Federer, Nadal 'disappointed' by Agassi

Reuters - Fri, 30 Oct 00:00:00 2009

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both voiced their displeasure at Andre Agassi after the former world number one revealed he took the recreational drug crystal meth in 1997 and lied about the reasons for a positive test.

Roger Federer of Switzerland (L) cries as he receives his trophy during the presentation ceremony after winning the men's final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open, REUTERS - 0

"To me it seems terrible," world number two Nadal said at an awards ceremony in Madrid. "Why is he saying this now that he has retired?

"It's a way of damaging the sport that makes no sense.

"I believe our sport is clean and I am the first one that wants that.

"Cheaters must be punished and if Agassi was a cheater during his career he should have been punished."

World number one Roger Federer, who beat Agassi in the final of the 2005 US Open, also spoke of his sadness at the eight times major winner's admission in his new autobiography "Open".

"It was a shock when I heard the news." Federer said at a sponsors meeting at Kilchberg near Zurich.

"I am disappointed and I hope there are no more such cases in future.... our sport must stay clean."

However Agassi found support at home with fellow American and Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick saying the 39-year-old remained his hero despite the revelations.

Roddick, the leading US men's player who lost to Federer in this year's Wimbledon final, was one of many compatriots who remained unfazed by Agassi's admissions.

"Andre is and always will be my idol. I will judge him on how he has treated me and how he has changed the world for (the) better," Roddick wrote on his Twitter page.

Roddick said Agassi's letter to the ATP, in which he told the governing body he had failed a drugs test because his drink had been spiked, came at a time when the player was far from his peak.

"To be fair, when Andre wrote the reported letter, he was well outside the top 100 and widely viewed as on the way out," said Roddick.

Women's world number two Serena Williams reacted to the news by plugging her own book.

"I don't even know what crystal meth is so, you know, that's what my reaction to it is. I haven't read anything about Andre Agassi's book. All I know is that I have a book coming out," she told reporters at the WTA Championships in Doha.

Serena's sister Venus, the world number seven, added: "His book will probably sell. It seems very interesting, to say the least."

US media has been restrained in its response to Agassi's admissions, which have appeared in excerpts from the book.

The New York Times noted Agassi was able to bounce back from his dark spell and enjoy a successful end to his career.

"The question is: Might it all have turned out differently without Agassi's reprieve from the doping panel, without his lie?" it asked referring to the five majors he won after 1997.

However, CBS columnist Ray Ratto questioned the motive behind Agassi's revelations.

"We're not here to kick a guy now that he's back up, although in fairness we've always found honesty to be more refreshing when it doesn't come at $31.99 a copy."

Reuters

Comment 125 - 144 of 144

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  1. I would like some proof that tennis players are not­ doping, including Nadal and Federer. I understand­ their disappointment in Agassi, however, where is their­ compassion? It makes them sound as if we should­ worship sports athletes and are suppose to believe they­ are perfect.
    Federer makes millions and has sold out to­ commercialism just like Agassi did. Nadal flaunts­ almost everytime he is on the court, just like Agassi­ used to do. Those who live in glass houses should­ learn not to throw rocks.

    From cam44442000, on Mon 9 Nov 4:25AM

  2. dent9, since when have junkies been­ "normals"? They're the scum of the earth,­ and Agassi is right to feel ashamed, and Federer and­ Nadal equally disappointed in him. The only thing I­ can't understand is why he talked about it. Go to­ your nearest RC church Andre, and confess, but­ otherwise shut up. We don't want or need to know­ this stuff.

    From canuk1938, on Sat 31 Oct 12:31AM

  3. were all human.and no one is as white as tennis­ whites.i think hes brave to rattle the cage and show­ the rest of us that tennis is for normals.real people­ take drugs,its a fact(whatever the poison).is it really­ such a big deal?

    From dent9, on Sat 31 Oct 12:01AM

  4. I can't post the URL, because it's not allowed,­ but I paste an other article which shows some context -­ it surely changes the message:

    World No.1 Roger­ Federer on Thursday voiced disappointment at Andre­ Agassi's admission that he had taken drugs in 1997­ and then lied to the ATP to avoid a ban.
    "It was a­ shock when I heard the news. I am disappointed and I­ hope there are no more such cases in future,"­ Federer said at a sponsors meeting at Kilchberg near­ Zurich.

    But Federer also noted that Agassi "has­ done a lot for tennis, both as a player and as a human­ being".
    "Today, he raises millions of dollars­ for his foundation for disadvantaged children,"­ the Swiss ace commented.

    Federer noted that today,­ players must make themselves available for dope tests­ between 20 and 30 times a year. "Our sport must­ stay clean," he stressed.

    As for Nadal:
    World­ No.2 Rafael Nadal says it would be "dreadful"­ if tennis authorities covered up Andre Agassi's­ drug habit.
    Nadal said on Thursday if the ATP had known­ about Agassi's drug taking and protected him it­ would be unacceptable.
    "If the ATP covered for­ Agassi at the time then I think that's­ dreadful," Nadal said in Madrid as he prepared to­ receive a civic award.
    "The only thing I can say­ is that if they covered at that moment for the player­ and punished others for doing the same kind of thing­ then that would seem to me to be a lack of respect for­ all sportsmen."
    Nadal concluded that "cheats­ have to be punished" and said he could not­ understand why Agassi "now that he is retired­ comes out and says this - it's a way of senselessly­ damaging the sport".

    From sandy, on Fri 30 Oct 8:07PM

  5. a cheater is not honourable, accept it u ve got­ dignity, do not accept it , u re worse than the cheater­ agassi

    From Ikenna, on Fri 30 Oct 7:51PM

  6. It is sad to hear of agassi's confession to taking­ drugs but if anything i'm sure this drug would of­ made his playing worse because of the affects from it­ so he must of still had his raw talent in there­ too.
    However i think it is important to drug test­ players as regualrly as possible otherwise younsters­ who look upto their idols will probably think it's­ ok to use enhancers.
    I also think that if a player has­ an injury and is on any medication they must be free­ from the drug before playing again.
    If the drug has to­ be continued regular tests should be done to keep an­ eye on the levels and to make sure nothing more potent­ is being used as well.
    I would be devastated if i found­ out that my favourite player was using drugs and i­ would be looking for them to have a ban.

    From Charlotte, on Fri 30 Oct 7:30PM

  7. He admitted it, and at least he was a character when he­ played - I bet many more pros do drugs that we dont­ (yet) know about. Look at the Tour de France example a­ few years ago....

    From Luke, on Fri 30 Oct 7:18PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Is Agassi better than both Federer and Nadal?­­
    Yes(thumbs up)
    No(thumbs down)

    From Wt, on Fri 30 Oct 7:08PM

  9. soory Nicholas ;-)

    From Igor K, on Fri 30 Oct 6:58PM

  10. Nicholas: no :) I just don't like when­ someone's words are deliberately misinterpreted­ just to produce sensation. Also, I don't like when­ the difference between the separate comments of 2­ people is blurred.

    From sandy, on Fri 30 Oct 6:41PM

  11. How demeaning is this revelation!! A supposed­ 'gentleman' of our beloved tennis and yet he­ shows his true worth trying to sell a handful more­ books with sensationalism.
    A very sad day for­ tennis???????

    From H.M., on Fri 30 Oct 6:39PM

  12. Igor I agree with everything you write, but am very­ upset, you have misspelled my name.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 30 Oct 6:31PM

  13. Salak, Are you a peace envoy for any particular nation?

    From Nicholas, on Fri 30 Oct 6:27PM

  14. yes Nickolas if he is on drugs, what can you say for­ Nadal, and Fedex comeback also...
    My point was: sport­ people (high profile) are taking substances now which­ can pass as legal (thanks to science) and surely has­ greater simulative level then this what was Agasi­ taking then.
    Form me he will always stay a great guy,­ and one who as least has some honor to admit.

    From Igor K, on Fri 30 Oct 6:27PM

  15. Mba E,
    Very clever of you to suspect Agassi. And how­ did you find Crystal meths yourself, and did you also­ take up with German partner?

    From Nicholas, on Fri 30 Oct 6:25PM

  16. Igor do you have some inside information on Djokovic?

    From Nicholas, on Fri 30 Oct 6:20PM

  17. This is another screamer that has nothing to do with­ reality. Such harmful journalism should be banned. It­ insults all 3 players concerned, but at least Agassi­ and Federer: Agassi, because if he reads this article,­ he will probably feel judged by them and if so - justly­ - hurt; and Federer, because he probably had no such­ intention.

    Federer and Nadal were probably called to­ comment on Agassi's story by journalists, otherwise­ they never would have voiced their opinion. They­ respect Agassi enormously. Also, their words are­ probably taken out of context and apparently heavily­ interpreted.
    Even this being the case I think Nadal was­ too harsh, but his choice of words (cheater, etc.) may­ be attributed to the language barrier he has to­ overcome. It also reflects on the malign intention of­ the writer that he opens the article with these harsh­ words, but changes the order in the title.­

    Federer's words: "It was a shock when I­ heard the news." "I am disappointed and I­ hope there are no more such cases in future.... our­ sport must stay clean." One thing is clear: he­ made no direct reference to the person of Agassi, he­ does not say he is disappointed BY Agassi and does not­ "voice his displeasure AT Agassi", he just­ comments on the CASE in a very fair way.

    I­ understand that "Federer and Nadal" represent­ today's Tennis, and their potential joint­ disapproval of anything is of great interest, but their­ words should not have been lumped together just for­ the sake of sensation.

    From sandy, on Fri 30 Oct 6:18PM

  18. Statistically many American males that have taken­ crystal meth, tend to lose their hair, and take up with­ German women, and go on and write a book.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 30 Oct 6:17PM

  19. he should of had a ban from 1997-1999 any titles­ removed from him in these years is my judgement!

    From ash25091987, on Fri 30 Oct 6:17PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    No matter, better on drugs then arrogant ;-)
    Agasi is­ charisma, those guys are robots.
    Are they clean 100­ percent ? Is anyone in modern sport who has huuuge­ money ?
    I doubt

    From Igor K, on Fri 30 Oct 5:43PM
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