On the ISPO honest in Munich and in an interview with Sports activities Illustrated, former American legend Andre Agassi talked once more about his turbulent relationship with tennis.
Beforehand, in his well-known autobiography Open – probably the most fascinating autobiographies ever written – the American had talked about his sophisticated relationship with tennis. It was his father Emanoul, a former boxer, who pushed him in direction of this profession. A unprecedented profession, which nevertheless has seen many ups and downs.
And now Agassi targeted on this kind of relationship divided between love and hate, revealing that he has by no means been capable of totally benefit from the sport that made him well-known.
Agassi© Through Instagram Andre Agassi
“It wasn’t my choice to play tennis. My father, a former Iranian boxer, introduced me to the sport and, at 13, sent me to an academy in Florida, 3,000 miles from home. I felt disconnected from my life, and the only way out was success. Success meant independence: paying my bills and earning my freedom. I was told who I was and what I was supposed to be.
I responded by doing exactly the opposite. Rebellion was my way of discovering myself. At first, I was distracted by wins and losses. But when I stopped identifying with results, I found incredible freedom. For me, true success means being fully alive and fully human. Personal growth is everything: every day you have to try to expand your heart and mind,” revealed Agassi the brand new interview with Sports activities Illustrated.
In his profession, Agassi received 8 Slam titles, together with 4 Australian Opens. He additionally received the ATP Finals and the Olympic gold medal in Atlanta, finishing the tremendous Profession Golden Slam. In complete, he received 60 singles titles; but it surely was additionally his habits on and off the courtroom that made the American tennis participant well-known.