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| Andre Agassi follows through on a return against Kevin Kim during Day 4 of the Mercedes-Benz© Matthew Stockman/Getty Images |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Andre Agassi pulled out of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Monday, wanting some extra rest after winning a hard-court title in Los Angeles.
Agassi, 35, has won the Washington tournament five times and played in it each of the past 15 years.
"At this point in my career, I have to be extremely selective about the amount of matches that I play in preparation of the US Open,'' Agassi said in a letter to the tournament's director. "I am sorry that I will not be there this year but hope to return in 2006.''
He beat Gilles Muller 6-4, 7-5 Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Cup final Sunday to collect his first ATP Tour title in nearly a year.
Hampered by a back injury, Agassi hadn't played in a tournament since losing in the first round at the French Open in May.
The Legg Mason Tennis Classic runs from Monday through Sunday and is one of several tuneups for the US Open. The year's last Grand Slam event starts Aug. 29.