UP FRONT... ->> - AGASSI BONDS WITH BASEBALL STAR...Following his straight-sets win over GREG RUSEDSKI on Wednesday evening at the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic in Arizona, ANDRE AGASSI caught up with Major League Baseball's home run king Barry Bonds. Bonds, who hit a Major League record 73 home runs in 2001, is in town for the San Francisco Giants' spring training schedule. Agassi greeted baseball's all-time slugger for the first time with a bear hug. "I've got to give you some love," Agassi told Bonds. "You've given me a lot of reasons to like the Bay Area." Agassi entertained Bonds' three-year old daughter Aisha and signed a tennis ball for her. The two sluggers chatted about fatherhood and the Bay Area, where Agassi has recently purchased a home. Bonds has an impressive collection of memorabilia, boasting items from the likes of Muhammad Ali and has been a long-time fan of Agassi's. "Nine or 10 years ago I bought an Andre racquet at an auction," Bonds said. "It's got a lot of sentimental value, and I never had the chance to meet him." It was a busy day for Bonds, who also met Carlos Moya and Greg Rusedski. ->> - DATE WITH A SUPERMODEL...MAGNUS NORMAN attended the 14th annual World Music Awards held Wednesday evening and mingled with the stars at the glamorous Sporting Club in Monte Carlo. Under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, the ceremonies were hosted by Shaggy, Mark McGrath and Jennifer Love Hewitt. After watching Enrique Iglesias, Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys, and Destiny's Child, Norman went back stage courtesy of organizers of the upcoming Laureus World Sports Award. Rock star Michael Bolton immediately recognized the former Roland Garros finalist, while Norman's fellow Swede and supermodel Victoria Silverstedt promised to visit the ATP tournament in Los Angeles later in July. The beauty queen asked if she could watch his match wrapped in a Swedish flag or simply with her "body painted blue and yellow" for added moral support, to which a slightly stunned Norman replied: "Do whatever you feel comes naturally." As he left for Munich early Thursday morning for some precautionary medical treatment to his knee, Norman was booked on the same flight as artist Alanis Morisette and the German girl band No Angels. ->> - UNDER THE KNIFE (PART II)...GUSTAVO KUERTEN has begun his rehabilitation after undergoing successful arthroscopic hip surgery on February 26 in Nashville, Tennessee. Kuerten, who is walking normally, said that he has not been in any pain following the surgery. "I am very happy and motivated," said Kuerten, who had his stitches removed on Wednesday. "I have already started the physical therapy and am feeling very well. I hope to go back to the courts as soon as possible, but without rushing anything. I believe that undergoing this surgery was the right thing to do concerning my health and my career. I am fine, but the doctor advised me to go slowly. I want to thank my fans and friends for the messages I have been getting." Kuerten is using an exercise bike and rubber bands as part of his physical therapy and was given the all-clear to begin pool work by his surgeon Dr. Thomas Byrd. "Guga had a tear of the labral cartilage, which had been identified on a recent MRI scan," said Dr. Byrd. "The tear was quite extensive and it was remarkable that he had even tried to continue competition with his condition." Dr. Byrd estimates that the three-time Roland Garros champion will return to competition in three months. TOURNAMENT TALES ->> - IN SOTTSDALE...Australian doubles team PAUL HANLEY and NATHAN HEALEY sported a new look for their first round match at the Franklin Templeton Classic. The Aussie duo dyed their hair bright colors for their come-back victory over Americans Cecil Mamiit and Robbie Ginepri. Hanley (red) and Healey (blue) battled back from a set and a break down to win the match 10-4 in the Match Tie-break. "We decided to do it to entertain the fans," said Healey. "Since we won we might have to do it again for the second round." ...BYRON BLACK, NOAM OKUN, PAUL HANLEY and NATHAN HEALEY took time out to visit the Phoenix Children's Hospital. The ATP stars played indoor tennis with patients and signed autographs. ATP LAUNCHES FANTASY TENNIS...The ATP launched the official ATP Fantasy Tennis League on ATPtennis.com this week, with a dream-come-true VIP trip to the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai on offer to the overall winner. Less than 24 hours after the game appeared on ATPtennis.com on Wednesday, with no prior notice of its launch, just under 1,000 ATP tennis fans around the world had registered to play the game. The ATP Fantasy Tennis League, which will be produced with new ATP partner Enetpulse, is a season-long competition where managers select a team of up to 20 players from the ATP Champions Race 2002. Each manager has US$15 million to pick their dream team, and once registered, he or she can follow the team's progress each week via the ATP Champions Race. For more information, log on to www.ATPtennis.com. MEDIA MONITOR...The Siebel Open final between Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi garnered the headlines over the weekend. CNNSI.com's Marc Lancaster writes: "For a couple of guys seeing their first extended action of 2002, Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi turned in halfway decent showings last week in San Jose, didn't they? Hewitt had been sidelined since his bizarre run in January, when he was stricken with chicken pox and lost in the first round at the Australian Open. A wrist injury -said at one point to be career-threatening - had kept Agassi out since last fall. Yet they both tore through the Siebel Open draw on the way to one of the more remarkable finals in years, Hewitt's 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) triumph on Sunday. It took nearly three hours to complete, with the two counterpunchers playing at a high level despite the rustiness you'd expect." NEW PRESS SECTION ON ATP WEB SITE...The Press and Media section on ATPtennis.com has been given a new look for 2002, with easy-to-access ATP Champions Race, ESP and Prize Money standings, together with By the Numbers stats, ITW and ATP Insider archives, Media Guide downloads and Media Links. Check it out at: www.ATPtennis.com/en/media. SAY WHAT... "It's tough but you don't put him in the overhead bin." - Andre Agassi on traveling with baby Jaden Gil. "In Memphis, I forgot my hats and the only thing I had in my bag was this orange visor. I played well with it and won the tournament so I've continued wearing it." - Andy Roddick having to explain his latest fashion statement in Delray Beach.

Previous ATP Insider | Feedback

ATP Insider courtesy ATPTour.com