Tennis great Andre Agassi laid down his racket for good; after a twenty-year career, Agassi retired from professional play. Unfortunately for fans, he didnt leave on a high notehis retirement fell on the heels of a disappointing loss.
Collapsing in his courtside chair, the tearful 36-year-old looked up through his fingers to see 20,000 people standing and cheering for him in Arthur Ashe Stadium in a tribute that lasted a solid four minutes, the Associated Press reports.
With his wife Steffi Graff and two young children looking on, Agassi bowed out with grace and dignity.
Despite pain from sciatica caused by a degenerative back condition, Agassi walked to center court to bow and wave to his fans. He told the crowd, "The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what I have found. Over the last 21 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've found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could never have reached without you."
He later told the Associated Press, "I was sitting there realizing that I was saying goodbye to everybody out there, and they were saying goodbye to me. It's saying goodbye. It's a necessary evil. But we were getting through it together. That felt amazing."
Over his impressive career, Agassi won eight Grand Slam titles, and broke ground as one of a handful of players who won all four Grand Slam singles events played.
Alyk
Boston, MA
February 2005
SEP 04, 2006 07:42 PM