Agassi anything but retired

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Six months ago half the tennis world was speculating that Andre Agassi was ready to retire at the end of 2004.

He not only didn’t retire, he reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open last month. Monday, through U.S. team captain Patrick McEnroe, Agassi made it clear the fire he once felt for Davis Cup has been relit and he will play at least the opening round match, March 4-6, against Croatia, at Carson, Calif.

Agassi hasn’t played for the team since April 2000, choosing instead to concentrate on his tournament singles play, but he has been on three Cup-winning American squads — in 1990, 1992 and 1995.

“We talked at length about a lot of things and I would say we’ll take it one match at a time,” McEnroe said. “But, to be honest, I don’t think he’s coming back for just one match.”

McEnroe said it would be “unrealistic,” given the heavy travel and competition on the ATP schedule, to expect Agassi, 35, to play every tie, but his rekindled passion seems to make it clear that, if the United States reaches the final in December, Agassi will be there, if he’s fit enough.

He will combine with Andy Roddick in singles. Twins Bob and Mike Bryan, who haven’t lost a set in five Cup ties, will play doubles.

“Andre’s interest is in what the guys on the team have created,” said McEnroe, pointing to the rediscovered camaraderie and chemistry that tied his young squad of Roddick, the Bryans and Mardy Fish together in 2004. “Andre saw that from a distance and thought, `I’d like to be involved in that.’

“It’s driving him to be part of something special.”

McEnroe acknowledged that he had to do some convincing to get Agassi back on the team, and most of the conversation took place at a two-hour dinner at a Las Vegas restaurant.

While the two men didn’t talk about Andre’s superior ability on clay, that could be a key factor in the team’s drive to win the Cup for the first time since 1995.

Last year, Roddick, Fish and the Bryans reached the final, but they were badly overmatched in singles on the dense red clay at Seville, Spain.

There are three particularly strong clay teams in the 16-nation World Group this year — Spain, Chile and Argentina.

If the United States meets Spain or Chile, it will be in the U.S. with McEnroe having the choice of surface.