Agassi Wins First 2006 Match; Wang Liqun Still Sucks

Delray Beach results so far:

Singles - First Round
(1)(WC)A Agassi (USA) d R Mello (BRA) 64 64
(WC)M Fish (USA) vs S Greul (GER)
J Gimelstob (USA) d D Udomchoke (THA) 64 64
(Q)T Widom (USA) vs (5)W Moodie (RSA)
(8)V Spadea (USA) vs Y Wang (TPE)
G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d B Phau (GER) 61 64
(6)F Mayer (GER) d M Berrer (GER) 46 60 63
O Marach (AUT) d C Saulnier (FRA) 20 Ret.

Doubles - First Round
Pavel/Sabau d (WC)Clayton/Kendrick 64 62

Although unrelated, I was recently reminded how the Shanghai Tennis Masters Cup tournament directors and certain players freaked out over Agassi withdrawing after his first match loss. He was criticized for doing so:

"I don't appreciate what Agassi is doing. He made the announcement without telling anyone," said organising committee deputy director Wang Liqun. In 2000, when Agassi came for the Heineken Open, he took an early exit in the first round. "Two years later in the Masters Cup, after two defeats, he cited a hip injury and took off. This year it happened again."

Now, I certainly can understand that people would be disappointed to lose Agassi - but let's be realistic here. These statements (and others like them) are completely moronic. The implication is that Agassi doesn't care about the tournament, Agassi doesn't care about the fans, and the injury wasn't that serious, etc. Apparently, the injury was serious enough to keep Agassi out of the Australian Open! I also find it hard to criticize Agassi for not caring about the fans - while he couldn't spend time signing autographs like Nadal, I'm sure he did make the best decision for himself and I can't think of a single example where Agassi has been less than accomodating toward fans and the media - so I am a little bit baffled when Federer feels the need to speak up about the topic of players withdrawing:

"I think criticism is allowed at this point," said the world number one.

"I understand the big disappointment from the government, from the tournament and from the fans."

I sure hope that when/if Federer is playing the ATP tour at 35, he has some jackass like himself around.

Agassi's reaction:

"I certainly didn't appreciate how irresponsible (Wang) was," Agassi said. "It was very discouraging for me. I'm frustrated by the whole thing."

If only I had a Colbert Report-style "notice board". Wang Liqun, you are on notice!