Agassi Retires After Defeat

Andre Agassi today retired from tennis after being knocked out of the US Open in four sets by Benjamin Becker.

Agassi made his final competitive appearance on a tennis court in New York, 14 years after claiming the first of his eight grand slam titles with victory at Wimbledon.

Becker held the initiative in their third-round clash after taking the first set before the 36-year-old hit back to win the second on a tie-break.

The German restored his lead in the third although the American seemed to have claimed the upper hand in fourth with a number of fierce service games and held set point on his opponent's serve which he failed to convert.

Becker played some brilliant shots in the following game to break Agassi and prepare to serve for the match against the only man to have won all four grand slams as well as the Olympic title.

The 25-year-old faced a stern test of his nerve facing not just Agassi but the vociferous American crowd and he coped admirably and when the American put a shot marginally long he held three match points.

Becker served a clean ace and clinched the match 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5.