Eight-times Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi [Images] will skip the claycourt season this year in a bid to be fit for Wimbledon.

The 35-year old American has struggled with injury in recent seasons including a nagging back problem that requires cortisone injections.

It caused the 1992 champion to miss Wimbledon last year and he has played only two events since losing to Roger Federer [Images] in September's U.S. Open final.

Agassi is choosing the tournaments he plays with care and believes he is no longer able to make a real impact on clay.

"I won't be playing any claycourt tennis, which is sort of a preservation plan," Agassi told reporters at the Dubai Open, where he faces Britain's Greg Rusedski [Images] on Monday.

"The clay has been pretty tough on my body over the last few years, and the last two years specifically, it's unfortunately been the reason I wasn't ready for Wimbledon.

"I realistically don't feel I can compete with all the guys that play so well on that surface. On top of that, with the toll it takes I'm going to skip it and get ready for the grass and the rest of the hardcourts and the indoors.

"But I'll be looking to play somewhere before Wimbledon, for sure," he said.

Agassi is in the opposite side of the draw in Dubai to Swiss world number one Federer, who is bidding for a fourth successive title.

Federer has not played since winning the Australian Open in January and was looking forward to his return to action.

"It was nice, obviously, to have time off to rest and get ready. Hopefully it's going to pay off," the 24-year-old said.

"I've had some fantastic results on hardcourts the last year or so, and I hope I can keep it up."

"To protect the number one ranking is a big priority for me as is winning Wimbledon, even more I think, and everybody's aware of what the French Open means to me, not only this year but the rest of my life as long as I don't win it.

"I hope I can always defend titles or win titles I haven't won yet, and just play a good season, win many matches. I enjoy that and have no trouble with motivation," Federer added.

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