Table of Contents
- Andre Agassi is one of the names that the tennis world can never forget, and this is because of his amazing legacy
- Nicknamed The Punisher, Agassi was a lethal opponent on the court known for his aggressive playing style combined with brilliant hand-eye coordination
- Agassi was the first man to win all four singles majors on three different surfaces (grass, clay and hard)
Andre Agassi is one of the names that the tennis world can never forget, and this is because of his amazing legacy. Agassi, who first picked a tennis racket at the age of 2, had a legendary career spanning over two decades. He achieved great success on the court, and that’s why many sources consider him one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Nicknamed The Punisher, Agassi was a lethal opponent on the court known for his aggressive playing style with brilliant hand-eye coordination. Interestingly, he was the first man to win all four singles majors on three different surfaces (grass, clay and hard). The 54-year-old remains the most recent American man to win the Australian Open (2003) and the French Open (1999).
Andre Agassi is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Photo/ Olympics.com.
The legend won 17 Masters titles and was part of the teams that won the Davis Cup in 1990, 1992 and 1995. He was the second of five men to achieve the career Grand Slam in the Open Era.
Agassi was world No. 1 for the first time in 1995 and then returned to the position in 1999 after being troubled by personal issues in between. During his playing days, the veteran enjoyed rivalries with other top players such as Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, Boris Becker and Pat Rafter.
Andre Agassi Early Life
Agassi was born in Las Vegas on April 29, 1970. He is the son of former Olympic boxer Emmanuel Agassi and Elizabeth Agassi. Andre and his friend Roddy Parks won the 1982 National Indoor Boys 14s Doubles Championship that was held in Chicago. He was at that time 12 years old.
His father sent him to Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy in Florida when he was 13. He was to spend three months at the academy because that is what his father could afford. However, his talent impressed Nick Bollettieri, who decided he remains at the academy for free. As a result, he dropped out of school to pursue a full-time career in tennis.
Career
Agassi became a professional tennis player at the age of 16. His first success came in 1987 at Sul American Open in Itaparica, after which he ranked No. 25 worldwide. He recorded six wins the following year, thereby confirming his place in the tennis world.
Agassi during his early career days. Photo/ Tennis.com.
Agassi was part of the United States team that won the Davis Cup in 1990. The rising star then won the prestigious Tennis Masters Cup.
The American international lost three Grand Slam finals – US Open (1990) and French Open (1990 and 1991). His first Grand Slam title came in 1992 when he won the Wimbledon final.
In 1994, he defeated Michael Stich to win the US Open. The following year, he was ranked world No. 1 for the first time after winning the Australian Open. That year, he won seven titles and three Master Series. Agassi won gold in men’s singles at the Olympics in 1996. He struggled with a recurring wrist injury in 1997, thereby playing in just 24 games. As a result, his ranking dropped from No. 1 to No. 145.
Agassi turned everything around in 1998 as he won the French Open and the US Open. His ranking rose to world No. 6. The American won the Australian Open in 2000, 2001 and 2003. The 2003 Australian Open was his eighth and final Grand Slam title.
Agassi retired from tennis after his exit at the 2006 US Open. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 9, 2011.
Off Court
Agassi married another tennis icon Steffi Graf in October 2001, and they have three children. He was previously married to Brooke Shields between 1997 and 1999.
Agassi and his wife Steffi Graf. Photo/ InTouch – Wunderweib
Agassi founded the Andre Agassi Charitable Association in 1994, which assists young people in Las Vegas. The foundation has raised over $60 million. In 2007, Agassi and other athletes founded the charity Athletes for Hope, which helps professional athletes be involved in charity work.
