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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? Your support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n Your support makes all the difference.Read more<\/p>\n Andre Agassi<\/a> insists \u201cless is more\u201d and urged tennis executives to implement a proper off-season for players amid talk around the relentless nature of the sport\u2019s schedule. <\/p>\n The likes of Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> and Alexander Zverev<\/a> have been vocal critics of the 11-month calendar, which sees the season run from the Australian summer at the start of January to the end of November with the Davis Cup Finals. <\/p>\n Alcaraz missed four months of tennis midway through this season due to a wrist injury and was absent from Roland Garros and Wimbledon. US Open finalist Ben Shelton<\/a>, meanwhile, last week withdrew from this weekend\u2019s Laver Cup<\/a> in London. <\/p>\n Yet Team World captain and eight-time major winner Agassi had no bone to pick with when it came to his compatriot\u2019s withdrawal and instead insisted the \u201cwear and tear\u201d of the modern game explains why the sport is currently hampered by many high-profile withdrawals. <\/p>\n \u201cI always err on the side of the players \u2013 no player is calling me with good news,\u201d Agassi said. <\/p>\n \u201cI said to him [Shelton], \u2018nothing matters more to me than my players, not just for Laver Cup but for their careers\u2019, allowing them to be who they are and giving them something that they can take on. <\/p>\n \u201cThe game is much more physical 1790323341, the balls and courts are the most brutal form of the sport. They cover more real estate than Pat [Rafter, vice-captain] and I had to do in our day. As a result, they\u2019re rewarded with swinging heavier balls\u2026 the harder you swing, the more control you get, even on the grass. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen I look at that wear and tear and the situation Alcaraz had with his wrist\u2026 the one surgery I had in my life was my wrist, you only have one of them on the side you need! You need to be really diligent on making sure your schedule fits your objectives<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be my hope that an off-season of security, you\u2019d hope would be enough for the players because these guys are going non-stop. When everyone goes home, they go to the rehab room\u2026 I do absolutely err on the side of the metaphor \u2018less is more\u2019 in tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n Agassi is looking to win the Laver Cup for the second year running after Team World\u2019s triumph in San Francisco last year. Their outfit is led by Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz, up against a European side spearheaded by Alcaraz and Zverev. <\/p>\n Alcaraz, who finished his US Open quarter-final defeat at 3:34am local time earlier this month, insists he would like to see a curfew put in on all tour matches of 11pm, which is the situation annually at Wimbledon due to local restrictions. <\/p>\n
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Andre Agassi captains Team World at the Laver Cup in London this weekend (PA)<\/p>\n