Tennis: Angry Agassi abandons Davis Cup

DISCORD CONTINUES to blight the Americans, who are due to announce their Davis Cup squad today for their first round encounter with Britain at Easter. The latest rift concerns the United States Tennis Association's decision to dispense with the team's doctor, George Fareed.

Andre Agassi's response was to vow that he would never play in the Davis Cup again, having already declared himself unavailable for the forthcoming match in Birmingham, along with Pete Sampras. "They just fired George Fareed," Agassi said, breaking the news to the American media, "that's the last straw for me."

Fareed had been the team's doctor for eight years, succeeding his late father, Omar, whose respected courtside manner dated back to the old professional tour, where his medical expertise enabled the likes of Pancho Gonzales and Jack Kramer to play matches night after night.

"Good old Omar, God rest his soul, was there for the team on every level," Agassi said. "George came in and did the exact same thing. The players loved him. He goes to the wall for you during Davis Cup weeks, and away from Davis Cup weeks. [The USTA's decision] is just another example of how players aren't consulted about anything that happens. I didn't hear about it till last week. I'm done with Davis Cup."

Rick Ferman, the USTA's executive director, said Agassi's statement that the doctor was fired was "grossly overstated", explaining that Fareed was a casualty of the new regulations and standards the USTA is about to implement regarding medical staff. The requirements include board certificates in specific areas; completion of fellowship training; involvement on a daily basis with the treatment of professional athletes; and significant experience in dealing with professional tennis players.

Agassi said that the USTA president, Judy Levering, had called his office to tell him about the Fareed decision. "She said that they have some concerns about him. That was it. Some legalities. Find out from them. They'll explain it better, I'm sure."

Ferman said: "Dr Fareed's service level was top notch, but his credentials do not match up to our requirements". He added that a new team doctor is due to be appointed this week.

Sampras, who has said he is missing the Davis Cup to concentrate on personal goals, said he was "shocked" to hear that Fareed had lost his job. "I've known George for many years. He's one of the nicest people I've met in tennis. It's not really my business who should be the doctor. I give my input. I like George. He seemed very knowledgeable."

Jim Courier, one of the players who is expected to fill the void Sampras and Agassi have left in the squad that will travel to Birmingham, said: "I don't know enough about [the situation] at the moment to make a comment, other than to say I think we all loved Doc Fareed and we'll certainly miss him dearly. I'll want to know why [this has happened] and try to understand it, because he's been such an integral part of our team.

The former world No 1, while agreeing that the timing of the doctor's dismissal was unfortunate, did not react with Agassi's vehemence regarding the Davis Cup. "I wouldn't say that [I won't play], if that's the case [with Andre]," Courier said. "I don't want to down-play the fact of how much I appreciate everything that Doc Fareed does for our team. I'm disappointed that he's not going to be with us from here on in.

"I don't understand exactly the whole scenario yet. The continuity is a very nice part of a team. Although our team changes personnel player- wise, we've had the same medical staff, trainer, massage therapist and captain now for many years. To disrupt that is not the most helpful, certainly."

The 28-year-old Courier, ranked No 52 in the world, had just stepped off the Stadium Court at the Lipton Championships after a second round defeat by Sampras, 6-3, 7-6, but was in an optimistic mood. "I like the way I'm hitting the ball," he said. "I like the way I'm competing. It's like Brad [Stine], my coach, said to me after the match, `Keep playing like that, you're going to win a lot of matches and do well'."

Agassi, also aged 28 but ranked No 9, was unable to suppress the promising Slovak, Dominik Hrbaty, and slipped out in the second round with the deflation of two consecutive double-faults.

Tom Gullikson, the United States Davis Cup captain, intends to speak with Agassi in the hope that he will change his mind about playing in the Davis Cup in the future. "Never is a strong word," Gullikson said. "Maybe, hopefully, it's a reaction to the loss [to Hrbaty]."

Boris Becker's bade farewell to the Lipton singles, having found Marat Safin too strong for him in the second round, the 19-year-old Russian winning, 7-5, 6-0. "He has very raw power," Becker said. "If he's able to use it in a proper way, he's a future No 1. I haven't seen anybody hitting that hard from both wings for a long time."

Greg Rusedski advanced to the last 16 yesterday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Germany's Hendrik Deekmann. He now plays Australia's Pat Rafter or Nicolas Kiefer, of Germany.