Race leader Agassi pulls out of Monte Carlo

The event, which begins Monday, will also be missing injured Mark Philippoussis, recovering from knee surgery, and Patrick Rafter, who is resting and never planned to play the spring's first major event on clay. American Jan-Michael Gambill has also said he will not be entering the tournament, which carries financial sanctions for Top 50 players who do not enter.

No reason was given for Agassi's withdrawal. The 30-year-old American has had a superb season, winning a second consecutive Australian Open and triumphing at the first two Masters of the year in California and Florida last month. Agassi leads the season-long Champions Race by a wide margin.

American Pete Sampras, who has severely limited his playing schedule over the past season but who is desperate for clay-court practise, is on the entry list along with Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin. The Russian has been suffering from back problems for several months which forced him to skip his country's Davis Cup date last weekend, a loss to Sweden.

(dpa)