Agassi plans to re-emerge as leading light

MUNICH, OCT 6: Andre Agassi is a man with a mission this autumn after reaching the final against Marcelo Rios and fighting hard through f...

MUNICH, OCT 6: Andre Agassi is a man with a mission this autumn after reaching the final against Marcelo Rios and fighting hard through five tough sets at the $ 6.7-million Grand Slam Cup.

Agassi didn’t win the title at the weekend, but he did gain a lot of confidence. Now he’s vowing to rachet up the level of his game even higher starting this week at the Swiss indoors in Basle in hopes of improving on his world number 8 position.

A year ago, Agassi was riding the slippery slope downwards in the ATP Tour list, heading for a spot in the 140s where the only place for the former world number 1 to go was up. While the stars were at the ATP Tour World Championships, he was playing in challenger tournaments.

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Now, 11 months into his comeback, the 28-year-old from Las Vegas stands ready to make the latest challenge in his admittedly roller-coaster career.

“On the court, obviously, the last 12 months have been a lot more satisfying that the previous 12 months,” said Agassi. “That’s anunderstatement.”

He added: “It’s been a lot of hard work. I had to physically work and that has its own difficulties. There was another adjustment I had to make – a mental one. You have to make the mental commitment.”

Agassi will find the cream of the current competition waiting for him in Basle on indoor carpet. World number 1 Pete Sampras, who like Agassi skipped the American Davis Cup semifinal embarrassment last month which let Italy into the final against Sweden, has received a wild card to the Swiss event, which begins today.

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Also in the field will be second-ranked Patrick Rafter, the two-time US Open champion, and holder Greg Rusedski of Britain.

That’s just the level of competition Agassi needs to get his competitive juices flowing. Agassi is looking ahead, even as high as a return to the top.

“I would imagine that if anybody in the top 10 won very European indoor tournament until the end of the year, it would be possible. I’m interested in establishing myself as one of the best players.I certainly want to do that before the year is over,” he said.

But he also cautioned any too high expectations: “If it doesn’t happen this year as far as being number 1, that wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve needed a year to get things back in order.”

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Agassi’s fitness is at least solid, which is more than can be said for Martina Hingis, who faces a challenge of her own this week.

The Swiss teenager is barely holding onto her number 1 spot, with just a handful of points separating her from US Open winner Lindsay Davenport and both entered in the indoor event in Filderstadt, Germany, this week.

Hingis bowed out in the women’s draw last week in Munich a victim of compatriot Patty Schnyder. Hingis was suffering from cramps and was unable to finish the third set. She was resting at home in Zurich over the weekend and hoping for a late start Filderstadt.

Both have a bye into the second round. But even if Hingis repeats last year’s success, Davenport will take over the top ranking spot for the first time inher career by making it into the semifinals.