26 January 2005	Wednesday	15 Zilhaj 1425

MELBOURNE, Jan 25: Andre Agassi was considering his future after leaving the Australian Open following a 6-3 6-4 6-4 quarterfinal defeat by defending champion Roger Federer on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old four-times champion, who departed Melbourne Park as a loser for only the fourth time, would not be drawn on whether he will return. "I plan to be back, but a year's a long time," he told reporters. "It's hard to say right now. You know me. I have to play it by ear and make some good decisions."

Agassi gave little away as he waved to the crowd on his departure from Rod Laver Arena but with his 35th birthday just three months away, he knows time is against him. The world number one Swiss had an answer for everything, breaking Agassi early in each set on his way to a comprehensive victory in 99 minutes.

"He just outplayed me, he was too good," Agassi said. Those who have condemned Agassi to the history books, however, have been proved wrong many times before. Having burst on to the scene as a brash 16-year-old in 1986, Agassi won the biggest prize of all when he triumphed at Wimbledon in 1992.

After a few years in the doldrums, he staged an unlikely comeback to complete the set of all four grand slam titles and become the oldest world number one in history.

Five of his eight grand slam victories came after his 29th birthday, but though he arrived in Australia saying he was in the shape of his life, it is unlikely the American can carry on much longer.

"It's disappointing," he said. "I've spent a lot of years coming down here and having some real memorable matches and leaving with the trophy. I wanted tonight to be memorable but it's one I'd probably prefer to forget.

As for Federer, Agassi thinks he has the world at his feet. "He does everything well and a lot of things great," he said. "He plays the game beautifully. The expectation for him to be one of the greats is certainly understandable." -Reuters