U.S. Open Loss Spells End Of Andre Agassi’s Career
Posted September 3, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Benjamin Becker’s match-winning ace whizzed by Andre Agassi, and with it went the aging star from U.S. Open competition, and for that matter from tennis altogether.
Worn down and wincing, Agassi’s final match was a 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5 third-round loss to the 112 th ranked player in the world.
At 36-years-old, with a bad back and needing four injections just to compete, Agassi teared up on the court Sunday as he addressed the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“The scoreboard shows that I lost today,” he said. “But what the scoreboard doesn’t show is what I feel.”
Meanwhile Becker, who needed three qualifying wins just to earn a spot in the tournament, had his moment in the sun clouded somewhat, but does get to say he beat his hero.
“He was my idol growing up,” Becker said.
The 25-year-old joined the crowd for a long standing ovation saluting Agassi, who stared out at the crowd from his chair, wiping tears away.
For Agassi fans, watching the all-time great hobble, grimace and breathe hard as he struggled to stay in the match must have been tough. The eight-time Grand Slam winner repeatedly stood and watched to see whether Becker’s shots landed good, and looked a shadow of his once great self.
But after his agonizing five-set win over Marcos Baghdatis Agassi had very simple wish for an ideal end to his career.
“I just don’t want to go off the court limping,” he said.
Mission accomplished. After three matches and more than 10 hours on his favourite court, Agassi walked off under his own power and with a competitive career record of 870-274 which is, well, amazing.
Amazing is perhaps the best word to describe Agassi’s career, one that has concluded but will undoubtedly be talked about for many years to come, and in the tennis world for decades beyond that.
To see unedited video of Agassi on his retirement, click here.
