American legend Andre Agassi said he was embarrassed at his International Premier Tennis League cameo on Thursday after he was left out of the final night of action in Singapore
Singapore: American legend Andre Agassi said he was embarrassed at his International Premier Tennis League cameo on Thursday after he was left out of the final night of action in Singapore.
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The eight-time Grand Slam champion was reduced to watching from the sidelines as his Singapore Slammers team-mates, including Serena Williams and Tomas Berdych, beat the UAE Royals 27-25. Agassi lost 6-3 to Mark Philippoussis on Tuesday and 6-2 to Fabrice Santoro on Wednesday, and was replaced by Pat Rafter for Thursday's legends match against Goran Ivanisevic.
The 44-year-old, who now mainly plays exhibition tennis, said the inaugural IPTL was a great experience, but added: "I wasn't fond of it being so full-on and competitive." "Coming back here I'm a bit embarrassed with the way I was not responding to the environment from a playing perspective," Agassi said. "So I would have to make some adjustments and change how much I play so I can flat-out compete and make somebody else look shitty."
Agassi took out his frustrations on his racquet during Wednesday's loss to Santoro, in a tie which Singapore eventually won 24-23. By Thursday, he was able to joke about his form. "Yesterday the two games I won ended up being the deciding two games," he said.
Agassi earlier compared the pressure of the quickfire IPTL, which has a 20-second serve clock and no advantage scores, to facing Pete Sampras -- with whom he contested five Grand Slam finals. It was Agassi's first outing in the IPTL and could be his last, as he is now heading home and did not confirm whether he will return next year. "If I do come back I'll spend a few months trying to get myself better form," he said.
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