Within the next fortnight, a career spanning over two decades will come to an end, marked by one last customary bow to all four sides of the court. At the age of 36, he has defied the odds and maintained an extremely high level of fitness to compete at the top level of the tennis circuit.
As an American, it is fitting that he should be able to bid farewell to his profession in front of the adoring crowds at the U.S Open. From rebel to exemplary professional, Andre Agassi has guaranteed his lasting legacy.
Quite simply, Agassi is unique. You would be pushed to find a modern day star with the confidence to boycott Wimbledon on the grounds of the tournament being too conventional!
The fact that Agassi then had the nerve to return to Wimbledon after his self enforced exile, displayed his force of character. Two years after his return to SW19, he was the champion.
Agassi’s past is unusual. The first half of his career was divided between his on court triumphs, and his celebrity status off court. It would be ludicrous to suggest Agassi was ever in the same league as David Beckham in the celebrity stakes, but the fact that his off court romances include Barbara Streisand and a failed marriage to Brooke Shields suggest Agassi was willing to partake in the Hollywood celebrity lifestyle. And his career suffered as a result.
His failed marriage to Brooke Shields coincided with Agassi’s greatest descent. Having been ranked No 1 in the world in 1995, his decline was fast and highly dramatic, falling to No 141 in the world by 1997.
When Agassi lifted himself from mediocrity to claim the French and U.S Opens in 1999, his desire to be counted among the very best in the world was once more.
This was not only a fantastic comeback story, but also an historic achievement. Agassi’s French Open victory meant he had become the only fifth male tennis player to win all four grand slams. Even Roger Federer cannot hold this claim. Well, for now anyway.
Each time Agassi enters onto one of the show courts at Flushing Meadows this fortnight, it is with the knowledge that it could be for the final time. It would be the most Hollywood of endings if Agassi could reclaim the U.S Open title one last time in his final tournament as a professional. It can be done.
His former rival Pete Sampras managed it in 2002, ironically beating Agassi in the final. As a beaten finalist again last year, Agassi has just one final opportunity to write his epic ending.
About this article
This article was written by James Michael from our London Newsroom. It was published on the Reach for the Sky website.
