Arguably one of the most recognizable figures in the world of professional tennis, player Andre Agassi has announced that he will be retiring from the sport after the 2006 U.S. Open. Currently aged 36, Andre's tennis career has spanned 20 years. His career was a long-lasting one that saw him play on while other players of his age range retired. He was a true master of the sport, held in regards with Pete Sampras and Jim Courier.
Andre's career saw its first speck of glory when he won the Wimbledon tournament in the year of 1992. The odds were stacked against Agassi; many critics felt that due to his method of baseline playing, he wouldn't be able to hold a candle to the other competitors in the event. He proved them wrong, as he would time and time again. One of the major highlights of his career is the fact that he won all four Grand Slams - he was only the fifth man in the history of the sport to do so. Another important thing to note is that Andre has won 8 major titles throughout the course of his career, a highly significant achievement in the unpredictable world of professional tennis.
All that is not to say that his career went perfectly; he was fraught with peril in 1997, bogged down due to injury which saw his ranking drop to a meager #141. As all true athletes, however, he saw this setback as an opportunity to better himself. He went on to play two Challenger events which saw his rank increase.
Many people saw Agassi as a popular figure throughout tennis. Without a doubt, he is one of the most recognizable, and one of the common faces pushed in the tennis world. His free spirit and his undying philanthropy can be seen due to the fact that he's donated literally millions of his earnings over the years to such notable causes as helping underprivileged children in his hometown of Las Vegas. The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation works towards his goals to this very day.
Needless to say, Andre will be missed by tennis players and fans alike. He brought a certain touch of fun and adventure to the game, and he will never be forgotten in the annals of tennis fame.
