other uses, see USTA (disambiguation). The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States. pays the players, and the players' sponsors no doubt like to be connected to Davis Cup heroics. But top men frequently don't want to bother with the Bolivias and Belgiums in early rounds, even though small countries can be dangerous, especially on their home courts before frequently boisterous and even rude crowds. These big stars sometimes will deign deign v. deigned, deign·ing, deigns v.intr. To think it appropriate to one's dignity; condescend: wouldn't deign to greet the servant who opened the door. to join up for the later, maximum-glory rounds. To John McEnroe's credit, he acted like a jerk much of the time but at least he almost always made himself available for Davis Cup. Courier feels that is how it should be with any American player. He described the attitude of some of his betters in the rankings as ``horse----.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Thomas Enqvist grimaces after missing a point during the first set of his loss in final to Jim Courier. Joe Binoya / Special to the Daily News |
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