Andre Agassi insists he is not even
pondering retirement after picking up the 54th and probably easiest title of his
career.
The 32-year-old won the Madrid Masters after Jiri Novak pulled out of Sunday's
final with a thigh injury before a shot was even hit.
But Agassi, who is targeting Lleyton Hewitt's end-of-year number one spot,
said: "I can say I feel as eager and inspired as I ever have done in my life.
"I'm excited about every game and I want to win every time I go out on
court.
"There is still a lot of tennis to be played this year and I am looking
forward to it.
"My body is holding up, I've no idea how long it will hold on for, but my
mind is still determined to play.
"I think I can find a way to continue playing for the next few years."
Agassi's great rival Pete Sampras, the US Open champion, has hinted that he is
considering calling it a day.
"Pete has earned the way to play as he likes and also the right to not play
when he doesn't want to," said Agassi.
The new Madrid champion will now go straight onto the Masters event in St
Petersburg, which starts on Monday, as he looks to displace Hewitt.
"It has been a lot of hard work for me this season, especially after missing
the Australian Open and three Super Nines," said Agassi.
"Winning Grand Slams is the best thing you can do in tennis, but finishing as
world number one is a symbol of a lot of work."
Novak underwent medical tests today and it emerged that he tore a muscle in
the top of his right thigh during the semi-final win over Fabrice
Santoro.
The Czech said: "I felt a pain in my leg against Santoro during yesterday's
game, but as my muscles were warm at the time, it wasn't a problem. It was only
when I rested that it started to hurt.
"I discussed it with the doctor last night, but it was only two or three
hours before the game that we decided I would be unable to play.
"This was my first Masters final and it's the first time I've had to pull out
of a tournament because of injury, I'm devastated."
Novak still faces a battle to make the £2million Masters Cup in Shanghai which
begins on November 11.
"I'm not sure if I'll be out of that," he said. "I need to rest a couple of
days and then we'll see.
"I've already pulled out of St Petersburg, I hope I'll be fit for Paris, but
I don't know."
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