Severe sprain could keep Agassi from Australian Open

Andre Agassi’s plans to play next month’s Australian Open are in jeopardy because of a severe left ankle sprain that hasn’t healed.

“Australia has now become a concern, no question about it. Until this is better, I can’t make any sure statements,” Agassi said Wednesday from Carson, Calif. “Right now, I’m worried about my training. I have hope that the next week or two will be big, big gains.”

Agassi sprained his ankle Oct. 12 while playing racquetball with a friend in Las Vegas.

“I couldn’t walk for two weeks,” he said.

He aggravated the injury during the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup last month in Shanghai, where he was upset in the first round.

“It’s arguably worse now than it was two weeks ago, so I set myself back going to Shanghai,” he said. “I have a bone bruise that, literally, is still a world of concern.”

Agassi said he sustained a third-degree sprain, which tore three tendons in his ankle, and caused the bone bruise. A knot was visible on his ankle.

Doctors told Agassi his recovery would take up to eight weeks with full rest and rehabilitation. But he interfered with the process by playing Shanghai and then playing singles and mixed doubles with wife Steffi Graf at a charity exhibition in Virginia.

“After my experience in Shanghai, I can confidently say I’ll never get on the court again unless I’m 100 percent ready,” he said.

“I was just absolutely resentful that I made the decision to go on there less than my best. I was real upset.”

So was an event organizer, who blasted Agassi for his withdrawal. The 35-year-old American was one of five top players who withdrew because of injury or illness.

Soccer

Adu will return to D.C. United

Freddy Adu has made peace with D.C. United, and the teenager who was disgruntled over lack of playing time plans to return next season.

“I’m excited to remain with D.C. United,” Adu said in an interview posted on the team’s Web site. “I’m working hard to improve my game this off-season in order to become a bigger part of the team next season.”

Adu, his mother and his agent met with United officials recently, and the 16-year-old forward also held separate meetings with coach Peter Nowak in Florida to clear the air over Adu’s role on the team.

“I feel that I made substantial improvement from year one to two,” Adu said. “I hope that I continue to improve and that I can utilize my ability to better contribute to the success of the team going forward.”

Adu vented his frustrations to reporters in October while United was preparing for the opening game of the playoffs. He said he should be playing “a lot more,” even though he had started 16 of 25 regular-season games and averaged about 60 minutes per appearance as a second-year player.

He said lack of playing time wrecked his chances of making the U.S. World Cup team and left open the possibility that he would leave United at the end of the season.

United responded by suspending Adu for the playoff opener against Chicago. He returned as a substitute in Game 2 against the Fire, who eliminated United with a 4-0 victory.

“Jeff Agoos, 37, a 10-year veteran of Major League Soccer and a regular defender on the U.S. national teams, announced his retirement from the MetroStars from Secaucus, N.J.

A nine-time all-star, Agoos was a member of five championship teams during his MLS career, the most of any player in league history.

“Duisburg (Germany) coach Norbert Meier was suspended indefinitely for head-butting an opposing player late in a 1-1 draw with Cologne on Tuesday.

College basketball

UTEP suspends top scorer

Leading scorer Jason Williams has been suspended indefinitely by UTEP for punching a teammate during practice and breaking his jaw.

Williams, a senior forward, hit freshman guard Stefon Jackson during a “very competitive practice” Tuesday, UTEP coach Doc Sadler said.

“It happened so fast, I don’t think anyone knows what happened,” Sadler said. “When I feel like this basketball team is ready to move forward with Jason, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Williams, a three-year starter in every game since transferring from Kilgore College in 2003, averages 15.4 points a game for the Miners (4-1).

“Illinois freshman guard Chester Frazier will miss four to eight weeks because of an injury to his left leg.

Miscellany

Texas girl sets prep record

Adrian McGowen of Goodrich (Texas) High School now owns the national girls scoring record.

McGowen, a 5-10 guard who has signed with Texas A&M, scored 41 points Tuesday night to push her career total to 4,542. The record belonged to Missy Thomas, who scored 4,506 points at Gibsland-Coleman in Louisiana from 1992-95.