BERLIN -- Andre Agassi pulled out of next week's Hamburg Masters Series tournament, infuriating event organizers.
"I am extremely disappointed," tournament director Walter
Knapper said after learning Friday that Agassi would not
play.
Knapper said he had not been informed of Agassi's withdrawal
and did not know the reason for it. He found out that the
American was not playing after seeing his name crossed out on an
internal start list.
"We will say what we think about this at the end of the
tournament," Knapper said after receiving confirmation from the
Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) that Agassi had pulled
out.
Agassi, who has made an early exit from this week's Rome
Masters, was expected to come to Hamburg to complete his
preparations for the French Open, which starts May 26.
His withdrawal came as a further blow to the organizers
after local hope and former world top-three player Tommy Haas
pulled out, saying he needed more time to recover from shoulder
surgery.
Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker and his
marketing agency BCI have stepped in this year to save the
Hamburg event from financial collapse.
Becker has set up exhibition matches between himself,
Michael Stich and the McEnroe brothers, John and Patrick, to
promote the tournament.
Becker delighted a 12,000 crowd by beating John McEnroe in
three sets on Thursday. Stich had earlier beaten Patrick McEnroe
in straight sets.
The former German rivals are teaming up to play the McEnroe
brothers in a doubles match later on Friday.