Open：An Autobiography

FromAndreAgassi,oneofthemostbelovedathletesinhistoryandoneofthemostgiftedmenevertostepontoatenniscourt,abeautiful,hauntingautobiography.Agassi’sincrediblyrigoroustrainingbeginswhenheisjustachild.Bytheageofthirteen,heisbanishedtoaFloridatenniscampthatfeelslikeaprisoncamp.Lonely,scared,aninth-gradedropout,herebelsinwaysthatwillsoonmakehima1980sicon.Hedyeshishair,pierceshisears,dresseslikeapunkrocker.Bythetimeheturnsproatsixteen,hisnewlookpromisestochangetennisforever,asdoeshislightning-fastreturn.Andyet,despitehisrawtalent,hestrugglesearlyon.Wefeelhisconfusionashelosestotheworld’sbest,hisgreaterconfusionashestartstowin.AfterstumblinginthreeGrandSlamfinals,Agassishockstheworld,andhimself,bycapturingthe1992Wimbledon.Overnighthebecomesafanfavoriteandamediatarget.Agassibringsanear-photographicmemorytoeverypivotalmatchandeveryrelationship.Neverbeforehastheinnergameoftennisandtheoutergameoffamebeensopreciselylimned.Alongsidevividportraitsofrivalsfromseveralgenerations—JimmyConnors,PeteSampras,RogerFederer—AgassigivesunstintingaccountsofhisbrieftimewithBarbraStreisandandhisdoomedmarriagetoBrookeShields.Herevealsashatteringlossofconfidence.Andherecountshisspectacularresurrection,acomebackclimaxingwithhisepicrunatthe1999FrenchOpenandhismarchtobecometheoldestmaneverrankednumberone.Inclear,tautprose,Agassievokeshisloyalbrother,hiswisecoach,hisgentletrainer,allthepeoplewhohelphimregainhisbalanceandfindloveatlastwithStefanieGraf.Inspiredbyherquietstrength,hefightsthroughcripplingpainfromadeterioratingspinetoremainadangerousopponentinthetwenty-firstandfinalyearofhiscareer.Enteringhislasttournamentin2006,he’shailedforcompletingastunningmetamorphosis,fromnonconformisttoelderstatesman,fromdropouttoeducationadvocate.Andstillhe’snotdone.AtaU.S.Openfortheages,hemakesacourageouslaststand,thendeliversoneofthemoststirringfarewellseverheardinasportingarena.Withitsbreaknecktempoandrawcandor,Openwillbereadandcherishedforyears.Atreatforardentfans,itwillalsocaptivatereaderswhoknownothingabouttennis.LikeAgassi’sgame,itsetsanewstandardforgrace,style,speed,andpower.