ANDRE AGASSI yesterday pulled out of Wimbledon just two days before the start of the world's greatest tennis tournament.

Agassi, 27, blamed a wrist injury he suffered earlier this year for the decision which means seven out of the world's top-20 players have scratched from this year's men's event.

The flamboyant American, who married film star Brooke Shields earlier this year, has not played for more than two months since losing to Sweden's Magnus Norman in the second round in Atlanta and has lost in the first round in four of his last five tournaments.

With Steffi Graf having pulled out of the women's tournament following knee injury it means many of the world's star names will be missing this year.

Agassi's exit comes hard on the heels of the withdrawals of Thomas Muster, the world No 4, Alex Corretja (7), Sergi Bruguera (8), Thomas Enquist (9), Alberto Costa (14), Alberto Berasategui (15), Felix Mantilla (16).

Last year's runner-up Mal Washington, who is ranked 35, has also pulled out through injury.

It is the end of a nightmare 12 months for Agassi which has seen him plunge to number 29 in the world and miss the Australian, French and Italian Opens.