Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassiis an American retired professional tennis player and former World No. 1, who was one of the game's most dominant players from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi had been called the greatest service returner in the history of the game. Described by the BBC upon his retirement as "perhaps the biggest worldwide star in the sport's history", Agassi...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth29 April 1970
CityLas Vegas, NV
CountryUnited States of America
Pretty amazing. I don't know if I can put in context how this compares with some of my greatest experiences on the tennis court, but I know it's right up there, because this is what you work so hard for.
It feels amazing, ... This is why you work so hard. These moments don't happen very often anymore. I'm taking it in, and it's feeling pretty good.
We played once in Australia. We got done with that match and I said, 'He's a top 10 player'. He just seemed to do so many things well. He made you work for every point. I've got to believe he's only got better. I'm looking forward to a good quality match.
It's a great sign. I've trained hard. This is why you work so hard, so that physically you can do it. Something like a nerve, you never know when it's going to be an issue. I'll keep my fingers crossed from this day forward. I play by different rules now. My body plays by different rules. I need to listen to that.
It's all a bit surreal, ... I get out there and I try to work and I come off the court and many times in my career I feel like it's been a dream. That's the way it feels here.
Nothing can substitute for just plain hard work. I had to put in the time to get back. And it was a grind. It meant training and sweating every day. But I was completely committed to working out to prove to myself that I still could do it.
Nothing can substitute for just plain hard work
Every now and then I will play; I try to focus on charitable work. I might do it because it's an offer I can't refuse, so I rally and try to stay in shape and keep myself active.
As much as I want to get out there and do the best I can, you will not see me on the court anymore if I'm not 100 percent. If I have a little pain in my life; that's fine. I just don't want it on the tennis court, because I work too hard to get out there and feel helpless.
This is what you work so hard for. This means as much to me as being in the finals.... There are few moments that can be this special.
I know it's right up there because this is what you work so hard for,
I'm going to go home tonight and enjoy myself. But then I'll come back to work tomorrow. I need to work and this is my work. It's what I do. I'm a tennis player, and I'll do it as hard as I can for as long as I can.
I've said before, I don't know how I'm going to go out, ... I know one thing, if I'm out there playing well and giving something back to the sport, it's going to be hard not to give it more.
I've played No. 1 in the world tennis before and there wasn't a time when I ever felt like a favorite,