Davis Cup and home-town hero Mark Philippoussis turned the Kooyong Classic into a farce yesterday, after withdrawing from the event with a neck injury.
His no-show and late notice left tournament organisers and fans irate and disappointed.
Stunned tournament director Colin Stubs was forced to busily reschedule a replacement match to meet television commitments and appease agititated spectators and corporate sponsors.
The Australian Open 16th seed alerted Stubs of his withdrawal, via his trainer Gavin Hooper, at about noon yesterday.
"I got a call from Gavin Hopper to say that Mark had woken up with a stiff neck, soreness in the neck, and he immediately went to a chiropractor," Stubs said.
"He had some treatment and was advised by the chiropractor that he should not play today, bearing in mind that he has got in front of him next week.
"I am pretty disappointed and obviously it causes a hell of a lot of aggravation with sponsors, with television, with public, box holders, it's just a nightmare actually.
"On the basis of that information I have released Andre Agassi from his commitment to playing the final, atempting to find some sort of replacement match and make it a pleasant afternon for those people who have seen fit to turn up today.
"Andre was disappointed too. Because he was looking forward to playing a match of quality.
"It's very important for him to get that sort of practice in his lead up to the open.
"I think his words were; 'It's thrown him a curve ball as well."
Stubs offered Philippoussis's management the chance to explain the reasons for his no-show yesterday to the media and the fans.
He told them: "In terms of public relations, there is an opportunity for you to come down and speak to the media and the fans."
Court announcer Brian Smith alerted patrons of Philippousis' withdrawal at 1.15pm yesterday, an hour-and-half before he was scheduled to play world No.1 Andre Agassi in the final.
Smith described the crowd as "understanding and sympathetic", but said he was heckled by only a single spectator.
"One guy yelled out 'bullshit', and I said to him 'that maybe your opinion sir, but Colin is doing everything he can. His ear is glued to the phone trying to organise another match," Smith said.
"Generally, the crowd was great. There were a few groans and sighs of disappointment. Of course they were disappointed, we all are."
Some spectators were not so obliging following the announcement, demanding refunds from outside the tournament director's office.
A group of a dozen unconvinced fans were waving tickets, saying that organisers should have told them earlier of the Scud's withdrawal.
"We bought our tickets after the organisers knew Philippoussis had withdrawn," said Nicole O'Connor, 24, from Eltham.
"They were still selling tickets to people in the queue behind us, knowing that he wasn't playing.
"It's wrong, but I suppose there is nothing we can do about it."
O'Connor and her twin sister Anthea and two girlfriends arrived at the Classic to support their favorite player Philippoussis, but did not harbor any animosity towards the big-hitter and short-priced fancy for this week's Australian Open.
"It's not his problem he's injured. It's the problem of the organisers to tell us before we buy our tickets," Anthea O'Connor said.
The girls and other fans were told to put their refund requests in writing to Stubs.
Stubs said later that those patrons who purchased tickets yesterday in the knowledge that Philippoussis had withdrawn were not entitled to a refund.
"As soon as we knew what was going on, we advised people so those that have bought tickets after having been advised that this is the situation don't have a leg to stand on, basically," he said.
Stubs said he has not had enough time yet to determine what will happen with other ticket-holders.
Many fans left Kooyong after the announcement.
Local boy Philippoussis complained of neck soreness and shin splints during last week's Hopman Cup in Perth. He withdrew from the final match on Friday, much to the chagrin of WA fans.
Stubs believed Phillipoussis looked fine on Friday evening and had shown no signs of the injury during the tournament.
"I woke up this morning thinking , well, we have got four fit hoses and I didn't think this was going to happen, especially after watching Mark over the past couple of days; he has been moving pretty freely and hitting the ball very, very well and it was just one out of left field for me," he said.
"I'm satisfied it's genuine so it's just one of those things. I'm farmer – sometimes you get rain, sometimes you don't and it's been a bad day. That's all."
World No.2 Pete Sampras, who effortlessly disposed of compatriot Vince Spadea 6-3 6-1 in the opening match yesterday, said he saw no fault in Philippoussis' preparation for the Australian Open which begins tomorrow.
"He seemed pretty good to me," Sampras said after his match.
Philippoussis is scheduled to meet a qualifier in the third game on centre court tomorrow.
Australian Open organisers as yet have not received any request from Philippoussis to delay his match to allow more time to recievr from his latest injury.