USA: TENNIS: Andre Agassi prepares for the final weeks of his tennis career

Andre Agassi, set to wave good-bye to tennis after next month's U.S. Open, says he is ready to reclaim his life after two decades on the tour. The 36-year-old Las Vegas native spoke to Reuters Television on Monday (July 31) the day before he lost in straight sets to Italian qualifier Andrea Stoppini in the Legg Mason Classic, a tournament he won five times in 17 career appearances. Agassi spoke about how he is preparing for the final weeks of his career. "Really more of the same. It's something I've been through a lot and I know how to get the most out of myself then I wait with anticipation to see what the most of me actually means out there, so you know I'm here and I've been here a few days, practicing hard and getting ready for a match tomorrow," said Agassi. "You know I'm ready to go and it's something I've done for 20 years and certainly the U.S. Open is the one I'm looking forward to end it all." Agassi, married to former tennis great Steffi Graf, said he looks forward to "not having to rest" and spending more time with his five-year-old son, Jaden Gil, and three-year-old daughter, Jaz Elle. One of only five male players to have won a career Grand Slam and currently ranked number 22 in the world, Agassi conceded leaving the game will be difficult. Despite his well-publicized last go-round on the summer circuit, he has not skipped a beat in his training for the two-week U.S. Open, which begins August 28. While training in weather reaching 100 degrees (38 Celsius) Agassi conceded that he appreciated the limited time left in his professional tennis career. "I think the older you get you can sort of do that but I also think it's hard not to sort of be a bit outside yourself at times when you least expect it. It's weird in some respects you almost feel like you've played your last match but you haven't had your last curtain call so to speak and you've gone through it in your mind and you've made the choice and the decision to move on and as you made that decision there's still more matches to be played. It's a bit of a conflict and a weird emotional place to be in but at the same time it's a great place because I do feel I can take in a lot," he said. The man who holds 60 tennis titles in all is hoping to finish with yet another victory at Flushing Meadow at the close of summer. "I think anything can happen, that's why it's sports right? If this years results are any indication its not likely but if last years U.S. Open is any indicator it can change really quickly so I'm going into this with all of me and I don't expect to lie down for anyone. You know my last match I'm going to win or somebody is going to have to beat me."

ITN Source | August 3, 2006

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