IMAGE ISN'T EVERYTHING AGASSI WANTS ONE MORE SHOT AT A GRAND SLAM TITLE.Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer Andre Agassi Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. awoke one morning in March, stepped down and felt a throbbing throb intr.v. throbbed, throb·bing, throbs 1. To beat rapidly or violently, as the heart; pound. 2. To vibrate, pulsate, or sound with a steady pronounced rhythm: pain shoot through his leg. He looked over to find the big toe big toe n. The largest and innermost toe of the human foot. on his left foot ballooned to twice the width of the one on his right foot. When he went to sleep the previous night, the toe was fine. Father Time can do that to the body. Agassi went to work that day, stood in front of the crowd at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells Indian Wells may refer to:
Maybe, when he looks back, that day will be remembered as the beginning of the end for Agassi. Injuries have come to define Agassi's 20th year on the ATP ATP: see adenosine triphosphate. ATP in full adenosine triphosphate Organic compound, substrate in many enzyme-catalyzed reactions (see catalysis) in the cells of animals, plants, and microorganisms. Tour. The sciatic-nerve condition in his back isn't going away. He's masking the pain with cortisone cortisone (kôr`tĭsōn'), steroid hormone whose main physiological effect is on carbohydrate metabolism. It is synthesized from cholesterol in the outer layer, or cortex, of the adrenal gland under the stimulation of adrenocorticotropic shots, hoping to buy time for one more run at the U.S. Open The term U.S. Open is applied to "open" United States national championships in a particular sport, in which anybody, amateur or professional, American or non-American may compete. These include:
That quest began this week in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Competing for the first time since the French Open, Agassi will play in the second round of the Mercedes-Benz Cup today against former UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX standout Kevin Kim Kevin Kim (born July 26, 1978) is an American tennis player of Korean descent. He was accepted to UCLA as a tennis player and dropped out of UCLA to pursue a career in tennis. He is currently 110th in the ATP rankings. . Agassi knows now, more than ever, the end is near. His body is telling him so. He limped around for the final two sets in a first-round loss at the French Open in May, then withdrew from Wimbledon last month. He wants to make it through the season, then evaluate his options. He realizes this could be his last time playing professionally in Los Angeles. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what is going to go into my decision as far as how long I do this,'' Agassi said. ``But I can tell you one thing: I don't want to be on the court unless I'm at least engaged in letting my game fly and feeling good. Because if there's one thing I learned in Paris, limping around in front of the world is not a comfortable thing to do.'' No one who remembers Agassi as a brash teenager in the late 1980s and early `90s could have expected his career to last this long. Anyone over 30 is considered ancient by tennis standards. Agassi turned 35 on April 28. He made his ATP debut in Indian Wells in 1986 at age 15. He was known then as much for his flair as his talent. With his long, flowing hair, earring earring, a personal adornment, sometimes an amulet, worn attached to the ear lobe. Since prehistoric times the ear has been pierced for the insertion of the earring; certain primitive tribes distort the lobe with plugs several inches in diameter or with heavy stones. , colorful T-shirts and trademark denim shorts, Agassi looked like he belonged on stage with Bon Jovi  This article or section reads like a and may need a .Please help [ to improve this article] to make it in tone and meet Wikipedia's . rather than on a tennis court. He was a rock star with a tennis racket. Rock stars often burn out before they fade away. It's one of the great feats in tennis history that Agassi has not only had such a long and successful career, but become the elder statesman of the game, universally respected for his work ethic and gentlemanly persona. ``He's probably the biggest superstar the game's ever had,'' said Andy Roddick, who has taken the torch from Agassi as the top American tennis player. ``If you encompass all he's done for the game, the way he's been an entertainer. I'm not saying he's the best player ever. He's certainly one of them. As far as how he's promoted the game, how he's helped the game, and certainly his longevity, it puts him up there.'' ``Image is Everything'' used to be the slogan Agassi would utter as a spokesman for Canon cameras, but when it comes to his career, Agassi's has been one defined more by substance than style. He has eight titles in Grand Slam events - sixth-most in history - 845 wins (fifth-most), and his service return is widely regarded as the best all-time. The pieces are in place for Agassi to retire. His wife, retired women's tennis great Steffi Graf, and children, Jaden Gil and Jaz Elle, await. His charitable foundation, which includes a charter school for at-risk youth in Las Vegas, his hometown, is flourishing. And who better to understand the concerns and withdrawal of a star athlete stepping down than Graf, who retired at the top of her game in 1999? Yet, Agassi says he isn't mentally prepared to walk away from tennis. The realization came during the two months he took off for his most recent injury. Agassi said Wimbledon wasn't much fun to watch on television. ``When I'm not out there, I miss not being in a position to challenge myself,'' Agassi said. ``Even the stress and nerves of competition, just asking more from yourself. It's like you're a car going uphill with no breaks - you're either going forward or backward. I feel like when I'm at home watching, I'm going backward.'' Agassi also believes continuing to play will benefit the kids through his foundation. If that means having another cortisone shot to keep his career going, Agassi will take it. ``Once the needle is in, it takes about nine minutes,'' Agassi said. ``I look at it as a swap of nine minutes for a few months, if that's what I can get out of it.'' Matthew Kredell, (818) 713-3607 matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos, 4 boxes Photo: (1 -- color) Andre Agassi, who will play a second-round match today at the Mercedes-Benz Cup, has won eight titles in Grand Slam events. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer (2) Despite a back injury, Andre Agassi isn't mentally prepared to walk away from pro tennis. (3 -- color) no caption (1990: Andre Agassi) Box: (1) MOST GRAND-SLAM VICTORIES (2) FITH FITH Fire in the Hole FITH Fiber-in-the-Home FITH Fear In The Heart (gaming) FITH Fever In The Head (Leo Asemota) FITH Fire in the Hole Technique FITH Flipped In The Head (polite form) DIMENSION (3) MOST SINGLES TITLES (4) PLAYERS TO WIN ALL FOUR GRAND-SLAM EVENTS |
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