Thursday 17 April 2008

Andre Agassi

NAME Andre Kirk Agassi

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Andre Agassi is a former professional tennis player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. 

BIRTH He was born on April 29, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada

FAMILY BACKGROUND: He is the son of Emmanuel Agassi, an Iranian Olympic boxer, and Elizabeth "Betty" Agassi. Andre has three siblings: Rita, Philip, and Tami.

CHILDHOOD: Andre was groomed for tennis greatness from a young age by his father. He trained intensely and faced pressure to succeed. Andre developed a rebellious streak and for a time disliked the sport.

EDUCATION: Andre attended local Las Vegas schools before enrolling at Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy at 13 in Florida, where he honed his skills and developed his aggressive baseline style. He dropped out at 16 to turn professional.

CAREER RECORD Agassi quickly rose to fame with his flamboyant appearance and charismatic personality.  He won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1992, followed by the US Open in 1994 and the Australian Open in 1995. He also won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. However, he also faced some challenges in his career, such as injuries, drug use, and a slump in performance that dropped him to rank 141 in 1997. 

Agassi staged a remarkable comeback in 1999, winning the French Open and becoming the fifth player in history to complete a career Grand Slam. 

Agassi continued to play at a high level in the early 2000s, winning three more Australian Open titles and another US Open title. 

He also became involved in philanthropy, founding the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation and the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, both of which aim to provide education and opportunities for underprivileged children. 

Agassi retired from professional tennis in 2006, after losing to Roger Federer in the US Open final. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and delivered an emotional farewell speech.

APPEARANCE: Agassi had a distinctive appearance on the court, with his long hair, earrings, and colorful outfits. He was known for his charisma and charm, as well as his athletic physique and powerful strokes. He later shaved his head and adopted a more mature and elegant style.

By User:Akademan) From en: wiki en:File:Andre Agassi Indian Wells 2006.


FASHION: Agassi was a trendsetter in the tennis world, wearing flashy and unconventional clothing and accessories. He had a contract with Nike, which allowed him to design his own apparel and shoes. He also launched his own clothing line, called Agassi Collection, in 1993.

CHARACTER: Agassi was a complex and contradictory person, who struggled with his identity and self-esteem throughout his career. He was rebellious and defiant, often clashing with the authorities and the media. He was also generous and compassionate, supporting various charitable causes and founding his own educational foundation.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Agassi had a witty and sarcastic sense of humour, which he used to cope with the pressure and criticism he faced. He often joked about himself and his opponents, making fun of their weaknesses and quirks. He also enjoyed playing pranks on his friends and colleagues.

RELATIONSHIPS: Agassi had several high-profile relationships with celebrities, such as Brooke Shields, Barbra Streisand, and Steffi Graf. He married Shields in 1997, but they divorced two years later. He married Graf in 2001, after she retired from tennis. They have two children together.

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff

MONEY AND FAME: Agassi earned millions of dollars from his tennis career and endorsements. He was one of the most popular and influential athletes in the world, attracting fans from different backgrounds and cultures. He also faced the drawbacks of fame, such as scrutiny, gossip, and harassment.

FOOD AND DRINK: Agassi was not very adventurous when it came to food and drink. He preferred simple and healthy meals, such as pasta, chicken, salad, and water. He occasionally indulged in junk food, such as pizza, burgers, and fries. He did not drink alcohol or smoke.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Agassi likes listening to music, especially rock and pop. He's a fan of bands such as U2, Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. He also appreciates art, especially paintings and sculptures. Agassi has collected some artworks by famous artists, such as Picasso, Warhol, and Basquiat.

LITERATURE: Agassi isn't an avid reader, but he enjoys reading biographies and autobiographies of people he admired or related to. He also wrote his own memoir, called Open: An Autobiography, which was published in 2009. It was a candid and revealing account of his life and career.

NATURE: Agassi loves nature and the outdoors. He likes hiking, camping, skiing, and surfing. He also cares about the environment and supported causes that aimed to protect it. He's donated money to organizations that fought against deforestation, pollution, and climate change.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Andre Agassi loved tennis from a young age. He could serve a ball on a full court by the time he was two years old. He also enjoys playing pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. He won the Pickleball Slam 2 in 2024 with his wife Steffi Graf, beating John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova for $1 million. 

SCIENCE AND MATHS Andre Agassi was not very interested in science and maths as a child. He dropped out of school in ninth grade to focus on his tennis career. He later regretted this decision and became an advocate for education. 

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Andre Agassi was raised as a Muslim by his Iranian father, who had converted from Armenian Christianity. However, he did not practice Islam as an adult and described himself as agnostic. He was influenced by the philosophy of Buddhism and meditation, which he learned from his coach Brad Gilbert. He also respected the Christian faith of his wife Steffi Graf, who is a Lutheran. 

SCANDAL Andre Agassi had his share of scandals in his career and personal life. He admitted in his autobiography that he had used crystal meth in 1997 and lied to the ATP about it. He also revealed that he had hated tennis for most of his life and felt pressured by his father to play. He had several high-profile relationships with celebrities such as Brooke Shields, Barbra Streisand and Jennifer Capriati, which attracted media attention and gossip. He also faced criticism for his rebellious image, his boycott of Wimbledon and his inconsistent performance on court. 

MILITARY RECORD He's supported various causes related to veterans and military families. Agassi donated money to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides housing for families of wounded soldiers. He also participated in charity events such as the USO World Gala and the Heroes Among Us Gala. 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Andre Agassi was known for his physical fitness and endurance on court. He had a rigorous training regimen that included running, cycling, weightlifting and yoga. He also followed a strict diet that consisted of lean protein, vegetables, fruits and grains. Agassi avoided alcohol, caffeine, sugar and processed foods. However, he also suffered from several injuries and health problems throughout his career. He had chronic back pain caused by sciatica, spondylolisthesis and a bone spur that interfered with his nerve. He also had wrist surgery, chest infections, bronchitis and an inflamed toe.  

HOMES Andre Agassi was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he still resides with his family. He also owned homes in Tiburon, California; Saddle River, New Jersey; Manhattan Beach, California; Palm Desert, California; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Tegernsee, Germany. He preferred living in quiet and secluded areas away from the paparazzi and the public eye. 

TRAVEL Andre Agassi traveled extensively around the world as a professional tennis player.  He visited countries such as Japan, China, India, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Russia and many more. Agassi enjoyed experiencing different cultures, cuisines and landscapes during his travels. 

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Andre Agassi made numerous appearances in media throughout his career and after his retirement. He starred in commercials for brands such as Nike, Canon, American Express and Armani Exchange. Agassi wrote an autobiography titled Open: An Autobiography, which was published in 2009 and became a bestseller. He also appeared in documentaries, talk shows, podcasts and movies. In 2017, Agassi appeared in the documentary film Love Means Zero, which highlighted the troubled relationship between his coach Nick Bollettieri and him

ACHIEVEMENTS Andre Agassi achieved many remarkable feats in his tennis career. He won eight Grand Slam singles titles, one Olympic gold medal, one ATP Tour Finals title and 60 career singles titles. He also won three Davis Cup titles with the United States team. 

He is one of only five men in the Open Era to complete the career Grand Slam, and the only man to win the career Golden Slam and the career Super Slam. He is also the first man to win all four majors on three different surfaces: hard, clay and grass. 

He reached the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in 1995 and held it for a total of 101 weeks. 

Agassi is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time and an icon of the sport. 

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