'My plan is to be back next year' says defeated Agassi

Andre Agassi says he will be back to play at Wimbledon next year, once again looking for a second title at the age of 34.

The world No 1, knocked out of the fourth round of this year's tournament by the Australian Mark Philippoussis, 6-3, 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 yesterday, had no hesitation when asked about his future plans. "Why shouldn't I be back. I'm a tennis player. My plan is to be back next year," Agassi said.

But the American conceded that his hopes of winning a second Wimbledon title are receding. "It's not easy to win Wimbledon," he said. "For it to happen again would be quite an amazing thing."

Agassi, who won Wimbledon in 1992 and the last of his eight grand slams in Melbourne this year, said victories grew sweeter, defeats more disappointing. "They get more disappointing but it doesn't last as long. It's disappointing because it's another year lost at Wimbledon," said Agassi, who is married to the seven-times former Wimbledon champion, Steffi Graf. They have an 18-month-old son and are expecting a second child this year. "As you get older you are aware of how short-term all those opportunities are. But you go home to your boy, you go home to your life... I try to keep it in perspective."

Agassi said that only a few points turned the match towards Philippoussis, who served 46 aces against the best returner in the game. "There were a lot of moments when either one of us could have won. He ended up being the one to take the opportunities," he said.

Philippoussis said of his victory: "I had nothing to lose as everyone was expecting him to win. It was extremely important for me to win because I think he'd beaten me the last six times in a row."