Agassi out of Davis Cup final

Tennis

Andre Agassi, the world No 2, will not play in the Davis Cup final against Russia, which starts in Moscow on Friday. Agassi, who contributed to wins in the quarter-finals and semi-finals for the United States, has been suffering with a chest injury. The veteran Richey Reneberg will take Agassi's place.

The American team, led by Pete Sampras, the world No 1, were due to practise in Moscow yesterday. But the Itar-Tass news agency said Agassi had not arrived in Moscow for the three-day tie. Jim Courier, the former world No 1, and Todd Martin complete the American line-up.

Russia will be represented by Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the world No 6, Andrei Chesnokov, Alexander Volkov and Andrei Olkhovsky. The United States, who knocked out Sweden, the defending champions, in the semi-finals, have won the competition 30 times since it started in 1900.