Tennis: Agassi Winged By Qualifier Who Fears Flying

The candle is burning low for Andre Agassi. He may yet summon up a couple of last hurrahs at Wimbledon and the US Open later this year, but at Roland Garros yesterday the 34-year-old American was bundled out in the first round of the French Open by a little known 23-year-old French qualifier with a fear of flying. On this occasion Jérôme Haehnel could not keep his feet on the ground.

"There's really no explanation. I wish I could give you an excuse," said Agassi, who in 1999 became only the fifth man to win all four grand slam titles with his victory here. This may prove his Parisian swan song. "It's hard to say. I mean you want to come back but you just don't know. Next year is a long way away for me."

Haehnel, ranked 271st and without a win on the Tour, had contemplated quitting earlier this year. "It's difficult to say what I feel right now. It's unbelievable. Now I reckon I will keep going for a bit."

Agassi had missed all the major pre-French clay-court tournaments, restricting himself to last week's event in St Polten where he also lost in the first round. He was under prepared and paid the price. "I'm not in the stage of my career where I have a lot of options. I have to choose carefully what tournaments I play and hope a few things fall my way."

Although Agassi has not talked of retirement, his long-time trainer Gil Reyes has spoken of him being on the final lap. "This season was calculated in the big picture," said Agassi, who has eight grand slam titles. "I would have every expectation that Wimbledon and the US Open are going to be a lot better than this."

Spain's Carlos Moya, the 1998 champion and No5 seed, beat the Dutchman John van Lottum 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 and Argentina's Guillermo Coria easily defeated Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 6-2, 6-0. "I am definitely feeling better than in Hamburg," said Coria, who lost the final there, and a 31-match unbeaten run on clay, against the Swiss world No1 Roger Federer, who opens today against Kristof Vliegen of Belgium.