Open: An Autobiography

Most autobiographies, especially sports autobiographies, are just a chronological series of events with insight into each event. It's usually not new insight and is mostly just filled with platitudes and cliches that the author already gave in press conferences. There are always a few interesting tidbits in each of these autobiographies, and reading a bullet point summary of those tidbits in an online review is just as good as reading the actual book. Agassi's autobiography is more like a novel. You read it and think it would make a phenomenal movie, the way it starts at the very end and then flashbacks to the beginning. You can't just read about the revelations in some online review and think you've gotten everything out of this book. This is a book that needs to be read front to back. It's superbly written -- not by Agassi himself, as he never had the education to pull that off, but he did spend thousands of hours on it and as a longtime fan I know that this is his authentic voice. In a recent interview, Andre expanded on why he and Pete Sampras were opposites by saying that when they saw each other in October 2009, Andre realized that Sampras had also just released an autobiography and tried to start a conversation by mentioning how he was so glad how his turned out, and how many thousands of hours of sweat and tears he put into it. He said that Sampras just looked at him like he was crazy. Sampras felt that an autobiography was just an encyclopedic sort of thing, not a cathartic baring of the soul. When you compare their books, it shows. Another thing that separates this book is Agassi's remarkable memory. Agassi has always been known as one of the best analysts of the sport, and has always astounded the press with his point-by-point recollection of matches that had taken place decades before. After I play a recreational tennis match, I can barely remember the points I just played. You could ask Agassi about a point he played in 1988 and he'd be able to tell you what was going through his head, how fast the serve came at him, the sequence of shots, what someone in the crowd shouted out, what the temperature was, the humidity, the wind speed. He mentions in the book how he seems to notice the most trivial things, and once he notices them they forever stay in his mind. I'm sure if his memory was somehow measured, it would be found to be in the very upper tier in the populace. This combined with his deep, empathetic ability to notice and understand human behavior creates a truly astounding read. It is rare to find an athlete as intelligent as Agassi, and if his father hadn't been so anti-education, I believe he could have had a brilliant academic career and flourished in some intellectual field. Perhaps psychology. Sports psychology would have been an easy fit, certainly! You don't have to be a tennis fan to enjoy this book, although you will certainly get a little bit more out of it. Similarly, a sports fan will be able to get more of it than someone who doesn't care much for any sport. However, there is not a person out there who could not gain something from reading this book. This is not simply a tennis story, or a sports story. This is a human story. In regards to the crystal meth revelation, I will say this in his defense: 1. Testing positive for a recreational drug (crystal meth is a recreational, performance inhibiting drug, NOT a performance enhancer) in 1997, the year that he started and stopped taking the drug, had the penalty of a 3 month suspension. 3 months. That's like a nice little vacation to get rested and refreshed for the rest of the season. 2. In 1997, Agassi won nothing. He was losing in the first round of every tournament. He was playing challenger events, the minor leagues of tennis, and even losing in those. It is true that he won a few matches, and he did have a surprising run at the US Open when everyone thought he was going to quit tennis any minute. This was not fair to the players he beat - he should have been suspended at the time. However, when you really think about it, it just speaks to his talent that at his absolute lowest, when he was quite literally disabled physically, when he went out in front of that New York crowd and felt the magic and realized that he wanted to win, he was still able to muster up the game to beat world class players. At the end of the day, the only person hurt by his drug use was himself. Andre has said in recent interviews that he would happily have 1997 thrown out of his career. Have all of his results from that year blacked out. It makes absolutely no difference to the total number of titles and championships he won. 3. For the past decade, Agassi has been the most admirable person to ever come out tennis. What he's given back is remarkable. What he's done for the sport is unmatched. Tennis is an unpopular sport in the United States, but people would always tune in for Agassi, and this book is selling like hot cakes. People love Agassi, and for good reason. This doesn't justify him lying to the ATP, but we need to keep this in perspective. It's important to understand that this doesn't diminish his legacy in the slightest. He is still one of the best tennis players of all time -- and as you'll see in this book, he may have achieved twice as much if he hadn't stumbled and fallen and beaten himself for so much of his life. He hated tennis, he admits it. His father, a man who would make Joe Jackson quiver with fear, thrust him into it as a toddler. He makes a strong argument for why it is the loneliest sport in the world, the sport most likely to produce insanity in its players. On the other hand, look at what it gave him. He loved holding up trophies and gold medals. He would never have met Stefanie without it. There was a duality to his life that I'm sure we can all relate to in some way.

I won't hide it. I've been a lifelong fan of Andre Agassi. I was waiting for this book to be published since Andre retired in 2006. Not expecting much, I just wanted to have a chance to look at the journey from his perspective. Only by playing tennis, he was the most influential person to my life from ones who I've never met in person. I thought I knew Andre. I was wrong. I only knew Andre Agassi - the great tennis player, after reading this book I can say I know Andre Agassi - the great man. I live far away from the States. I was waiting long for this book to arrive. In a mean time I read many reviews, excerpts, comments. Too many. But I just had to. It was previously written here what this book is about. I will not try to make a better description as I don't have skills to do that. I would just like to share with you what I learned from this book and how powerful it is. One thing that makes the book special is the fact that it is written in a present tense. This is a powerful move. Obviously it is not done without a reason. What I think, Andre wants us not only to feel the story better, but he also doesn't try to make it just the memoir of the past but rather shows what he actually thought in those particular moments of his life. It is written in a way that when there are 70's you can hear the voice of a child, in the 80's the voice of teenager and later you hear the voice of mature adult. But still all the time you hear the voice of the same person, Andre. Andre said "I didn't transform, I formed". It's unbelievable how for so many years he was misunderstood by media and partly as a result of that by us. But Andre shows that even though he might have been perceived as special, different, star-status, high-life person, his life has not been as much different from average people's lives like us. It's about having choices and not having them, about making good and bad decisions, about promises which we all make and fail to keep, about weaknesses, about ups and downs, about duties, responsibilities and dedication, about being a son and being a father, being a husband and being a wife, about the power of friendships, about love. Aren't these, the issues that all of us struggle with in our lives? And who of us wouldn't like to be a superstar, the "number one"? In paradox Andre wanted to be rather like us - the "average one". What we can learn now is that one can be more special being an "average" than being a "special". These are our actions and abilities to give to others that define us. Although the story rolls around tennis, Andre rarely boasts about his talent and his great matches. He doesn't talk much about the moments when he came up on top. Even in some of his greatest victories he defends his opponents because of various reasons. It even seems that he talks more about his painful losses than great triumphs. Andre's fans may feel disappointed in this modesty. The point however is, that this is not tennis that is most important here. What matters most are his relations with people who he admires and truly loves. And these are his friends and his second wife. Haven't you ever found out that at the hard times, there are only your closests who let you "stand on their shoulders"? Andre makes us remember that. The book is almost 400 pages long, but many stories and matches are described quickly without explication. Some may be disappointed. But this journey is so wealth that I doubt one thousand of pages would be enough. On the other hand it gives the story a great pace and that absorbs, you can't put it down. I don't think it could've been done better. And isn't it just how the life goes? Week by week, month by month, year by year. Fast, without stopping, without much time to think or look back. In this book you can just feel it. Feel the story of beautiful real life. You can find more than I found. No doubt. I will also look for more. I'm sure there is more in this book. This story is for those who love tennis but also for those who look for answers in their lives. For people who try to find their places in the world. But also for those who just want to have a good read. For those who want to cry and who want to laugh. This book is really what he wanted it to be - a powerful book. Andre Agassi gives us a chance to learn on his example, his life. The life that hasn't been perfect. The life with struggles and mistakes. But also the life that could've gone different ways, but eventually found the right path. He knows that the only way to make it a powerful and inspirational story was to make it true, honest, to make it "Open". Like for many others, Andre gives us opportunity, and it is our "choice" if we want to take that with us.

First, the conclusion: if you have any interest in tennis then you should read this book. While I will address its shortcomings, it is worthwhile with a lot of great information. But it is also missing a LOT. Am I an Agassi fan? No. Do I respect his abilities and sensitivity as a person? Yes. But this book is about the central theme of how he is so traumatized by his father who pushed him into something he hated and was ultra overbearing. Never a word thanks for giving him this life, just trauma and hurt. Enough already. I'm tired of the thrown matches I've watched, the lack of heart, the open admission that a US Open loss to Sampras drove him to his tennis depths. With Agassi's educational background and lack of interest, he'd be parking cars in Vegas if it weren't for the trauma his Dad put him through. Thanks Dad. There Andre, I said it for you. Now with that off my chest, like him or hate him, he was a compelling star. Probably got more attention than he deserved, particularly early, but we don't pick who the spotlight likes and in this case it is Andre. Andre does a great job of giving an introspective look at his life and thought process and it's a compelling read. But there is so much missing. For example in his Bolleteri time, no mention of sharing a room or time with Courier at all. Only when years later Courier interviews him does Andre mention Courier as being at Bolleteri's with him. Same with Sampras. While he does mention him much more, there is as much derogatory written as not. Andre was it necessary to slam Pete, another lightly educated individual with too much money too soon, for tipping so poorly? And what's with the diatribe about how until the 90s winning the most Grand Slams wasn't as important as winning all four. Nice, Andre. It clearly isn't bothering you that Pete won more was it? Another complaint while we're on tennis is the quickness with which he moves thru these stories. No mention of detail thoughts of his most famous matches like the US Open point that was turned in to a Nike commercial or the 4 tiebreak match with Pete at the Open. The book really is better when it moves away from tennis. This is a book really about his interpersonal relationships. Gil Reyes comes across as a great individual, a surrogate father that takes Andre under his wing, never questions his antics and gives unwavering support. Steffi Graf also comes across as someone you are happy to see is a real class person as does his brother Phil in a smaller role. Brad Gilbert is featured in a big way and also comes across better than I expected based upon other stories I have heard from some trainers on tour. So, for all the shortcomings of the author and this book, I must endorse it enthusiastically as an enjoyable read. Like him or hate him, and I'm still mad I had to sit through his tanked match to Luke Jenson in the first round in Memphis, the spotlight loves Andre. So Andre, enjoy it as it is fast moving on to others.

Agassi was always an enigma during his career. Seemingly brilliant tennis player, under-acheiver, tortured soul and sex symbol rolled into one. As he progressed in his career, he seemed to grow up before our eyes. The book captures all of these dimensions of his life to perfection...and more. The progression of his life throughout the book was fast-paced, fascinating and, most importantly, honest and real. Though a play on words, the title of the book is perfect. Rare is a self-portrayal as critical and incisive. Andre exposes events devoid of any hint of the self-importance one would normally expect from a celebrity of his stature. In a word, his presentation of his life is humble. The scenes are described in stunning color, emotion and presented startlingly clear mental images. He also captures many of the scenes with hilarity (the scene when Andre's father meets Stephanie's father is worth the price of the book). Both haircut scenes (his and his son's later in the book) were comical. Perhaps most interesting to many is his incredible portrayal of the mentally and physically grueling nature of the tour. I got the feel of almost actually being there when he describes the actual games. His explanation of the Sampras rivalry was priceless. His descriptions and views on other players, particularly Connors, like most of the book, gives the sense of being there. He seemed fair in his assessments and, like his tennis game, stayed just inside the line. The relationship with Shields was presented clearly without being critical. One gets no sense that she was at fault for the divorce or a bad person, generally. A difficult line to walk for anyone in such circumstances, but he managed it artfully. The description of his run-in with meth could not have been more forthcoming and, to me, was courageous given the hysteria surrounding the issue in America. I was sometimes surprised by the almost perfect diction, grammer and prose used in some scenes given the absence of a co-writer. After all, although Andre comes across as intelligent in television interviews, he has only a self-proclaimed 9th grade education. Regardless, he finally fessed up at the end that one of the better writers in this genre assisted. This, of course, is to be expected and does nothing to detract from the genuineness of the book. My only complaint is that the book was not longer and needed more explanation for why he continually reminded the reader of his paradoxical "hate" for tennis. The words "hate tennis" appear 17 times in the book. Generally, it's just another person who he is letting in on his dirty little secret. I think 2 or 3 times as a shock to the reader would have sufficed. It seems his writing helper could have steered him clear of this overuse. Overall, thIs was a minor nuisance and has the nominal value of reminding the reader of his emotions at the time. The real question was why he hates tennis. The answer to the question seems apparent in that he was forced to play from an early age and into his his early teens. His father was cast in an unfavorable light as the slave master, but it is apparent that he has now moved beyond that difficulty. Anyone generally hates something that is forced upon them. Regardless, it is unfortunate that he didn't explore the why a little deeper. Regardless, this is one of those reads that you just want to go on because it's so well done. Some might be put off by the rather lengthy descriptions of the games, but for me, reliving some of those moments in such dramatic detail was awesome, particularly since he describes his emotions in the moment so perfectly. I believe this is one of the more unique, well-written and inspirational books of its kind. It's an absolute must read for Agassi and sports fans, generally. Beyond that, almost anyone should read this as a testament to the ability to overcome the demons in one's soul and life difficulties generally. Agassi presents such an honest portrayal that my estimation of him as a person increased immeasurably. Finally, the success of his foundation and work on his charter school as described were inspirational. I was never a huge Agassi fan, but I am now.

After finishing Agassi's "Open" last night--a well-written, fascinating insight into the mind of someone that the world views as close to perfect in at least one arena--I couldn't help but wonder if Tiger Woods likes golf, and whether the career goals he's pursuing are his at all. Like I'm sure most of the people who read this book, I was struck by Agassi's central point--he hates tennis. He played tennis because his dad wanted him to play tennis. He became a champion because his dad wanted him to be a champion. He obtained a number one ranking because his team told him that was a good goal. Indeed, the only tennis-related goal that Andre seemed to have was winning the French Open after winning the other three slams, and he pursued that with a vengeance. That doesn't mean Andre didn't hate to lose, or that he wasn't great at tennis through at least the sheer amount he practiced and played, or that he didn't appreciate the money and celebrity that his tennis success brought. But fundamentally, the person everyone thought Andre was--a dedicated tennis champion pursuing his dream--was bogus. And he spent much of his life rebelling against that image, even though nobody realized it at the time. Fast forward to Tiger. Tiger's goal according to the media is to win 19 majors and pass Jack Nicklaus on the all-time list. And I'm sure he does want to accomplish that at this point. But think about it in light of Agassi's revelations. When was that goal set? Everyone talks about Tiger having a poster of Jack on his wall from a very young age. Does it really make any sense that Tiger at the age of 4 or 5 knew he wanted to pass Jack Nicklaus? Or was it his dad's goal for him? We know from the reports that Tiger's dad had Tiger practicing from an incredibly early age. He would yell at him while Tiger hit shots to try to make him mentally tough. Does that sound any different than Andre's father? I remember an anecdote that Tiger told once to get a laugh. He was in his second U.S. Amateur and staging a furious comeback against his opponent. Off the tee on 15 or 16, he bombed a 300 yard drive, which landed less than a foot off the fairway. As they marched up to it, Tiger's dad yelled, "that doesn't count as a fairway hit." It was funny because it seems ridiculous that someone would care about Tiger missing the fairway by a foot after hitting a near-perfect drive and staging an incredible comeback. But what if Tiger's dad wasn't joking. What if he was dead serious, and that's the way it was for Tiger--nothing was ever good enough? As I read Agassi's book, I was reminded of that story when Andre talked about his dad getting upset when he would miss a ball from the ball machine that hit another ball and took a funny bounce. It seemed ridiculous to get upset about something that would never happen in a match, but it was dead serious to Agassi's dad, and therefore it was one more thing for Agassi to fear and to think about. It's not that Tiger's dad didn't turn Tiger into a great player. It's not that Tiger's dad didn't make him exceptionally mentally tough. It's not like Tiger's dad didn't give him a goal to try to achieve. But isn't that exactly what Andre said his dad did for him? The point is that if Tiger's pursuit of 19 majors is his dad's goal, then does it make a little more sense that at some point Tiger would try to rebel, to do something that was just for himself--i.e., all these affairs? Especially after his dad died in 2006, which is when the affairs really seemed to take off? Because Tiger's problem right now is that the goals he's pursuing are career goals--and it's going to take playing at the top of his game for a few years before he gets there. So, he's not getting the rush of winning individual tournaments, and he can't just buckle down and live the dream through for a short period of time until it's done. If he's living his dad's dream--and really doesn't care that much for golf--then his life isn't giving him the joy that we all would assume it does. And if he feels like a fraud--because it doesn't bring him that joy, and maybe marriage initially was the same way--then why not just indulge and do what you want because you're a "fraud" anyway? Agassi's book was phenomenal because it shattered a perception we had of a professional athlete. We assumed he loved what he did, both because he had to in order to be great, and because he was getting to be essentially a rock star playing to thousands of adoring fans every match. But what Andre said was no, he did it because other people thought it was important, and by the time he realized it, he felt like there wasn't anything else he could be doing with his life. He was happiest after he met Stephanie, while playing with his kids, and while working with his school. What if Tiger's the same way? What if he's great because it's what he's always done, but he doesn't love it. What if Tiger secretly has just wanted to hang out with people and maybe hook up--a typical mindset for many, many people his age. But he feels like he couldn't because he has an obligation to pursue this goal. And what if the wins and the championships don't give him much of a rush anymore, because he still has a ways to go to achieve the career goals set in front of him? Then doesn't it make sense that Tiger might just have decided to indulge himself, that me might have justified to himself that it was okay to betray his wife because his entire life is a fraud anyway? My wife mentioned that she never say Tiger happier then when he was playing with the kids at the school he set up--just like Agassi said in his book. Maybe that's the one time we've gotten to see him doing something that he really wants to be doing. I raise this not to justify Tiger's actions, but to understand them. After all, we all assume that Tiger is single-mindedly focused on his dream--winning 19 majors and passing Jack--which is why all these affairs seems like such a shock and contrary to our image of him. But what if it's our image of him that is flawed, that he's playing golf because what else is he going to do at this point, and he feels like his life is a fraud. Well, then, he sounds a lot like Agassi sounded about himself, and maybe he'll be happy--like Agassi--only when he wraps up and decides that he's going to live his life the way he wants to--even if's not all that different than the lives that you and I lead every day. I have no idea if any of this is correct. But we assume that people who are incredibly successful must be happy and must be doing what they love. Agassi proved that was wrong, at least for him. Maybe it's wrong for Tiger as well. In any event, a great book, and I highly recommend it.

Open by Andre Agassi is one of those memoirs that doesn’t just serve tennis fans, but anyone who’s ever wrestled with purpose, expectation, and the contradictions of identity. From the very first page, Agassi drops the mask. He hates tennis—a shocking confession from a champion, but one that sets the tone for a brutally honest exploration of his life. The memoir is structured like a long, unflinching rally: moments of breathtaking intensity punctuated by quieter, reflective pauses. We see him as a child forced into training by his father, whose love is as fierce as it is formidable. We walk with him through the loneliness of early fame, the rebellion of image, the spirals of injury, and the hunger for something more than trophies. And yet, Open isn’t just about struggle. It’s also about fun—wild hair and denim shorts in Wimbledon, the camaraderie with his team, the flirtation of romance (hello, Steffi Graf). There’s wit in his storytelling, warmth in unexpected places, and an undercurrent of resilience that lifts the whole narrative. Misery and triumph go hand in hand here, forming a portrait of a man in full: gifted, flawed, and, above all, human. Whether you love tennis or couldn’t tell a backhand from a banana, Open is a powerful read about the burden and beauty of living a life in the spotlight while yearning for authenticity. It’s not just a sports memoir. It’s a coming-of-age tale, a family saga, and a psychological drama in one.

Ordered used and it's in immaculate shape. Got here in a short period of time and this book is AWESOME. Compelling read.

When Andre Agassi recently talked on TV about his new book, Open, I was impressed. I thought I saw something more insightful and self-aware about this tennis wunderkind than I had seen before. A reasonably committed tennis fan since the days of Chuck McKinley, my universe of comparables includes all the great ones: Laver, Rosewall, Emerson, Newcombe, Connors, McEnroe, Nastase, Courier, Sampras, Borg, Becker, Edberg... But Andre has somehow always been a little different. And a little more interesting. First there was the erratic but eye-catching "image is everything" Teen Rebel in denim shorts, dangling earring, and ponytail. Then there was the Showbiz Showboat hanging with Barbara Steisand and then tagging Brooke Shields, whom he briefly married. Finally there was the Comeback Kid who, at last fully valuing his own peerless talent, applied himself as he always should have to rise once again to tennis' top-gun status. Over two decades he had morphed into three different personas. Over the same period his career rocked up and down like a roller coaster. What makes this enigmatic Andre tick? For all his superlative skills on the court, for all that tennis brought to him (and he to it), I couldn't believe what he revealed to be his great contradiction. From the very beginning, he has always hated tennis! What? How can such an elite athlete rise not once, but twice to the summit of his sport without at least a begrudging affection for it? Both the book's title and the few juicy lifestyle tidbits teased out in the interview suggested that Open would reveal all. Thanks to the compelling style and structure crafted by co-author, J.R. Moehringer, the book captivates from the start. Agassi begins near the end, with his epic five-set victory against Marcos Baghdatis at the 2006 U.S. Open. He then takes us back to the beginning, to the insufferable backyard drill sessions with his intense immigrant father, a former Iranian Olympic boxer trying to fulfill his American dream as a captain in a Las Vegas casino. The torture continues at Nick Bolletieri's Tennis Academy in Florida, to where he is sent as a tender pre-teen, and where Andre pierces his ear, spikes his hair, drinks booze, breaks rules--and turns pro in ninth grade. He becomes a teen tourney jockey. Along the way he fills out a posse, including trainer and surrogate father Gil Reyes, coach Brad Gilbert, his manager brother Philly, girlfriend Wendi, and then Brooke Shields. The narrative recounts his extraordinary stroke capacity in clutch situations, but also has him fussing that his hairpiece (yes, that ponytail was a fake...) might fall off in a final. Agassi's Brooke phase, including two years of marriage, proves to both him and the reader an unrequited distraction as he flirts with the vacuous Hollywood lifestyle and finds it lacking. Agassi never quite gets to tennis nirvana, for want of sufficient commitment, or drive, or desire, or focus, or something. Through it all, he keeps saying how much he hates tennis. After yet another mediocre tournament performance, Andre has an epiphany. Coach Brad barks that Andre can do better, and should. For once Andre decides to take on the challenge, but this time not for others, but himself. Team Agassi starts over from the beginning, as if he were a teenager again. Body building, satellite tournaments, the indignity of small-time players. Like Mohammed Ali, Andre doggedly works himself back to Number One of Tennis, proving his mettle. But still he whines that he hates the sport. I had hoped for a little more personal reflection about his psychological journey. I grew slightly weary and a little skeptical about how much he hated tennis. Was there to be no reconciliation, or at least more explanation? Maybe it is because, as the slightly vacant gaze of the photo portrait on the book's cover hints, Andre still hasn't found the complete answer. We are left to form our own impressions. For this reader they are highly positive. I can't help but admire the guy, and appreciate all he has been (and still is) to tennis. The story ends well, on two scores. He finds his true love in Stephanie Graf, a colleague champion who is also his quintessential companion. (She also grew up hating the game...) And he now focuses energy on and derives personal meaning from his Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a charter school for at-risk youth that he founded and now supports. Thanks for a great career, Andre, and for a chance to see it from your perspective. Game, set, match, Agassi!

Autobiographies are, often, hagiographies. Her,e you find quite little of that. There is, instead, a lot of what sounds like a genuine outpour. Very pleasant read, indeed.

I am a tennis fan and an Agassi fan as well. I belong to that generation and I know all the names mentioned in the book…that tells something about my age! I really enjoyed this reading. I knew about Agassi’s father pushing him to play tennis, however I never imagined how tough it was for him. A great champion, a good person. I was truly happy when I heard about his wedding with Steffi Graf. And I am happy he has a wonderful family. I admire him also for the work he is doing for the children in his school. A generous human being.

Whenever Andre Agassi played, it made you weak in the knees. His grace and style were so unique that women fell for him. On behalf of all the young women of 90s, I can say that watching him on television was a treat to the eyes. An acclaimed hero and distinguished celebrity. The larger-than-life personality loved by his fans and hated by the media. An inspiration to the youngsters who would love to trade their lives for his…… The book gets the human behind the larger-than-life persona. After completion, the first thought that crosses your mind is how can real-life be so different from what we believe and see. Feels like complete fiction- too haunting to be true. The book starts with the last game of Andre, the end, the pain that he is undergoing, and the hatred that he has for the game…. this builds great confusion in the minds of the readers regarding how can you hate the game you play with such elan, how can you hate something that gave you name, fame and money… desperation arises in the reader to unravel the truth for this hatred and so the mysterious beginning makes the book un put down able. Andre from childhood hated his life because of the pressure created by his father Mike Agassi to turn him into a champion. An aggressive, tyrannical, dominating father whose purpose in life was to make his children champions. The rigorous training breaks down the older three but Andre, the prodigy with raw talent, makes Mike realize his dream. The emotional trauma that Andre undergoes when his father makes him hit a certain number of balls every day based on a mathematical calculation, the machine he created to hit balls christened “A Dragon” by Agassi, the silence of his mother, the violent nature of his father makes Andre rebellious. Pierced body, a mohawk, makeup, and drugs were ways he dealt with the stress. He is sad, anguished, in pain, and hates everything around him. This story could belong to any ordinary youngster who is put under performance pressure and violent surroundings. The silent conflicts that Andre was going through were a perfect recipe for mental health issues. You hate Mike Agassi all along, but tears swell up and you cry with him at the end when he tells Agassi to quit tennis. Finally, he sees his son’s pain and realizes the mess he has made of his son. Agassi lived a life of lies, he spoke to the press in their language…something that they would love to hear. His heart and mind contradicted every word that came out of his mouth. Once the press asked him that would his son play tennis, he immediately responded by saying that Jaden would love to play tennis. This was the reply the media wanted. In reality, he and Steffi never wanted their kids to take up tennis and had decided that they will never push their children. They both decided against making a tennis court in their backyard. In spite of being such huge players of their time, they did not have a tennis court in their backyard and went to a public tennis court and rent it for an hour to practice for a charity match that they had to play. The writing is so perfect that it feels like a visual. An engaging autobiography that will interest those also who have not followed his journey. You live the life of Agassi with him. You feel for him, tears swell when he is in pain, feel delighted when he is happy, feel joyful when he starts seeing Stefanie, your heart breaks with his break-ups and your soul is grateful when he is not penalized for drug use. Andre has been so open about the romantic escapades and drug usage, I was in awe of the candidness with which he narrated the good, bad & ugly incidents of his life. The grace with which he accepted the mistakes and learnings after each experience can be inspirational for all the readers. As a fan who has followed his tennis journey closely, it breaks you to see the hurt the game has caused, and the lies that he has lived. Personally, I loved his journey after Steffi Graf came into his life. The simplicity with which they accepted each other’s presence in their lives asserts the fact that the top positions are always lonely and the heart yearns for a simple life with people whom you love. The flamboyance was only restricted to the news and media. I feel so grateful that Agassi lived his life before the social media era. In the present digital era, the world along with his father would have destroyed him completely as a person. The sports writers announced his end many times and he bounced back always. A two-decades-long international sports career that he lived is never heard of. He made records, won championships, and played with the generation on the way out, his counterparts and the generation that would shine on the world stage after him…….and all this with innate hate towards the game. Maybe he didn’t know how else to live his life. Andre, without formal education in his life, understood the importance of education and created a foundation that looked after the education of underprivileged children. He titles this phase of his life “The beginning”, and visits the school whenever he has time. Somewhere there is regret for not having completed formal education. This school is everything he dreamt of, a HAPPY place !!! A must-read for all…..irrespective of the fact whether you are a sports enthusiast or not.

One of the best autobiographies I've ever read. I say this not from a tennis perspective but from anyone looking to learn about a person struggling to overcome hardships through his remarkable journey. Highly recommend it - and don't worry, for anyone who doesn't follow tennis - you do not need to be well into tennis to appreciate this autobiography.

Sempre fui fã do Agassi, ao ponto de imitar o seu backhand quando eu jogava. O que eu não imaginava era que ele poderia me ensinar tanto mesmo após a sua aposentadoria através do seu livro. Suas comparações do tênis com a vida são incríveis.