"Andre Agassi's the most important person we’ve had, Andre made our sport cool": When Lindsay Davenport spoke on 'beloved' American's impact on tennis
Lindsay Davenport praised Andre Agassi for his significant impact on tennis. She spoke highly of her compatriot after he hung up his racquet following his loss to Benjamin Becker in the third round of the 2006 US Open.
Agassi excelled throughout his career, known not only for his exceptional tennis skills but also for his charisma. Although Pete Sampras, with his 14 Grand Slam titles, was the top American player of their generation, Agassi remained a beloved figure who captivated nearly everyone.
The 54-year-old won eight Majors and held the top spot in the ATP Rankings for an impressive 101 weeks, among many other achievements. He decided to end his two-decade-long career at his Home Slam in 2006, defeating Andrei Pavel and Marcos Baghdatis before falling to Benjamin Becker in four sets and leaving the court in tears.
Many notable tennis figures shared their reactions to Andre Agassi's retirement. Among them was his compatriot Lindsay Davenport, who was also competing at the New York Major at the time and went on to lose in the quarterfinals.
Davenport told the media (via The New York Times):
"I think in the last 20 years, he’s been the most important person we’ve had in our sport."
"I think Billie Jean King made huge inroads for obviously women, but Andre made our sport cool, popular with the younger crowd, exciting. He’s beloved," the three-time Slam champion added.
A look into Andre Agassi's emotional retirement speech
After losing to Benjamin Becker in the third round of the 2006 US Open—his last professional match—Andre Agassi was overcome with emotion. He gave a tearful farewell speech, thanking the crowd for their support and saying he wouldn’t have achieved so much without them.
"The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn’t say is what I found," Agassi said. "Over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled me through on the court and also in life. I have found inspiration, you have willed me to exceed and sometimes in my lowest moments."
The American added:
"I have found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams – dreams I could have never reached without you. Over the last 21 years I have found you and I will thank you and take the memory of you with me for the rest of my life."
After retiring, Agassi took up coaching roles, working with Novak Djokovic from 2017 to 2018, and Grigor Dimitrov from 2018 to 2020. He now enjoys a fulfilling life with his wife, Steffi Graf, and their two children, Jaden and Jaz, and occasionally plays in exhibition matches.