Agassi limps out of Paris

Andre Agassi left the French Open on Tuesday, his 35-year-old body unable to drive him through this most gruelling of grand slam tournaments.

Hobbling in pain and blinking back tears, Andre Agassi left the French Open on Tuesday, his 35-year-old body unable to drive him through this most gruelling of grand slam tournaments.

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While his spirit had been willing throughout, his body let him down when a nerve in his back became inflamed and he limped out of the first round 7-5 4-6 6-7 6-1 6-0 to Finn Jarkko Nieminen.

"You know, it's bad. It's something that needs to be addressed because I can't be out there like that. I mean, I literally hurt," the American said.

"It was getting worse by the minute... I mean, that's not good, you know, to be out there and to not be able to play for four or five hours," the American said. "Doesn't leave you with high hopes."

Agassi's wife Steffi Graf called it quits after 16 trips to the French capital.

Agassi has now had 17 cracks at the title he won in 1999 and although he refuses to talk of retirement just yet there must be a question mark over his willingness to return for more punishment in 2006 after two consecutive first round defeats in the French capital.

Agassi's 1999 victory made him only the fifth man to win all four grand slam titles at least once and cemented his reputation as a giant of the modern game.

But on Tuesday the sixth seed looked a forlorn and anguished figure with his Finnish opponent outrunning and outgunning him.

"Something tells me I'm at a stage of my career where I'm going to be living with these (cortisone) injections because this is unplayable when it feels like this," Agassi said.

"There's nothing you can do to get comfortable. To be out there against some of the best athletes in the world, it's impossible. I mean, to feel this, it's impossible."

SEASONED CAMPAIGNER

Agassi was not the only seasoned campaigner to learn that experience was no match for youth on Paris clay.

In the women's draw Conchita Martinez was felled 6-0 4-6 6-4 by Justine Henin-Hardenne in the first round.