Andre Agassi and his tryst with tennis

Andre Agassi’s Autobiography

The title justifies his playing career

Andre Agassi played tennis during my school days when I was a hard core Sampras supporter. Flamboyance is what I saw in his game and hence could never relate to him. His hair cut and dressing sense on the court only added to that image.

‘Open’ changed it all for me! Not the tennis part but the image of Agassi as a person. The book literally like its title ‘Open’ opens up the life of a kid who never wanted to be a tennis star. In fact, he never wanted to play tennis! Who would believe that someone who won eight Grand Slam singles titles and a career ‘Golden Slam’- all 4 Grand Slam singles titles plus the Olympic gold medal never liked tennis! For most part of the book, Agassi comes across as someone who has no idea about himself as a person. “Somewhere in those eyes, however, I can still vaguely see the boy who didn't want to play tennis in the first place, the boy who wanted to quit, the boy who did quit many times.”

“Somewhere in those eyes, however, I can still vaguely see the boy who didn't want to play tennis in the first place, the boy who wanted to quit, the boy who did quit many times.”

It's a gripping read, a genuine page-turner. Agassi with the help of J.R. Moehringer opens his life in front of us. When we are still recovering from Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal, here we have a sportsperson who candidly confesses use of drugs during one of his lows. We experience the highs and lows, whether it is him winning a slam, losing to opponents, getting divorced or finally finding happiness in his marriage to Steffi Graff.

Andre Agassi with the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

He was made to work hard by his father

The two tennis stars decided not to build a tennis court in their backyard. Instead he built a 26,000 square-foot education complex for underprivileged kid. This act of his helps you to understand him psychologically. In fact gives a perspective in his anger toward tennis and life for most.

“I play tennis for a living, even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion, and always have.”

Agassi came from an immigrant family where his father was determined to groom his four kids into tennis champions. While the three of them couldn't take the pressure the youngest one showed talent for it. He was made to hit 2500 balls belched forth by machine at a speed of up to 110 miles per hour daily in his backyard court from the age of seven. He started considering himself a prisoner and the court a cell!

His next cell was the Florida tennis academy where the pressure to turn youngsters into tennis stars was so high that it started suffocating him. A ninth-grade dropout, he revolted by drinking, piercing his body and indulging in scuffle.He surprised everyone by winning Wimbledon in 1992. Then was the period of his marriage to Brooke Shields which failed eventually.

He gives you such vivid picture of every incident, be it a personal moment or game that by the end of the book you witness his life all in front of your eyes! He brings honesty to the narrative which is unheard of!

A rollercoaster ride

He found comfort in the company of two father figures — his physical trainer, Gil Reyes, and his coach, Brad Gilbert and his game improved tremendously. Finally, he bid adieu to tennis in 2006 after the US Open. His final words after his last match to his fans were:

“The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. Over the last twenty-one years I have found loyalty: You have pulled for me on the court, and also in life. I have found inspiration: You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I have found generosity: You have given me your shoulders to stand on, to reach for my dreams- dreams I could have never reached without you, and I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life.”

It confirms that he was not clamoring for attention but rather conducting a struggle to extract some semblance of self-hood from the sport.

It makes you empathise with him when he doesn't want to play tennis, when he turns a rebel, when he starts enjoying the game and when he really wants to win but loses the match. He chokes when he loses in 2002 in Shanghai where the win could have made him the oldest year-end number one in men’s tennis history. He vows to come back and boy he does! He wins Australian Open in 2003 with straight sets win!

He takes every opportunity to thank his coach, Gil and his wife, Steffi and considers them to be the pillars of strength in his life. The last chapter of the book has this fairy tale ending where Agassi and Steffi are playing at a public court for fun and continue to do so even after raindrops keep falling on their heads!

I watched him last in the finals of Australian Open where he was to present the men's championship trophy. It made me wonder for a second whether would he fancy himself in place of Novak or Tsonga in the court but then whom am I fooling, the man has been there!