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Biography

Andre Agassi was born on April 29,1970 in Las Vegas,Nevada. His Iranian-born father Mike Agassi was an Olympic boxer in 1948 and 1952. Andre, the youngest of 4 children,was deemed a tennis prodigy at age three. By age 13,Agassi was enrolled at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. It was there that he honed his skills. Under the tutelage of Bollettieri, Agassi turned pro at the age of 16 in 1986. He took the tour circuit by storm,with his fluorescent outfits and long hair.

Roller Coaster of Success

But Agassis success was not what many thought it should be. In 1988, he was ranked 4th in the world, but by 1992 he still had not won a Grand Slam event. Agassi entered the 1992 Wimbledon Open,seeded 12th. But he went on to upset Boris Becker,John McEnroe and Goran Ivanisevic to capture his first Grand Slam title. Moments after winning, Agassi revealed his emotions as he fell to his knees and cried.

After a terrible year in 1993,critics began to wonder whether Agassi had reached his full potential and was on his way down. Agassi hired former player Brad Gilbert as his coach for the 1994 season. The dividends paid off immediately,as he became the first unseeded player since 1930 to win the US Open. This newfound confidence continued on as Agassi posted a 73-9 record in 1995,which resulted in winning the Australian Open and reaching the top ranked position in the world.

Agassis 1996 was bittersweet. He did not win a Grand Slam event (losing in the semi-finals at the US Open), but did win the gold medal at the Olympics. Being able to win a medal on American soil was a dream which came true for him.

Why do We Like Him?

He has given us so many memorable moments on the court over the course of his career. Like many of us, Agassi has had his struggles, but it is his persistence and determination that sets him apart in most of our minds.

Why is He Famous?

Agassi is part of popular culture because of his athletic ability and his natural charisma, both on and off the tennis courts. He is a great entertainer and loves the spotlight. It is this lack of shyness that has propelled Agassi into international stardom. His many Grand Slam victories have carved a permanent place for himself in sports folklore, not just the tennis Hall of Fame.

Overall Rating

Andre Agassi embodies the modern tennis player. He has been at times flamboyant, emotional and cocky. His numerous endorsements and public relationships have made him a favorite of the media. After a down period in which Agassi didnt contend for major tournaments, he has simply been dominating.

Agassi seems to be improving with age, something that is unheard of in tennis. His reincarnation started in 1994, when he hired Brad Gilbert as his new coach. He and Agassi have a great rapport, which has resulted in many tournament victories for Agassi.

The commercials havent stopped for Agassi,who has been the spokesman for products since the late 1980s. He has bounced from product to product,making millions in the process. While there are other well-known tennis players that have achieved more than Agassi,it is his entire package that appeals to advertisers. At 5′11″ and 165 pounds, he looks like an everyday guy, which is something that is important for a spokesperson.

But, Agassi has had his outlandish moments as well. In the late 1980s early 1990s, Agassi declined to play in three consecutive Wimbledon Grand Slams because he couldnt wear his “flashy” clothing. Some skeptics argue that Agassi was merely withdrawing from the tourney because he thought he couldnt win playing on grass. But Agassi silenced all the critics with his stunning win at Wimbledon in 1992.

Personality & Talent

Ever since he turned pro in 1986, Andre Agassi has been at the forefront of tennis. When he arrived on the scene,he was the only one with neon-colored clothing,an unshaven face,pierced ears,and long blonde hair. Fans couldnt get enough of him then, and they still want more of him now.

Agassi has always known that fans clamor to see him in person; thats why he “plays to them.” He will pump a fist after a point,or gesture to the crowd in exasperation. Andre Agassi is at his best when the stands are packed and the microphones are on. In the last few years,Agassi has mellowed out somewhat. He no longer dyes his hair or wears outlandish colors. Instead,Agassi usually sports anything black,which is indicative of him being anything but the prototype “white guy in white shorts” tennis player.

His skill and talent levels are currently very high. He is ranked as one of the top 5 players in the world, and has reached the number one spot in the past. Aside from Pete Sampras, Agassi is the best player this country has to offer. His return of serve is considered one of the best of all-time.

Accomplishments & Fame

Agassi is well known to the public for two reasons; his tennis ability and his numerous appearances in television commercials. He initially gained notoriety when he did spots for the Rebel camera by Canon. His “bad-boy” image in the early 1990s helped sell this product.

Agassi also did some very successful ads for Nike with fellow American Pete Sampras. Their on-court rivalry was used to create a competitive image for the Nike name. Currently, Agassi is the spokesperson for Schick razors.

There isnt much that Agassi hasnt accomplished in the tennis world. He has been ranked number one and won all four major Grand Slams,something that not even Pete Sampras has accomplished. Recently, he was involved in one of the more spirited,entertaining matches of the year:a four-set loss in the 2001 US Open quarterfinals to Pete Sampras,7-6,6-7,6-7,6-7.

Coolness Factor

In his early years on the circuit,Agassis coolness stemmed from him being different than any opponent. But he has changed with the times,preferring to wear classic Nike outfits,something that fans everywhere surely emulate. He was the main reason why the tennis racket brand name Head became so popular in North America;he used it.

It is because of Agassi that boys today arent afraid to use the two-handed backhand instead of the one-handed kind. He made it cool,and showed guys that you dont have to hit a one-hand backhand to be macho.

Personal Style

Although Agassi used to pride himself on dressing differently,he has fallen into the “wear what is popular” mode. He dresses very casually, preferring not to dress up unless he has to. Ever since he has been involved with Steffi,Agassi relies on Nike to outfit him with what is contemporary.

“If this was disappointing,I hope to disappoint 20,000 people at the US Open this year.”—Andre Agassi, after it took him only 50 minutes to win a 1998 tournament final.

選自www.askmen.com/men/sports/39_andre_agassi.html