:noway: :bawl: I don't follow tennis like I used to, but I'm a big fan of Andre's. He's brought so much to the sport and he does so much for his community (Las Vegas) via his foundation for underprivileged children, www.agassifoundation.org. And he's just a classy, intelligent and articulate man. I hope he stays in the spotlight. :valentine:

Totally agree. I went to the Tennis Hall of Fame the year Stefan Edberg(my fav) was inducted as well as Steffi Graff. Andre blew everyone away when he inducted his wife with the most beautiful love letter. They are a sight to behold in person. 2 people who are are intensely fit emanate this bedazzling, sensual energy. Just a marvel. I loved it. I am glad you started this post. I will definitely miss Andre on the courts.

I've been following Andre since the 1988 U.S. Open and became an immediate fan. I've followed the ups, the downs, the image changes, the criticisms, and the praises during his 20-year career. He will be missed, but I am glad he is retiring on his own terms. It's hard to understand Andre being called "the grand old man of tennis" when he and I are the same age. :blink: :)

I wish Andre all the best in the future and can't wait to see what's in store for him at his final U.S. Open.

Age is relative in sports terms. I think it makes Dick Enberg feel younger. Andre's got this whole other magnificient life ahead of him. By the way I have been watching tennis since the early 80's. And have watched one generation go, Mac, Connors etc. Navratilova, Evert, and then another rise, Chang, Agassi, Courier, Sampras, Becker, Edberg, Stich, Thomas Muster, the russians, Lendl, Sabatini, Graff, Seles, Now Federer, Roddick, Blake, Nadal. I'll probably watch and attend matches for the rest of my life.

I thought he retired a long time ago. I mean how old is the guy?

It's hard to believe he's really done, he might pull a Martina and come back, maybe just to play doubles. I didn't think anyone would ever replace the Agassi/Sampras rivalry, but i think Federer/Nadal just might be the ones. I don't play seriously, but my two girls Dad does(too competative). I'm sure he thinks he's got the next Venus and Serena. He's got them down at the courts with him on a weekly basis. One takes lessons throught the USTA program, not expensive, and the younger one runs around with the other little ones of players hitting the ball around. I have to say the conditioning tennis provides is excellent,because they're having so much fun they don't realize it's exercise.

I think he's 35. He hasn't retired yet, but he's trimmed down his tennis playing schedule a lot. He ended the year in the top 5 (or top 10) last year actually, mainly because he did reach the USO finals.

Sheila, I'm not too sure Andre will end up playing doubles though. He never really dabbled in doubles and if he does when he is in his 40's, he will only end up getting eaten alive (unless he partners with a supreme doubles specialist and even then their opponents would probably direct all traffic towards Andre).

Martina on the other hand is the best women's doubles player in history and continued to play doubles even after she retired from singles. When she tried playing singles last year, you could really see she was a lot slower than she used to be so people could wear her down or expose her lack of speed. But when you talk doubles, it is more about racquet head control, court awareness, and placement (i.e. less about physical speed). These things don't disintegrate with age in the same way physical strength do, which is why Martina still managed to win more doubles titles despite being close to 50 (or is she 50 already?)

oosh, wow, you were there? I'm a huge Steffi fan and I saw a video of that speech and it was indeed very beautiful. I think Andre will now truly focus on his charity and maybe only play WTT or in tennis exhibitions for charity. That and focus on raising his family.

I was kinda hoping that he and Steffi would play the French Open doubles titles a couple of years ago when Andre bet Steffi that if he won the AO, they would play doubles together. But I think Steffi didn't want to, and she also got pregnant with their second kid.

I'm looking for the Hall of Fame video, but I came across this. Great ad...never saw it before!

Haha yeah I've seen that before. Oh and btw if you are wondering that is not their real son. :)

(Is the guy in that video Taylor Dent? Looks like him at the very least.)

Yeah, I WAS wondering if that was their son, lol. And one of the commenters of the video confirmed that was Taylor Dent.

I've been following tennis for about 15 years, and Andre has always been my absolute favorite tennis player. I adore him. I remember bawling my eyes out many times when he won and when he lost. More tears were shed the other night watching ESPN2 and hearing his interviews and seeing a collaboration of Andre moments from over the years.

He is just such a good guy. His marriage to Steffi Graf seems like a match made in heaven, and I remember his speach he read when introducing her for her induction. It was so beautiful. I have a feeling their kids are going to be tearing things up in the tennis world several years from now. With genes like those, how could they not.

I am going to miss him so much, but I'm glad he's going out the way he is. Tennis won't be the same without him, though. There was just something about him. There will never be another Agassi.

Now, I hope he can kick some young guys' butts in Wimbledon and the US Open before he walks off the court. GO ANDRE!!! :cheerleader:

Did you see his first round match against Pashanski I think? He dropped the first set but started playing more consistently and a lot smarter. Took the next three sets fairly comfortably, although there were several brilliant rallies.

So it's a Nadal vs Federer rematch for the final. Anyone watching it on Sunday? I am! They're both awesome, but I think I have to root for Roger Federer. I think he's only beaten Nadal once or something like that.

Congrats to Roger Federer! 4 straight Wimbledon championships! Nadal played a great tournament, and I bet he's a Wimbledon champion within the next few years. They both showed great sportsmanship and class as well as playing some wonderful tennis. Congrats to both. :thumbsup: