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The Mercedes-Benz Cup unfolded just the way it was supposed to.

Andre Agassi, returning from an injury to his sciatic nerve after an eight-week holdover, was able to rise to the occasion and give the Southern California tennis fans exactly what they wanted: an Agassi tournament victory.

Indeed, the wild cheers from the grandstands of the Los Angeles Tennis Center confirmed that Agassi was the fan favorite throughout the week and that his win would only help the landscape of this year’s U.S. Open Series, which kicked off this week in Westwood.

Agassi’s 60th career ATP title was a major boost to the Mercedes-Benz Cup, especially considering the late lineup alterations after Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick dropped out of the event.

“We knew at the start of the week that Andre was going to have to carry a bulk of the weight because most of our fans’ attention would be on him,” tournament director Bob Kramer said. “His success was a huge lift for the tournament and it’s not surprising when considering his track record.”

Even Agassi, who throughout the week downplayed his strong presence at the Mercedes-Benz Cup to focus on a successful return to the court, conceded that he was a pivotal figure for marketability of the tournament.

And he noticed just how much the fans genuinely appreciate the quality of American tennis.

“Just looking at the attendance showed how much the fans still love this tournament and know what tennis is all about,” Agassi said.

However, Agassi’s continued success poses a looming question for the American tennis community.

At the age of 35 and coming off a serious injury, Agassi is still able to dominate an ATP event as the main fan attraction. But with his future atop the tennis world uncertain, it is unclear who will fill his place upon his exit from center stage.

“American tennis faces the same situation it has for the past few years,” said Brad Gilbert, ESPN tennis analyst.

“There is an abundance of secondary players in the states, but not as many star talents. Once Andre stops playing, which is probably sooner rather than later, there will need to be another American player that steps up.”

Roddick, the 22-year-old star with small-town roots in Omaha, Neb., appears to have shared the spotlight with Agassi as the biggest name in tennis on American soil. However, he might just be a big fish in a little pond.

“It will be (Roger) Federer dominating with Roddick as the favorite on the hard courts,” Gilbert said. “But it would be nice if there could be more American players really draw attention to themselves, because tennis is always more popular with dominant countrymen creating a buzz.”

But there doesn’t seem to be too many potential stars emerging from the American gene pool in the near future.

“Looking at the junior levels, it does not look likely for any stars to be coming out of American right now,” Gilbert said. “But you never know.”

The 2005 Mercedes-Benz Cup was a booming success in terms of high attendance numbers that attests to the strong support for men’s tennis in Southern California. Nevertheless, Agassi’s victory is just another reminder that there is going to be a huge void to fill once he decides to retire.

“Honestly, it’s not something to get too worried about,” Kramer said.

“Andre’s success at this tournament proves that he has plenty of tennis left in him. And there will always be a new group of talent to emerge once he leaves. We just don’t know who it will be.”