Posted on 09/03/2006 11:37:30 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Andre,, Thanks for all the thrills, excitement and championship play on the tennis courts the last 21 years!
I am really going to miss him. What a treasure!
Andre Agassi, of Las Vegas, Nev., holds his winners trophy after defeating Todd Martin, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.,at the U.S. Open men's singles championship in New York Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999. Agassi won 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-2.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Both he and Pete Sampras served well as role models, even tho they had McEnroe and a few other characters as their mentors. ;-)
He was so gracious in his comments and he received such a grand standing O for his final appearance. A good way to go out; showed what a good sports role model he is. Congrats on a great career and a gracious farewell to tournament play.
Wow, I forgot the hair!!
How far has our civilization sunk that we make note of a gracious retirement speech? It would have been unthinkable not to give one in the old days. Especially tennis!
Class act, good guy, and a wonderful prominent citizen of my adopted hometown of Las Vegas, along with his wife Steffi Graf.
I'm sure their son or their daughter will be seen on the pro tennis front should either or both want to persue tennis seriously. After all, they have two of the most successful pros ever giving them pointers! ;-)
That is sportsman
What a class act for Americans and the game of tennis.
 Andre Stretches |
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 Agassi Focused |
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 The lunging Becker |
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In tears on match point, the sentimental favorite was eliminated from his 21st consecutive – and final – US Open on Sunday, and it was clear from the first game that the two-time champion Andre Agassi had lost his foot-speed and flexibility.
No matter how hard the lion wanted to fight, his body betrayed him.
Benjamin Becker beat the legend, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5, with serves up to 140mph, strain-inducing drop shots, and forehands that repeatedly stretched Agassi’s backhand into atypical one-handed efforts, particularly in the first three sets.
Hope sprung in the fourth set, but after Agassi failed to hold serve during the critical 11th game, Becker had a chance to serve for the match. The German qualifier who had played for Baylor University seized the chance at 40-0 and served his 27th ace to end Agassi’s career at 2:30pm EST on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Becker called the experience, “like a movie. He was my idol, such a gentleman, and it was a great honor to play him. Whatever the crowd did for him, he deserved it.”
Agassi, ever eloquent – even while sobbing – managed to catch his breath long enough to tell 23,700 spectators on a sky-blue day: “The scoreboard said I lost today. What the scoreboard doesn’t say is how much I’ve won. I found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and in life. I’ve found inspiration. You’ve willed me to succeed. I’ve found generosity. You’ve allowed me to stand on your shoulders to reach my dreams. And I will take you in my memory for the rest of my life.”
Becker, in his US Open debut, now faces a fourth-round meeting with the winner of No. 9 Andy Roddick and No. 22 Fernando Verdasco of Spain.
ping
This will be high on Romey's list of takes next time he's on...I hope.
yeah it will be....I'm pretty sure.
Tennis needs a superstar.
Unfortunately their lone male superstar has just retired.
I agree, although I have to admit Andre really got on my nerves at the beginning of his career. He was a little too cocky for me, which is why I always rooted for Pete (although people have criticised Pete for being smug, mostly Andre fans). Having said that, I grew to like him as he matured through his career and always rooted for him (except for the times he was playing Pete). Now I don't know who to root for.
Try Roger Federer--another class act. He's never going to take the place of Andre (in my heart), but he's a great guy.
What a lovely guy he is! Thank you.
Yeah, and it isn't like A Raunchy Chick from the Barrio is coming back anytime soon.
Nor is Martin Navratilov...
LOL!!
Did you hear that call on Thursday?
I almost had to pull the car over when he dropped that line on the call....
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