Agassi vows to play return at Wimbledon

ANDRE AGASSI has vowed that he will be back to play at Wimbledon next year, once again looking for a second title at the age of 34.

The world number one, pounded out of the fourth round of this year’s tournament by big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis 6-3 2-6 6-7 6-3 6-4 yesterday, had no hesitation when asked about his future plans.

“Why shouldn’t I be back. I’m a tennis player. My plan is to be back next year,” Agassi said.

The American, who won Wimbledon in 1992 and the last of his eight grand slam titles in Melbourne in January, said victories grew sweeter with age and defeats more disappointing.

“They get more disappointing but it doesn’t last as long,” Agassi said.

For Philippoussis who battered his opponent with a torrent of aces, the victory was all the sweeter as he was returning from an injury layoff.

“When I came into the match I had nothing to lose as everyone was expecting him to win,” said the unseeded Australian, who fired 46 aces on his way to victory.

Philippoussis dropped just four points on his serve as he took the opening set but was surprisingly broken at the start of the second after Agassi had saved two break points in the opening game.

Another break, courtesy of two double faults and two unforced errors, then gifted Agassi the set 6-2.

In the third set Agassi saved five break points in a riveting third game to keep his nose in front, while Philippoussis saved one break point with his 14th ace to level at 2-2.

Agassi briefly threatened to break serve and take the set in the 12th game when he reached 0-30 on Philippoussis’s serve, but the man nicknamed ‘Scud’ hammered down three aces to take his total to 22 and force a tie-break.

He also took the first point in the tie-break when he guessed where Agassi would place a smash and hit a forehand winner, but the 33-year-old took the next five points in a row.

A lucky net cord helped Philippoussis save the first of four set points but there was nothing anyone could do to help him when Agassi whistled a forehand return winner past him to take the tie-break 7-4 for a two sets to one lead.

Agassi saved five break points, three of them with aces, before Philippoussis eventually made the breakthrough to race into a 3-0 lead.

And the former US Open runner-up held his nerve to serve out for the set and a memorable victory.

Meanwhile Tim Henman survived his first serious test at this year’s Wimbledon championships beating last year’s runner-up David Nalbandian 6-2 6-7 7-5 6-3 in a thrilling encounter on Centre Court.

“I won it mentally, it was such a struggle but I wasn’t going to give in,” said Henman, who was roared on by a fiercely partisan crowd on the show court.

Andy Roddick sealed his quarter-final place and the four leading American women, Serena and Venus Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati all swept through to the last eight after a rain-delayed start to the day.

Russia suffered as four of their five women lost, including shrieking 16-year-old wild card Maria Sharapova, but Belgian duo Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters moved through to the quarter-finals as expected.