Columnist Dean Juipe: Is Agassi near end of the line?

Dean Juipe

Monday, Sept. 11, 2000 | 10:24 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

He authored one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, returning to the No. 1 ranking in men's professional tennis last year after slipping to No. 141.

But it's entirely possible Andre Agassi has hit the wall.

It may even be unrealistic to expect him to perform at the level he was displaying in 1999 and earlier this year.

Sleuths would say there are clues all around.

For starters, Agassi was bounced out early in the U.S. Open that concluded Sunday in New York. He went quietly, losing to a heretofore unknown qualifier, Arnaud Clement.

The fire and drive that personify Agassi's game when he's at his best were gone. It was almost as if the roles were reversed, with Clement dictating play and Agassi meekly stepping aside.

He packed his bags and returned to Las Vegas, where both his mother, Elizabeth, and a sister, Tami, are dealing with breast cancer.

He also withdrew from the Olympics, which begin Friday in Sydney.

Aside from being the defending champion, he -- and anyone else on the pro tennis tours, for that matter -- had no real need to travel to Australia. It's extremely inconvenient and most of the sport's big names had no intention of going, although Agassi initially committed.

But there's something telltale about the withdrawal, as if Agassi needs to get away from tennis for a while.

His personal life, which, reflecting the superstar personality he is, has been played out in public, might need some attention. Not only does he have a mother and a sister battling cancer, a second sister, Rita, told the Sun two weeks ago she all but detests Andre and her tone was unforgiving.

Maybe that relationship cannot be patched up, although maybe he should try.

Beyond that, Agassi has a developing and romantic interest in another tennis icon, Steffi Graf, that has to be cutting into his tennis time. They may be close to marriage.

Agassi, 30, has made more than $20 million in official earnings on the pro tennis tour and countless millions in endorsements. Money should be the least of his present concerns.

And he has already proven himself to be a warrior and a true champion, highlighted by that comeback to the top spot in the worldwide rankings. He is also one of only five men in the history of the sport to own a career grand slam.

So he has achieved all of his goals, and then some.

It would be excusable if the spark and desire that made him a popular champion is on the wane, just as it would be excusable if he has started feeling the physical effects of turning 30. He has played professionally for 15 years and at some point enough is enough.

He would be within his rights to say he's lost his commitment to the sport, at least temporarily, and is gliding into a partial or full-fledged retirement.

He looked ready to call it quits during and after his recent loss to Clement, as if he knew his game was in an irreversible decline.

If so, he should go out with his head high and not play just to play. His fans really don't want to see him at No. 141 again.