The Way I See It...

A personal view of tennis by Jeff Davies

Andre Agassi's memories
 
It was a very emotional moment in Arthur Ashe stadium when Andre Agassi played the final match of his professional career. He was clearly in considerable pain but was determined to give everything that he had to try to win just one more match. But the body couldn't take yet another punishing 5-set match and he finally succumbed to a calm and consistent and much younger Benjamin Becker of Germany.

After the match, grown men were in tears. Swept along on the river of emotion that poured from the stands. In his final speech, Agassi focused almost entirely on the support of his fans as being the inspiration of his life and responsible for his greatness. He said:

"The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn’t say is what it is I have found. And over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I’ve found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I’ve 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 take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life. Thank you."

Fine words - that would be finer if they were reflected in his actual actions when meeting his loyal fans.

I have never seen Agassi sign an autograph after losing a match (and few when he won). Didn't his fans provide enough support?

When Agassi arrived at the USTA Tennis Center at the start of the event and was surrounded by a small group of 20 or so ecstatic kids, why did he refuse to sign more than 3 autographs and leave behind at least one 4-years old girl in tears who wanted to know why he hadn't signed her ball. "I was good. I didn't shout," she sobbed. It would have taken just one minute of his time for those kids to have their own small dream.

I have one question for Andre: "If your loyal fans are so important to you, why didn't you stop to sign just a few autographs after your last match?"

Taking their memory with him was apparently more important than leaving a few with them.