Andre Agassi's Career Moments

SI Staff | Aug 22, 2006

Andre Agassi's Career Moments

Agassi Turns Pro, 1986

Bob Martin/Getty Images

The staid sport of tennis got a shock when a teenager named Agassi burst onto the ATP Tour. His two-tone mullet and electric outfits seemed to befit his hometown of Las Vegas. The kid could play a little, too, taking the ball on the rise and returning like Jimmy Connors.

Wimbledon, 1992

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Just as tennis prepared to write Agassi off as the epitome of style over substance, he improbably won his first major. At the same event where he feuded with organizers over the dress code, the 14th seed played dazzling tennis, beating Goran Ivanisevic in the final and immediately dropping to the grass in awe.

1994 U.S. Open

Manny Millan/SI

Agassi's eventual biographer might consider this a turning point. On cruise control for the previous two years, he entered with a ranking of No. 20. Midway through the tournament he finally seemed to get it, and he left New York with his second major title.

1996 Summer Olympics

Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

His dad was a boxer on the Iranian team in 1948 and `52, but Agassi seemed blasé about the Atlanta Games. Then the competition began. Summoning some of his best tennis, Agassi was inspiring; he won the gold and pronounced the achievement "the greatest accomplishment I've ever had in this sport."

1999 French Open

Simon Bruty/SI

Agassi was no stranger to disappointment in Paris, having lost twice in the final. But in `99 he rallied from two sets down against Andrei Medvedev in the final, becoming only the fifth man in tennis history to win the Career Slam (all four majors).

1999 U.S. Open

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Barely 18 months removed from a ranking well outside the top 100, Agassi put the capstone on an amazing summer by winning his second title in New York. He played perhaps the best tennis of his career and, at age 29, ascended to the No. 1 ranking for the first time.

2003 Australian Open

Bob Martin/SI

As the two-time defending champ, Agassi missed the `02 Aussie with a wrist injury. In `03, with wife Steffi Graf and son Jaden Gil in the stands, he picked up where he left off, winning in Melbourne for the fourth time in his career.

Steffi Graf's Hall of Fame Induction, 2004

AP

Agassi eloquently introduced his wife and inspiration: "As I attempt to find words worthy to introduce the person that has changed my life, I realize that the words have yet to be invented that are large enough, colorful enough or true enough to express the heart and soul of this woman that I love."

2005 U.S. Open

Bob Martin/SI

He didn't win, but he still managed to hijack the event. At age 35, Agassi worked over six younger opponents -- including James Blake in a five-set quarterfinal classic -- and even landed some body blows against Roger Federer in the final.

Andre the Humanitarian

AP

For all of Agassi's achievements on the court, his legacy may ultimately be as a humanitarian first and as a tennis player second. His foundation has raised more than $60 million for a variety of causes, including the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a charter school for underprivileged kids in Las Vegas.