Agassi hints at Paris farewell after shock defeat

ANDRE AGASSI’S chances of returning to Roland Garros in 2005, and playing in a 17th French Open, are looking slim after suffering a crushing first round defeat yesterday to French qualifier Jerome Haehnel.

“I want to come back but I just don’t know. It’s a year away. That’s a long time for me right now. The chances get less every year for sure,” said the American sixth seed after his 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 defeat to Haehnel, ranked 271 in the world and playing in his first tour match.

Agassi, French Open champion in 1999 and looking for his 800th career win, suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit since 1998 when he also lost in the first round here to another qualifier, Russia’s Marat Safin.