Andre Agassi
[edit] BiographyAndre Kirk Agassi was born on April 29, 1970 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a former professional tennis player and World No. 1 from the United States. Agassi won eight Grand Slam singles titles and is one of only five players to have won all four Grand Slam singles events during his career. Agassi is the only player in the open era to have won every Grand Slam singles title, the Masters, the Davis Cup, and an Olympic gold medal. Agassi became a pro in 1986 and won his first top-level singles title in 1987 in Itaparica. He won 6 further tournaments in 1988 and, by December of that year, he had surpassed $2 million in career prize money after playing in just 43 tournaments – the fastest anyone in history had reached that level. As a young up-and-coming player, Agassi embraced a rebel image. He grew his hair out, sported an earring, and wore colorful shirts that pushed tennis' still-strict sartorial rules. He endorsed the Canon Rebel camera; "Image is everything" was the ad's line, and it became Agassi's as well. His 30 Davis Cup singles wins is second all-time in U.S. history behind John McEnroe's 41. He compiled a 30-6 career record in the competition and helped the U.S. win their last three titles in 1990, 1992 and 1995. He won an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996, and is the only player to rank in the Top 10 in three different decades. Agassi retired after 1144 matches on the ATP Tour, 60 singles titles, including 8 Grand Slam titles and 17 Masters Series, and a record 21 consecutive US Opens. Although he left the tennis world following a loss to Benjamin Becker at the 2006 U.S. Open, he will always be a winner in the hearts of tennis fans everywhere.
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[edit] Farewell
Courtesy of CBS, here is the speech Agassi addressed the crowd with; his last farewell:
"The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. And over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I've found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I've found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could have never reached without you. Over the last 21 years, I have found you and I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life. Thank you."
