Agassi to miss Wimbledon

Andre Agassi will miss next week's Wimbledon Championships with a hip injury.

The 1992 champion, who turned 34 in April, said on Tuesday he has been struggling with the injury for several months and that the grass courts would exacerbate his condition.

"I will not be playing the 2004 Wimbledon, The Lawn Tennis Championships this year," the American said.

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"I have been struggling with a hip injury for the past couple of months and in my preparation for Wimbledon realised the injury was only worsened by the nature of the surface and would prevent me from competing.

"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.

"My hope and plans are to see you next year," he said in a statement.

This year will be the first time since 1997 that Agassi, winner of eight Grand Slam titles, will not play at the All England Club.

It will be only the second time he will not have appeared at the All England Club since 1991. In 1997 he was absent after his ranking dropped to 141 in the world.

Agassi won his first Grand Slam in 1992 at Wimbledon, and he lost to Pete Sampras in the final in 1999, reaching the semi-finals three other times.

HOT FORM

Agassi accepted a wildcard into the Wimbledon warm-up event at London's Queen's Club last week, but lost in the first round to Igor Andreev and left immediately.

The player returned home and has been spending time in Southern California.

Agassi started the year in hot form, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open where he lost to Marat Safin in five sets.

He then reached the semi-finals of San Jose and the Indian Wells Masters in his next two tournaments, losing a tight match to Roger Federer at the Masters event.

Since then he has struggled, however.

He has lost in his opening match in his last three tournaments -- his worst run in seven years.

His withdrawal comes as a further blow to the injury-ravaged tournament.

Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, had already lost the top two women players in the world, Belgians Justine Henin-Hardenne (virus) and Kim Clijsters (left wrist injury).

Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil and French Open champion Gaston Gaudio of Argentina pulled out last week because of injuries.