MELBOURNE, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Andre Agassi withdrew from the Australian Open Sunday due to a wrist injury, wiping out his hopes of capturing the championship for the third straight year.
He was to have begun his title defense Tuesday against Zimbabwe's Byron Black. Agassi could have become the first player since Roy Emerson in 1965 to win three Australian Opens in a row.
The bookmakers' favorite for the title, Agassi was not on the opening day's schedule, but he decided there was no point waiting to see if another 24 hours brought any improvement.
Agassi reached the final of the Commonwealth Bank International at nearby Kooyong on Saturday, and even after losing, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, to Pete Sampras, he made no mention of his problem.
Sampras could be the main beneficiary as the pair could have met in the quarterfinals.
Agassi, who won his first Australian Open crown in 1995, was the picture of optimism at a news conference last week as he outlined his determination to clinch a fourth title.
"I love being down here," he said. "I love the people, the enthusiasm, the conditions. It's definitely brought out my best tennis."
Agassi has admitted that the competition is getting stiffer as he heads into the twilight of his career.
"Going on 32 years old, I can't look at any spot in the draw and feel like it's not stacked," he said. "Everybody is so good."
Agassi defeated Arnaud Clement here in last year's final for the first of his four titles of the season. He finished 2001 third in the ATP Champions Race, becoming the oldest player to place in the top three since Jimmy Connors was second in 1984.
