Now Andre Kirk Agassi is a successful businessman and philanthropist, as well as a happy father of a family, whose appearance does not suggest that he ever played sports. However, this name is well known all over the world, even to people far from sports, and tennis fans still remember his legendary two-handed backhand, an exciting game on the back line, almost "ping-pong" speed of the game. After giving tennis more than thirty years of his life, Agassi was one of the first rackets in the world for almost twenty years, and at the end of his career he became the oldest among the leaders of the ATP (Association of Professional Tennis Players) rating. Agassi's autobiography does not leave anyone indifferent: in the life of the great tennis player there were dizzying ups, family conflicts, stormy romances, real friends, scandals, drugs, but the most important thing in his life were triumphant victories on the courts, which were replaced by deep affection for his wife and children , and doing charity work.
Andre Agassi was born on April 29, 1970 in Las Vegas. His father is a native of Iran with Armenian roots, Emanuel (Manu) Agassi, who took the name Mike after moving to the United States, and his mother is American Elizabeth Dudley. Andre's biography (as, indeed, the life of the entire Agassi family) was shaped by the unrealized childhood dream of his father. He really wanted to become a tennis player, but in post-war Iran only British and American soldiers played tennis. Manu Agassi became a famous boxer, but he taught all his children to play tennis and coached to exhaustion. The Agassi house in Las Vegas was very poor, but there was a tennis court in the yard, and Mike personally improved the devices for serving balls and removing them from the ground. The daughter of Agassi Tama did not show any special athletic abilities, the second daughter
b, Rita, became a rather successful tennis player, and her son Philip, after intensive training, received a wrist injury and could not count on a high result. The birth of the fourth child was unplanned - the doctors even assumed the disease and recommended surgery - but for Mike Agassi it was another chance that fully justified all his hopes. He hung tennis balls over his son's bed and gave him a ping-pong racket, then took the child out onto the court as soon as he began to walk. His father forced Andre to hit thousands of balls from the serving machine until the whole yard was covered with them, not paying attention to the tiredness and anger of his son. At the age of 10, Andre Agassi entered the second round of the US Junior Championship, and a year later he was already in the semifinals. At 13, he entered the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. Despite the conflicts,
difficult character future star tennis, at the age of 14 he became the US Youth Indoor Champion, and at the age of 16 he began professional career.
In 1986, Andre Agassi managed to enter the top 100 tennis players in the world and compete in the Grand Slam tournament at the US Open. The following year, he reached the semifinals of the Grand Prix tournament and became 25th in the ranking of tennis players.
In 1988, Agassi won 6 Grand Prix tournaments, twice reached the Grand Slam semifinals, as part of the US national team, he led the team to the Davis Cup World League and as a result became the 3rd in the world classification.
Subsequently, he won the ATP World Championship (1990), the 1996 Olympic Games, won all four Grand Slam tournaments, becoming the owner of the Golden Slam. Also Andre Agassi won 26 matches of the Australian Open, twice as part of the national team in
he went to the final of the Davis Cup, for 16 seasons he was among the ten strongest tennis players. At the same time, Agassi often shocked spectators and judges with scandalous antics - he could defiantly catch the ball in the game, spit in the direction of the referee, and bicker with rivals. The famous tennis player loved to shock others with his appearance; he bought a private jet, neglected his exercise regimen, and used drugs and junk food without hiding it.
In 1993, Andre Agassi suffered a wrist injury. During treatment and forced inaction, he was introduced in absentia to the film actress Brooke Shields, who was five years older than the famous tennis player. Communication with Brooke benefited Andre - he tightened the training regimen, began to dress more discreetly and even shaved his head. In 1997, the couple got married, which lasted only two years. Heavy character A
assi, his constant jealousy was supplemented by sporting failures - in 1997 he performed extremely unsuccessfully and dropped even below the position in the ranking from which he once began his professional career.
Shortly after the divorce, Agassi went to the French Open and won it. The famous tennis player Steffi Graf became the winner of the same championship, who at the same time announced the termination of sports performances. A close relationship was established between them. In October 2001, Andre and Steffi got married, and five days later their son was born, who was named Jaden Gil; two years later, the star couple had a daughter, Jazz Ellie.
Living with the calm and sane Steffi completely transformed Agassi. His scandalous antics and unhealthy habits are a thing of the past. In 2003, he became the first in the ATP rating and also the first who succeeded
do this at that age and also hold this position for 14 weeks. However, numerous injuries were already making themselves felt. In 2005, Agassi reached the semifinals of the Grand Slam, becoming the oldest finalist at that time and entered the top ten, and in 2006 he stopped his sports career... His total earnings for all the years of performances amounted to more than $ 30 million.
Back in 1994, Andre Agassi founded his own educational foundation, contributing to the restructuring of school education, and in 1997 - a sports club in Las Vegas, where 2 thousand children study free of charge. In addition, it supports various projects in the field of health care. Agassi's name is on the lists of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the US Hall of Champions; under the portrait of the great tennis player there are three words: bold, daring, incomparable
Even someone who is far from tennis most likely knows Andre Agassi. He has always been known for his aggressive playing style with brilliant coordination. And the girls went crazy with his incredibly beautiful eyes and long dyed hair. However, even with a shaved head, Andre did not cease to attract glances. On the court he was nicknamed "The Punisher", and in real life a playboy. He was never afraid to resist the rules, refused to play because of the dress code of Wimbledon and advertised McDonald's that did not fit at all with sports style. In his autobiography, the champion spoke about drug addiction. Despite this, Andre Agassi remains one of the greatest tennis players of all time with 8 Grand Slam titles.
Career from 2 years
Andre Agassi was born on April 29, 1970 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. His father Emmanuel "Mike", a former Olympic boxer, immigrated from Iran and married Elizabeth Dudley. Mike claimed to have Armenian roots, and initially their surname sounded like Agasyan.
At the age of two, Andre could quite accurately serve tennis ball... All thanks to the father, who built a court near the house and became the first coach for the youngest son. At the age of thirteen, Andre was sent to a tennis camp in Florida. In ninth grade, he rebelled like a teenager should. The athlete dyed his hair, pierced his ears and dressed like a punk rocker. By the time he turned professional at sixteen, his a New Look on the game promised to change tennis forever.
Professional and brawler Andre Agassi
The tennis player has been a professional for 30 years. The start of his incredible career was marked by a victory over John Austin, but then Andre lost. However, having started in 1986 with 310th place in the rankings, he finished the year, being already in the first hundred.
The next 7 victories stretched until 2003. Andre beat Andrei Medvedev, Evgeny Kafelnikov and three other famous athletes. However, this period was not smooth. Agassi plunged headlong into advertising contracts with the already mentioned chain of fast food restaurants, Canon, Dupont, and many others. He even took a vacation in 1993 with a private jet. Because of this cheeky behavior, his first coach Nick Bollettieri left.
Nike Andre Agassi
Nike proudly supported Agassi early in his career in 1988. They saw the potential of one of the greatest players in tennis history. A winner of no less than 60 different tournaments, Agassi was and remains an incredibly charismatic personality. Therefore, Nike was overjoyed when the athlete returned to cooperate with them in 2013 after a deal with. The Nike co-founder spoke very warmly about the tennis player:
“As one of the world's greatest tennis players, Agassi embodied the passion, dedication and determination of the Nike brand. As a philanthropist and advocate, he continues to inspire the younger generation with his Just Do It spirit. We are honored to welcome him. "
Over the years, many Nike Andre Agassi signature sneakers have been introduced. Among them are Air Trainer 1, black and white Nike Air Flair, Nike Zoom Challenge, Nike Air Challenge Huarache and perhaps the most famous Nike Air Tech Challenge 2.
Back in 1990, Nike was put on the Air Tech Challenge II athlete. They tied several styles together, including from the Air Jordan 4 silhouette that was at the top of basketball around the same time. ATC2 were successfully reprinted in last years, also in a white and green Liquid Lime color scheme.
Sneakers for Andre Agassi
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Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf
In the 90s, Andre distinguished himself not only on the court. He dated actress and singer Barbra Streisand. In his biography, the tennis player writes that “We are good for each other, and what if she is twenty-eight years older? We are likable and the publicity adds a spice to our connection. It makes our friendship feel forbidden, taboo is another piece of my common rebellion. "
Agassi is credited with many novels with stars, but the playboy himself does not confirm them. In the late 90s he was married to Brooke Shields, but their marriage only lasted two years. After that, the champion began to meet with the German tennis player Steffi Graf.
They were the darlings of Center Court at Wimbledon in 1992, where both won. And they came together 7 years later at the French Open, where, by the way, they also won the title. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf were married in 2001 at their home in Las Vegas. For the bride, the athlete bought a villa in San Francisco, because his fortune at that time was already estimated at $ 200 million. The couple are still happy together and are raising two children, Jaden Gil and Jazz Eli Agassi.
Children of Andre Agassi
André and Steffi are an incredible power couple for world sport, and undoubtedly the greatest alliance of genes. Their children could be the new tennis stars. But Agassi states that they will never play.
“Jaden and Jazz have zero interest in the game. Tennis? I just think we've had enough to be honest, ”says Agassi.
Jaden has shown a passion for baseball and uses his father's coordination to hit opponents on the pitch. Daughter Jazz is engaged in horse riding and hip-hop dancing.
Today the Agassi family runs a serious business, they have a whole empire that includes restaurants, nightlife and sports clubsas well as real estate and construction. Together, the couple were the face of Swiss watches Longines, and Andre himself is considered one of the highest paid athletes in the world.
April 29 marks the 44th anniversary of the great American tennis player, ex-first racket of the world, eight-time winner of the Grand Slam tournaments, olympic champion Andre Agassi.
In his career, Agassi played over 1000 matches and in most of them he looked great. It was not easy to choose the top ten, but we did our best and put them in chronological order.
WIMBLEDON 1992. SEMIFINAL. AGASSI - John MCINROY (USA) - 6: 4, 6: 2, 6: 3
Agassi did not immediately fall in love with Wimbledon. After swiftly losing to Henri Leconte in the first match in 1987, he declared that he would never return, and indeed did not return to the All England Lawn Tennis Club until 1991. But one day, having reached the quarterfinals there, he realized that the turf was not so terrible, and began to prepare seriously. In 1992, he arrived at the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world with the intent to win.
In the semifinals, his rival was the great compatriot John McEnroe, who was approaching the end of his career. It was with him that Agassi had paired up at Roland Garros a few weeks earlier and trained with him for two weeks and personally gave advice on how to neutralize him.
André had a very clean semi-final. His backline shots, especially the forehand, and his signature serve were great. He celebrated the victory with a score of 6: 4, 6: 2, 6: 3 in 1 hour 51 minutes.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN-1995. THE FINAL. AGASSI - SAMPRAS (USA) - 4: 6, 6: 1, 7: 6 (8: 6), 6: 4
If you ask experienced tennis fans for advice on which matches of Agassi should be reviewed first, they will answer you: the finals against Sampras. And they will be right. The rivalry between two compatriot peers was special and truly adorned the tennis of that era.
This match stands apart in the list of fights between Agassi and Sampras. Andre took care of himself and for a long time did not go to Australia, and as soon as he went to conquer the Green Continent, he immediately reached the final, where he met ... Of course, with Sampras, who defended the champion title. As always, the tennis players played a super match. And Agassi, having given the first set, fought back and celebrated the victory - 4: 6, 6: 1, 7: 6 (8: 6), 6: 4.
US OPEN-1995. THE FINAL. AGASSI - SAMPRAS - 4: 6, 3: 6, 6: 4, 5: 7
After defeating Sapras in Australia, Agassi took the lead in the world rankings from his rival compatriot, and throughout the season they fought with each other for the title of the first racket of the world. But in the final of the US Open, Pete interrupted Andre's summer super series, which totaled 26 victories in a row and four won tournaments - 6: 4, 6: 3, 4: 6, 7: 5.
ROLAND GARROS-1999. AGASSI - MEDVEDEV (UKRAINE) - 1: 6, 2: 6, 6: 4, 6: 3, 6: 4
In 1997, due to injuries and personal problems, Agassi dropped out of the Top 100. It seemed that his best years already behind. But he put the skeptics to shame, not just returning to their previous positions, but showing the best results in his career. From 1999 to 2003, Andre won five of his eight Grand Slam tournaments, the first of which was at the Roland Garros courts in the summer of 1999.
In the first two sets of the fight with Ukrainian Andrei Medvedev, the American took only three games, and it was hard to believe that this match would be able to return, but Agassi succeeded in an amazing comeback - 1: 6, 2: 6, 6: 4, 6: 3, 6: four.
This victory was special for the tennis player from Nevada: having won Open Championship France, he became the fifth tennis player in history and the first in the Open era to complete a career Grand Slam.
US Open-99. THE FINAL. AGASSI - Todd MARTIN (USA) - 6: 4, 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 7 (2: 7), 6: 3, 6: 2
In the same season, Agassi played twice in the Grand Slam finals. At Wimbledon, he lost to Sampras, and at the US Open he met with another compatriot - Todd Martin. Two Americans delighted their native audience with an amazing game. Agassi did not give up a single game on his serve, but, nevertheless, he lost two games in tie-breaks and it took all five sets to determine the winner. What happened in the US Open men's final for the first time in 11 years.
US OPEN-2001. QUARTER FINAL. SAMPRAS - AGASSI - 6: 7 (7: 9), 7: 6 (7: 2), 7: 6 (7: 2), 7: 6 (7: 5)
Agassi and Sampras gave out superfights not only in the finals. Yes, until the title was not a step or two, but this match is rightfully called one of the best in the history of tennis. For four sets, none of the opponents gave up their serve. Before the fourth tie-break, spectators in the crowded stands of Arthur Ash's arena got to their feet and gave the two American superstars a standing ovation. Sampras eventually celebrated the victory - 6: 7, 7: 6, 7: 6, 7: 6.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN-2003. THE FINAL. AGASSI - Rainer SCHUTTLER (GERMANY) - 6: 2, 6: 2, 6: 1
Even at 33, Agassi looked brilliant on the court. Yes, the fight in that final did not work out at all, but only because Andre looked brilliant. He literally strangled, destroyed his rival. 67 minutes and only 23 games!
“Taking his opponent by the throat, Agassi did not let go of his iron grip until the last point, leaving the poor German no chance,” wrote “SE” in January 2003.
TENNIS MASTERS CUP-2003. GROUP TOURNAMENT... AGASSI - Roger FEDERER (SWITZERLAND) - 7: 6 (7: 3), 3: 6, 6: 7 (7: 9)
It was an outstanding game played by both masters - the mature Agassi and the rising star Federer, tennis of an outstanding level. Andre's match balls went unfulfilled, and he allowed Federer to win the first victory in their confrontation. After that Swiss, he never won again.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN-2004. SEMIFINAL. Marat SAFIN (RUSSIA) - AGASSI
- 7:6 (8:6), 7:6 (8:6), 5:7, 1:6, 6:3
It was an amazing match - tense, full of beautiful struggle and drama. Combination of power and matching play. Agassi almost broke the resistance of his opponent, but the Russian who served well did not give up. The American lost, but his fans are unlikely to turn their tongues to accuse him of this.
US Open-2005. QUARTER FINAL. AGASSI - James BLAKE (USA) - 3: 6, 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 3, 7: 6 (8: 6)
And again, two Americans at the US Open, to the delight of the numerous spectators who created an amazing atmosphere at the stadium, organized a super game. The exchange of powerful blows from the back line stretched over five sets, and Agassi managed a phenomenal return from a score of 0-2 in sets. The American was two points away from defeat, but managed to get out - 3: 6, 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 3, 7: 6 (8: 6).
Andre Agassi is a man who has become a true legend in the world of tennis. Probably everyone knows about his most important victories today. Therefore, in our biographical article, we will try to focus the greatest attention on the athlete's personal life, as well as on unknown moments from his past.
The early years, childhood and the beginning of the biography of Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi was born on April 29, 1970 in the city of Las Vegas (Nevada). His mother was American, and his father, Emmanuel Agassi, was Iranian of Armenian descent.After moving to the USA, the father of our today's hero made a successful career as a boxer, however, despite this, he always cherished in his soul a special love for tennis. It's all about what else in childhood Emmanuel often watched American and British soldiers play tennis in the courtyard of the Christian Mission.
Subsequently, noticing a local boy at the fence, one of the military gave the boy his first tennis racket... Many years have passed since then. Emmanuel moved from Iran to the United States, where he started a family, and also built a small clay tennis court near his home. Despite the fact that Emmanuel made a successful career in the field of boxing, he always taught his four children only to play tennis. Playing with the guys, the famous Iranian-American athlete hoped that each of them would make a successful career on tennis courts in the future. However, only one of Emmanuel's children, the youngest son Andre, had a chance to become famous in the world of tennis.
In early childhood, the future tennis player spent a huge amount of time on the court. Together with his father, he often went to various junior tournaments, where already at the age of ten he achieved quite significant results. In particular, in 1980, Andre Agassi became a finalist in the US Championship in his age group. A year later, he reached the semi-final stage.
To help him make a successful career in the world of sports, Emmanuel sent his son to the tennis academy, Nick Bollettieri, who was a longtime friend of the boxer. To continue his career, Andre had to move to Florida, however, as it turned out, it was worth it. For several years of study at the prestigious tennis academy, our today's hero has greatly improved his professional skills, and therefore at the age of fourteen he managed to win his first US title in his age group.
Tennis player Andre Agassi
As a professional, Andre Agassi began performing at the age of sixteen. In February 1986, he appeared at a tournament in the Californian city of La Quinta, where he safely passed the first stage, but lost in the second then third racket of the world to Mats Wilander.Subsequently, our today's hero managed to take revenge on the eminent Swede more than once. Led by his coach Nick Bollettieri, Agassi grew and progressed rapidly. Therefore, at one point he became a real star on tennis courts.
1990 - Nike - Andre Agassi, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Throughout his career, the talented American tennis player has remained one of the best representatives in his sport. For many years of performances, he managed to win more than sixty different tournaments, reaching highest results both in singles and in doubles... There have been eight Grand Slam tournaments in his career, as well as a myriad of other trophies. In addition, Andre Agassi became the first of two tennis players (along with Rafael Nadal) who managed to win not only all four leading tennis trophies, but also a gold medal Olympic Games.
In the nineties and at the beginning of the two thousandth, our today's hero was a real legend in the world. big tennis... Andre Agassi won the Davis Cup twice with the USA national team. For his outstanding achievements in 2011, the athlete was included in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Thus, the son of an expatriate from Iran became a national hero of the United States, as well as a role model for many tennis fans.
Andre Agassi vs ball girl
In 2003, Andre Agassi became the oldest tennis player to top the WTA rankings. In total, the talented athlete spent 101 weeks as the first racket of the world during his career. In addition, for 16 seasons, our today's hero was among the ten strongest players planets. This indicator became the basis for Andre's inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records.
A career outside of sports, Andre Agassi outside of sports
Outside tennis court Andre Agassi has always been known as a rebel and playboy. IN different years he was the face of the new Canon 1000D Rebel camera and the McDonald’s restaurant chain. In one of the commercials, Andre was devouring hamburgers with such enthusiasm, which caused a flurry of discontent from people who advocate the principles of healthy eating. 
In the late 2000s, the name Andre Agassi appeared in seventh place in the ranking of the most financially successful athletes of our time. During his career, he earned, according to various estimates, from $ 200 to $ 500 million. A significant part of these funds brought the tennis player advertising contracts with brands such as American Express, Adidas, Nike and some others. In addition, Andre helped out a substantial amount of funds for the rights to publish his own biography.
Currently, Andre Agassi is a co-owner of a commercial empire that includes a network of sports and nightclubs, as well as companies engaged in restaurant, construction, real estate and restaurant business.
Apart from everything else, Andre Agassi is known as a philanthropist.
Personal life of Andre Agassi
Over the years, our today's hero had romances with many star beauties. Among his girls were Gabriela Sabatini, Barbra Streisand, as well as actress and model Brooke Shields, who for some time was even his legal wife.However, Andre Agassi's relationship with German tennis player Steffi Graf became the longest and happiest. Their romance began at the end of 1999, and subsequently spilled over into a long and strong marriage. Currently, the couple live in Las Vegas, where they are raising two children together.
Andre Agassi was born on April 29, 1970 in Las Vegas, USA. His mother was American, and his father, Emmanuel Agassi, was Iranian of Armenian descent. After moving to the United States, his father made a successful career as a boxer, however, despite this, he always cherished in his soul a special love for tennis. The thing is that even as a child, Emmanuel often watched American and British soldiers play tennis in the courtyard of the Christian mission. Subsequently, noticing a local boy at the fence, one of the military gave the boy his first tennis racket. Many years have passed since then.
Emmanuel moved from Iran to the United States, where he started a family, and also built a small clay tennis court near his home. Despite the fact that Emmanuel made a successful career in the field of boxing, he always taught his four children only to play tennis. Playing with the guys, the famous Iranian-American athlete hoped that each of them would make a successful career on tennis courts in the future. However, only one of Emmanuel's children, the youngest son Andre, had a chance to become famous in the world of tennis.
In early childhood, the future tennis player spent a huge amount of time on the court. Together with his father, he often went to various junior tournaments, where at the age of ten he achieved quite significant results. In particular, in 1980, Andre Agassi became a finalist for the US Championship in his age group. A year later, he reached the semi-final stage. To help him make a successful career in the world of sports, Emmanuel sent his son to the tennis academy, Nick Bollettieri, who was a longtime friend of the boxer. To continue his career, Andre had to move to Florida, however, as it turned out, it was worth it. For several years of study at a prestigious tennis academy, he greatly improved his professional skills, and therefore at the age of fourteen he managed to win his first US title in his age group.
As a professional, Andre Agassi began performing at the age of sixteen. In February 1986, he appeared at a tournament in the Californian city of La Quinta, where he safely passed the first stage, but lost in the second then third racket of the world to Mats Wilander. Subsequently, he managed to repeatedly take revenge from the eminent Swede. Led by his coach Nick Bollettieri, Agassi grew and progressed rapidly. Therefore, at one point he became a real star on tennis courts.
Throughout his career, the talented American tennis player has remained one of the best representatives in his sport. For many years of performances, he managed to win more than sixty different tournaments, reaching the highest results in both singles and doubles.
There have been eight Grand Slam tournaments in his career, as well as a myriad of other trophies. In addition, Andre Agassi became the first of two tennis players who managed to win not only all four leading tennis trophies, but also an Olympic gold medal. In the nineties and early 2000s, he was a real legend in the world of tennis.
Andre Agassi won the Davis Cup twice with the USA national team. For his outstanding achievements in 2011, the athlete was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Thus, the son of an expatriate from Iran became a national hero of the United States, as well as a role model for many tennis fans.
In 2003, Andre Agassi became the oldest tennis player to top the WTA rankings. In total, the talented athlete spent 101 weeks as the first racket of the world during his career. In addition, for 16 seasons he was among the ten strongest players on the planet. This indicator became the basis for Andre's inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records.
Outside the tennis court, Andre Agassi has always been known as a rebel and playboy. Over the years, he has been the face of the new Canon 1000D Rebel camera, as well as the McDonald’s restaurant chain. In one of the commercials, Andre was devouring hamburgers with such enthusiasm, which caused a flurry of discontent from people who advocate the principles of healthy eating.
At the end of 2000, the name Andre Agassi appeared in seventh place in the ranking of the most financially successful athletes of our time. During his career, he earned, according to various estimates, from $ 200 to $ 500 million. A significant part of these funds brought the tennis player advertising contracts with brands such as American Express, Adidas, Nike and some others. In addition, Andre helped out a substantial amount of funds for the rights to publish his own biography. Currently, Andre Agassi is a co-owner of a commercial empire that includes a network of sports and nightclubs, as well as companies engaged in restaurant, construction, real estate and restaurant business. Apart from everything else, Andre Agassi is known as a philanthropist.