Novak pulls out of final due to injury

MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic pulled out of Sunday's Madrid Masters final against Andre Agassi because of a groin injury. <br><br>``I'm disappointed because it was my first

Sunday, October 20th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic pulled out of Sunday's Madrid Masters final against Andre Agassi because of a groin injury.

``I'm disappointed because it was my first Masters Series final,'' said Novak, who reached his first big title match Saturday by beating French qualifier Fabrice Santoro.

He was injured in that match, ``but I don't know exactly what was the score, but I had a tough ball,'' Novak said. ``I was just trying to hit the ball. I felt pain in my leg. But my body was warm, so I didn't feel any big pain. After the rest, the pain was bigger and bigger.''

For Agassi, who beat another Frenchman, Sebastien Grosjean, in his semifinal, it was his record 15th Masters Series tournament win.

``It's very disappointing for many people, especially Jiri because it's unfortunate that anything like that has to happen,'' said Agassi, a crowd favorite in the Spanish capital despite eliminating home Spanish stars Feliciano Lopez and Juan Carlos Ferrero en route to the final.

``Then you're disappointed for the tournament. It's sort of anti-climatic. I just try to feel good about the form I did have, go from there.''

The American veteran now only trails ATP Champions Race leader Lleyton Hewitt by 43 points. Another title win in St. Petersburg, Russia, next week could improve his chances even further to overtake Hewitt, who accepted a wild card in the Stockholm Open, which also starts Monday.

Agassi, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, has only finished a year as No. 1 before, in 1999. This year, Agassi didn't win any Grand Slam, losing the last one to Pete Sampras in the U.S. Open final, but he feels the No. 1 ranking would be some consolation.

``I think there's a number of different things to accomplish in the game,'' Agassi said. ``I'd put winning the Slams at the top. But finishing No. 1 is sort of a symbol of a lot of work, so it would mean something to me.''

Even though he didn't play the final, Novak's excellent performance in Madrid improved his chances of making the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai next month.

He's fifth in the ATP Champions' Race. The top eight qualify. Hewitt, the Wimbledon champion who didn't play here because of illness, and Agassi have already qualified.

Novak, 27, reached two other Tennis Masters semifinals this year, losing to Agassi in Rome and to Andy Roddick in Toronto.

With the singles final canceled, the doubles championship got rare top billing at the soldout Rockodromo Arena that seats 9,500.

Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor won the final between the two top-seeded pairs 6-3, 7-5, 6-0 against Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi.