Andre Agassi managed to overcome a hip injury he suffered in a warm-up event to play in the Australian Open today.
The 34-year-old American was injured last Thursday but came through an exhibition match against Tim Henman at the Kooyong Classic on Saturday and pronounced himself fit to play after a practice session at Melbourne Park.
"I pulled up pretty well after two hours of play yesterday so that's a good sign," said Agassi.
"I'm a 100 per cent starter and I'll be out there giving it everything I've got. It just had the normal amount of stiffness you expect from an injury but it's nothing that doctors say can't be managed."
Agassi, the champion at Melbourne Park in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003 and seeded eighth this year, faces the German qualifier Dieter Kindlmann in today's opening round.
Roger Federer's dominance continued at the Kooyong event as he beat America's Andy Roddick in straight sets in the final.
Henman, who lost to Federer earlier last week and faces the Frenchman Cyril Saulnier in the first round of the Australian Open, said: "It doesn't need for me to say how good a year Federer had last year, it was for everybody to see and it was incredible.
"I can watch when I'm playing him and there are certain times where I will hit a shot, I will be at the net and it almost looks like he's got a split second longer than most other players.
"That can be evident in pretty much any sport; in football people say they've got plenty of time on the ball and he's the same. Sometimes he comes across to hit a backhand pass when you feel like you've hit a good approach and it's like he has got a bit longer to hit it."
Federer, who beat Roddick for the ninth time in 10 matches, said: "I had a great time this week. It's great preparation."
Lindsay Davenport also declared herself fit to challenge for a first Grand Slam title in five years. Davenport withdrew from the Medibank International in Sydney last week with bronchitis and had feared she would join the list of names missing in Melbourne.
- INDEPENDENT
Tennis: Agassi fit for Australian Open
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