Agassi opens Wimbledon as Sampras asks for time
Ossian Shine
Andre Agassi will open Centre Court play at the Wimbledon tennis championships on Monday in the absence of title-holder Goran Ivanisevic.
The 1992 champion was given the honour above seven-times champion Pete Sampras after Sampras requested more time to receive treatment on a rib injury, officials said on Sunday.
Sampras had been expected to open play with his match against Britain's Martin Lee but the holder of a record 13 grand slams strained some ribs on Saturday while practising for an exhibition match near London and asked for more time for treatment.
Tournament referee Alan Mills said: "As a result of sustaining an acute strain in the right lower ribs on Saturday, Pete Sampras requested a Tuesday start.
"Since we had already determined his half of the draw would play on Monday 24, we were unable to grant this particular request.
"However, as is the case with all players who ask for a late start, we were able to help him by putting him on third match on Monday."
Traditionally the defending men's champion opens play on Centre Court but Ivanisevic is recovering from shoulder surgery and will not be at Wimbledon while last year's runner-up, Pat Rafter, is on an extended break from the sport.
The last Wimbledon men's champion not to return to defend his title was American Stan Smith in 1973. He stayed away because of an ATP boycott over the suspension of Yugoslav Nikki Pilic by tennis officials for failing to play a Davis Cup match.
Instead Agassi, seeded third, will tackle Israel's Harel Levy on the main showcourt.
Agassi is one of only five men to win all four grand slam titles in his career -- Wimbledon plus the Australian, French and U.S. Open crowns.
The American has always been a firm favourite with the Wimbledon fans and will be a popular choice.
Women's second seed Serena Williams, fresh from her victory over sister Venus in the French Open final earlier this month, will follow Agassi on to Centre Court for her match with Australia's Evie Dominikovic.
Women's third seed Jennifer Capriati will take on Slovakia's Janette Husarova on Court One. She will be followed by men's second seed Marat Safin against former runner-up Cedric Pioline, then British big server Greg Rusedski against Austria's Juergen Melzer.
The bottom halves of the men's and women's draws are being played on the opening day which means Hewitt and British favourite Tim Henman, as well as women's top seed Venus Williams, will play on Tuesday.
