MADRID, Spain -- Andre Agassi claimed his record 15th Masters Series title when Jiri Novak pulled out of Sunday's Madrid final with a groin injury.
Updated ATP Champions Race
Rank/Player Points
1. Lleyton Hewitt 697
2. Andre Agassi 654
3. Marat Safin 469
4. Juan Carlos Ferrero 450
5. Roger Federer 423*
T-6. Tim Henman 421
T-6. Carlos Moya 421
T-6. Jiri Novak 421
9. Albert Costa 393
10. Tommy Haas 389
11. Andy Roddick 384
12. Pete Sampras 347
T-13. Thomas Johansson 330
T-13. Guillermo Canas 330
*(443 if wins quarterfinal)
Agassi, the second seed in the $2.5 million tournament, moved within 43 points of No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in the ATP Champions Race. Agassi has a chance of overtaking the Australian for the No. 1 ranking at the end of the year.
"I think for me, first and foremost, is trying to be better than everybody, whoever I'm playing," said Agassi, who was playing his first event since reaching the U.S. Open final in September. "I just think there's an added sort of stake on the game with the spot for No. 1. But for me, it doesn't really change my focus when I'm out there -- nor should it.
"But finishing No. 1 is sort of a symbol of a lot of work, so it would mean something to me, definitely."
Agassi is the first player ever to win Masters Series events on clay (Roma), on outdoor hard courts (Miami), and indoors (Madrid) in one year.
"I think my greatest inspiration is just trying to be better as a tennis player," Agassi said. "I enjoy doing it better now than I did 10 years ago. But there are things I haven't done. I mean, I've never won here in Madrid before. That's just one example of it. You just keep working, and the accomplishments, maybe they come, maybe they don't."
With his fifth tournament victory, the 32-year-old Agassi took over the ATP lead in titles after being tied with Hewitt and Carlos Moya.
As fans were arriving, Novak told tournament officials he was suffering with a thigh injury. The 11th seed was declared unfit to play after an assessment from doctors. Medical tests revealed he tore a muscle in the top of his right thigh during Saturday's semifinal victory over Fabrice Santoro.
"I am terribly sorry, but I got hurt at the end of yesterday's game against Santoro and this morning I woke up with a pain in my leg, which means I can't play," Novak told the crowd at the Rockodromo arena. "It's a shame for me and for everyone.
"It is a very difficult moment for us and a real disappointment, but he has suffered an important injury," event organizer Juan Manuel Santana said.
Novak was looking for his first title of the year. He also was hoping to qualify for the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, but now is questionable for the TMS in Paris in two weeks.
"I had a tough ball, and I was just trying to hit the ball," Novak said of the moment the injury occured. "After some rest, the pain was getting bigger and bigger. I'm very disappointed because this was my first (Tennis) Masters Series experience. But that's sports, that's the tennis life."
Agassi, who picked up the first prize of $402,000, sympathized Novak.
"It's very unfortunate that things like this happen in sport," he said. "I only found out at 11:30 this morning when the tournament referee informed me. This is a real disappointing way for the tournament to end, but nobody is more disappointed than Novak."
In the doubles final, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor beat Mahesh Bhpathi and Max Mirnyi, 6-3, 7-5, 6-0.
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