Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi
Agassi at the 1997 US Open
Country: United States
Residence: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
Weight: 177 lbs. (80 kg)
Plays: Right
Turned pro: 1986
Highest singles ranking: 1 (4/10/1995)
Singles titles: 59
Career Prize Money: $29,874,275
Grand Slam Record
Titles: 8
Australian Open W (1995, '00, '01, '03)
Roland Garros W (1999)
Wimbledon W (1992)
U.S. Open W (1994, '99)

Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29, 1970, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) is an American professional tennis player (1986-). He has fifty nine career singles titles including eight Grand Slam titles. As of 2005, he has won over $29 million in prize money. He is a former World No. 1 in the ATP rankings.

Contents

Background

Agassi, an ethnic Armenian & Assyrian, was born and raised in Las Vegas, and lives there when not on tour. His father, Emmanuel "Mike" Agassi, was a boxer for Iran in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics before emigrating to the U.S.

Tennis career

Mike Agassi was a tennis fanatic, to put it nicely, determined to turn at least one of his four children into a world-class player. He hung tennis balls over Andre's crib, and gave him a full-sized racket at age 2. Growing up, Andre and his siblings had to hit 3,000 balls every day, seven days a week. Mike had Andre practice with Ilie Nastase and Jimmy Connors. Andre's sister, Rita, finally rebelled and moved in with, and later married, Pancho Gonzalez (their son, Skylar, played on Bishop-Gorman High School's tennis team). When he was 14, Andre was shipped off to teaching guru Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Florida, and turned pro when he was 16. He surpassed $2 million in career prize money in December 1988 after just 43 tournaments -- the quickest player in history to do so.

Missing image
AgassiBackhand.gif
Agassi hits a clean backhand from the baseline

Few athletes have so completely overhauled their public persona. As a youngster, Agassi embraced a rebel image. He grew his hair to rock-star length, sported an earring, and wore colorful shirts that pushed tennis' still-strict sartorial boundaries. He boasted of a cheeseburger-heavy diet and endorsed the Canon Rebel camera. "Image is everything" was the ads's tag line, and it became Agassi's as well, but by November 1997, his ranking had plunged to 141.

Agassi rededicated himself to tennis: he shaved his balding head, began a rigorous conditioning program, and worked his way back to the ATP by playing Challenger Tournaments, a circuit for pros ranked 50th and lower. Perhaps most remarkably, he has emerged as a gracious and thoughtful athlete, something of an elder statesman. After winning a match, he bows and blows a two-handed kiss to the spectators on each side of the court, a gesture most take as a rather humble acknowledgment of their support for him and for tennis.

Agassi keeps in exceptional shape and can outlast most players over the course of a long match, even the best counterpunchers. He typically employs a baseline style of play, rarely serving-and-volleying. However, he often makes contact with the ball inside the baseline, unlike most baseliners, who make 4-8 feet behind the baseline their home. His serve is slightly above-average at best among the top players on the men's tour (due to his lack of speed but good placement), but his return-of-serve is his claim to fame. Most agree that Agassi is the best serve returner in the history of professional tennis. He was the target of one of the fastest serves recorded, a 149-mph (240 km/h) blast from Andy Roddick—and returned it into play.

Agassi is one of only five male players to have won all the Grand Slam tournaments in a career, along with Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Fred Perry. Even more impressive, he is the first male tennis player to win Grand Slams on four different surfaces. (The previous players had won the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open on grass courts and Roland Garros on clay.) Agassi won the Australian Open on Rebound Ace, Roland Garros on clay, Wimbledon on grass, and the US Open on hard court.

He also became the first male tennis player to win all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. He won the tennis singles event at Atlanta in 1996. Agassi has represented the USA in Davis Cup play many times, compiling a lifetime record of 30-6 in 22 tries.

In 1992, Andre was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award.

Agassi has earned over $25 Million throughout his career, second only to Pete Sampras. In addition to this, Agassi also earns over $25 Million a year through endorsements, the most by a tennis player and fourth in all sports (1st place is Tiger Woods at $70 Million/year).

As of 2005, Agassi is the oldest active singles player on the ATP Tour.

Famous matches

  • French Open final 1990: lost to Andrés Gómez, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, in his first Grand Slam final.
  • Wimbledon final 1992: defeated Goran Ivanisevic, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 for his first Grand Slam win and only Wimbledon championship.
  • Wimbledon semi-final 1998: lost to Patrick Rafter, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, in a tense five-set match.
  • French Open final 1999: defeated Andrei Medvedev 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, in a spectacular come-from-behind victory to complete his career Grand Slam.
  • U.S. Open final 1999: defeated Todd Martin 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, in another come-from-behind thriller.
  • Australian Open 2000 Semi-final: defeated Pete Sampras, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, en route to his second Australian Open championship.
  • U.S. Open 2001 Quarter-final: lost to Pete Sampras, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6, despite not losing a service game.
  • U.S. Open 2002 Final: lost to Pete Sampras, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, in what turned out to be Sampras' last competitive match.
  • Australian Open 2005 4th Round: defeated Joachim Johansson 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 despite being aced 51 times, a world record.


Titles (60)

Legend (Singles)
Grand Slam (8)
Tennis Masters Cup (1)
Olympic Gold (1)
ATP Masters Series (17)
ATP Tour (33)

Singles (59)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. Nov 23, 1987 Itaparica Hard Luiz Mattar (Brazil) 7-6 6-2
2. Feb 15, 1988 Memphis, USA Hard Mikael Pernfors (Sweden) 6-4 6-4 7-5
3. Apr 25, 1988 Charleston, USA Clay Jimmy Arias (USA) 6-2 6-2
4. May 2, 1988 Forest Hills, USA Clay Slobodan Zivojinovic (Yugoslavia) 7-5 7-6 7-5
5. Jul 11, 1988 Stuttgart Outdoors, Germany Clay Andres Gomez (Ecuador) 6-4 6-2
6. Jul 25, 1988 Stratton, USA Hard Paul Annacone (USA) 6-2 6-4
7. Aug 15, 1988 Livingston Hard Jeff Tarango (USA) 6-2 6-4
8. Oct 2, 1989 Orlando, Florida, USA Hard Brad Gilbert (USA) 6-2 6-1
9. Feb 5, 1990 San Francisco, USA Carpet Todd Witsken (USA) 6-1 6-3
10. Mar 12, 1990 Key Biscayne, USA Hard Stefan Edberg (Sweden) 6-1 6-4 6 6-2
11. Jul 16, 1990 Washington, USA Hard Jim Grabb (USA) 6-1 6-4
12. Nov 12, 1990 Singles Championship, Frankfurt, Germany Carpet Stefan Edberg (Sweden) 5-7 7-6 7-5 6-2
13. 1991-04-01 Orlando, USA Hard Derrick Rostagno (USA) 6-2 1-6 6-3
14. 1991-07-15 Washington, USA Hard Petr Corda (Czechoslovakia) 6-3 6-4
15. 1992-04-27 Atlanta, USA Clay Pete Sampras (USA) 7-5 6-4
16. 1992-06-22 Wimbledon, London, Great Britain Grass Goran Ivanisevic (Croatia) 6-7 6-4 6-4 1-6 6-4
17. 1992-07-20 Toronto, Canada Hard Ivan Lendl (USA) 3-6 6-2 6-0
18. 1993-02-01 San Francisco, USA Hard Brad Gilbert (USA) 6-2 6-7 6-2
19. 1993-02-22 Scottsdale, USA Hard Marcos Ondruska (Russia) 6-2 3-6 6-3
20. 1994-02-21 Scottsdale, USA Hard Luiz Mattar (Brazil) 6-4 6-3
21. 1994-07-25 Toronto, Canada Hard Jason Stoltenberg (Australia) 6-4 6-4
22. 1994-08-29 US Open, New York, USA Hard Michael Stich (Germany) 6-1 7-6 7-5
23. 1994-10-17 Vienna, Austria Carpet Michael Stich (Germany) 7-6 4-6 6-2 6-3
24. 1994-10-31 Paris, France Carpet Marc Rosset (Switzerland) 6-3 6-3 4-6 7-5
25. 1995-01-16 Australian Open, Australia Hard Pete Sampras (USA) 4-6 6-1 7-6 6-4
26. 1995-02-06 San Jose Hard Michael Chang (USA) 6-2 1-6 6-3
27. 1995-03-13 Key Biscayne Hard Pete Sampras (USA) 3-6 6-2 7-6
28. 1995-07-17 Washington Hard Stefan Edberg(Sweden) 6-4 2-6 7-5
29. 1995-07-24 Montreal Hard Pete Sampras (USA) 3-6 6-2 6-3
30. 1995-08-07 Cincinnati Hard Michael Chang (USA) 7-5 6-2
31. 1995-08-14 New Haven Hard Richard Krajicek (Netherlands) 3-6 7-6 6-3
32. 1996-03-18 Key Biscayne Hard Goran Ivanisevic (Croatia) 3-0 40-0
33. 1996-07-22 The Olympics, Atlanta, USA Hard Sergi Bruguera (Spain) 6-2 6-3 6-1
34. 1996-08-05 Cincinnati Hard Michael Chang (USA) 7-6 6-4
35. 1998-02-09 San Jose Hard Pete Sampras (USA) 6-2 6-4
36. 1998-03-02 Scottsdale Hard Jason Stoltenberg (Australia) 6-4 7-6
37. 1998-07-20 Washington Hard Scott Draper (Australia) 6-2 6-0
38. 1998-07-27 Los Angeles Hard Tim Henman (UK) 6-4 6-4
39. 1998-10-19 Ostrava Carpet Jan Kroslak (Slovakia) 6-2 3-6 6-3
40. 1999-04-05 Hong Kong Hard Boris Becker (Germany) 6-7 6-4 6-4
41. 1999-05-24 Roland Garros Clay Andrei Medvedev (Ukraine) 1-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-4
42. 1999-08-16 Washington Hard Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia) 7-6 6-1
43. 1999-08-30 US Open Hard Todd Martin (USA) 6-4 6-7 6-7 6-3 6-2
44. 1999-11-01 Paris Carpet Marat Safin (Russia) 7-6 6-2 4-6 6-4
45. 2000-01-17 Australian Open Hard Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia) 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-4
46. 2001-01-15 Australian Open Hard Arnaud Clement (France) 6-4 6-2 6-2
47. 2001-03-12 Indian Wells Hard Pete Sampras (USA) 7-6 7-5 6-1
48. 2001-03-19 Key Biscayne Hard Jan-Michael Gambill (USA) 7-6 6-1 6-0
49. 2001-07-23 Los Angeles Hard Pete Sampras (USA 6-4 6-2
50. 2002-03-04 Scottsdale Hard Juan Balcells (Spain) 6-2 7-6
51. 2002-03-18 Key Biscayne Hard Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-3 6-3 3-6 6-4
52. 2002-05-06 Rome Clay Tommy Haas (Germany) 6-3 6-3 6-0
53. 2002-07-22 Los Angeles, USA Hard Jan-Michael Gambill (USA) 6-2 6-4
54. 2002-10-14 Madrid, Spain Hard Jiri Novak (Czech Republic) W/O
55. 2003-01-13 Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia Hard Rainer Schuettler (Germany) 6-2 6-2 6-1
56. 2003-02-10 San Jose, USA Hard Davide Sanguinetti (Italy) 6-3 6-1
57. 2003-03-17 Key Biscayne Hard Carlos Moyà (Spain) 6-3 6-3
58. 2003-04-21 Houston, USA Clay Andy Roddick (USA) 3-6 6-3 6-4
59. 2004-08-02 Cincinnati, USA Hard Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 6-3 3-6 6-2

Performance timeline

Tournament 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
Australian Open QF SF W - W W 4r 4r - SF W - - - - -
Roland Garros 1r 1r QF QF QF 2r W 1r - 2r QF 2r - SF F F
Wimbledon - - 4r 2r SF SF F 2r - 1r SF 4r QF W QF -
US Open QF SF F QF 2r W 4r 4r SF F W 1r QF 1r F
Grand Slam W-L 4-2 9-3 19-3 11-3 20-3 14-3 23-2 7-4 3-1 11-4 22-3 11-2 4-2 16-2 10-3 12-2
Tournaments Won 0 1 4 5 4 1 5 5 0 3 7 5 2 3 2 4
Hardcourt W-L 9-3 37-10 32-6 36-7 35-10 25-9 41-9 47-10 11-10 34-7 53-3 29-6 27-8 19-7 17-7 26-5


Tournament 1989 1988 1987 1986
Australian Open - - - -
Roland Garros 3r SF 2r -
Wimbledon - - 1r -
US Open SF SF 1r 1r
Grand Slam W-L 7-2 10-2 1-3 0-1
Tournaments Won 1 6 1 0
Hardcourt W-L 20-6 33-6 21-10 4-5

Doubles (1)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score
1. 1993-8-16 Cincinnati Hard Petr Korda (CZE) Stefan Edberg (Sweden), Henrik Holm (Sweden) 7-6 6-4


Personal life

After a four-year courtship, Agassi married Brooke Shields in a lavish ceremony on April 19, 1997. That February, they had filed suit against The National Enquirer claiming it printed "false and fabricated" statements: Brooke was undergoing counseling, binge-eating and taking pills; Agassi "lashed into" Brooke and he and Brooke's mother "tangled like wildcats" when she demanded a prenup. The case was dismissed, but the headlines were indicative of the union. Agassi filed for divorce, which was granted on April 9, 1999.

By the time the divorce was final, Agassi was dating Steffi Graf. With only their mothers as witnesses, they were married at his home on October 22, 2001. Their son, Jaden Gil, was born 6 weeks prematurely on October 26. Their daughter, Jaz Elle, was born on October 3, 2003.


External links

Template:Tennis World Number Ones (men)bg:Андре Агаси da:Andre Agassi de:Andre Agassi es:Andre Agassi fr:Andre Agassi it:Andre Agassi he:אנדרה אגסי nl:André Agassi ja:アンドレ・アガシ no:Andre Agassi pl:rishi bajaj sv:Andre Agassi

Navigation

  • Art and Cultures
    • Art (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Art)
    • Architecture (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Architecture)
    • Cultures (https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Cultures)
    • Music (https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Music)
    • Musical Instruments (http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/List_of_musical_instruments)
  • Biographies (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Biographies)
  • Clipart (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Clipart)
  • Geography (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Geography)
    • Countries of the World (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Countries)
    • Maps (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Maps)
    • Flags (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Flags)
    • Continents (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Continents)
  • History (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/History)
    • Ancient Civilizations (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Ancient_Civilizations)
    • Industrial Revolution (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Industrial_Revolution)
    • Middle Ages (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Middle_Ages)
    • Prehistory (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Prehistory)
    • Renaissance (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Renaissance)
    • Timelines (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Timelines)
    • United States (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/United_States)
    • Wars (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Wars)
    • World History (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/History_of_the_world)
  • Human Body (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Human_Body)
  • Mathematics (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Mathematics)
  • Reference (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Reference)
  • Science (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Science)
    • Animals (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Animals)
    • Aviation (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Aviation)
    • Dinosaurs (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Dinosaurs)
    • Earth (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Earth)
    • Inventions (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Inventions)
    • Physical Science (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Physical_Science)
    • Plants (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Plants)
    • Scientists (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Scientists)
  • Social Studies (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Social_Studies)
    • Anthropology (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Anthropology)
    • Economics (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Economics)
    • Government (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Government)
    • Religion (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Religion)
    • Holidays (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Holidays)
  • Space and Astronomy
    • Solar System (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Solar_System)
    • Planets (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Planets)
  • Sports (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Sports)
  • Timelines (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Timelines)
  • Weather (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Weather)
  • US States (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/US_States)

Information

  • Home Page (http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php)
  • Contact Us (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Contactus)

  • Clip Art (http://classroomclipart.com)
Toolbox
Personal tools