Document text
--> --> Agassi backs new seeding plan in France HAMBURG, Germany (AP) - Despite a troubled start to the clay-court season, Andre Agassi would support the French Open if ever it used a special seeding system like Wimbledon. Seeded third, Agassi was toppled 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 by Frenchman Fabrice Santoro on Wednesday, meaning 12 of the 16 seeded players were expunged from the Tennis Masters Series in Hamburg after just three days of play. With the top six gone, seventh-seeded Lleyton Hewitt of Australia was the highest ranked player remaining. "I just feel that these tournaments that are so specific to the specialist in any one department, whether it be clay or grass, I think it requires some assessing," Agassi said. "The top six seeds going out here is probably a good testament to it. "Every draw requires you to play well at different stages of the tournament. So ... if the French wants to see things differently, no problems with me." Over the last decade, only three non-clay court specialists have won the title at Roland Garros. Feeling they are discriminated against at Wimbledon, clay-court specialists have wanted the French Open to use a special seeding system to benefit them. Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten, the world's top-ranked player and two-time French Open winner, and several Spanish players have raised the possibility of boycotting Wimbledon if the club continues with a policy favoring grass-court specialists. In a move to avert a potential boycott, the All England Club announced last month it was dropping its seeding panel for the men's event, but was looking for an alternative, refusing to use the ATP entry list to determine its list of 16 seeded players. Wimbledon has been the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments that does not use the ATP rankings. The All England Club has based its list on a player's grass-court credentials, often relegating clay-courters below their rankings or out of the seedings altogether. The All England Club is expected to turn to a computer-based formula that takes into account grass-court credentials to determine who gets seeded where, but clay-courters feel that is still unfair. "I say seed me wherever you want and I am going to show up and try to win," said Agassi, only the fifth man ever to win all four Grand Slam tournaments during his career. "Stick me wherever you want in the draw, I am going to go out there and realize I have to beat seven players to win, and what order they come in doesn't matter to me. "It's about playing well at the right time." Though French Open officials have no plans to change their seeding program, such a move would have left Agassi in a tender position. The American has struggled on clay so far this season, falling in the opening round at the Italian Open in Rome last week and losing in the first round to France's Nicolas Thomann in Atlanta before that. His latest defeat was came with just two weeks left to prepare for the French Open. The American would have preferred more practice on the red dust. "It would be nice to still be in the event," Agassi said. "But a couple of matches is better than one match. So I'll try to find the bright point in it, which isn't very bright, and then move forward. "Hopefully by the French and playing three of five I'll find myself hitting a rhythm, get through a few matches there. There's not much I can do at this point except give it my best shot." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing