In Memoir, Agassi Opens His Heart, Tells All

Open is a beautiful, haunting autobiography by Andre Agassi, one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court.

“Watch your volleys, he yells—or tries to. An Armenian, born in Iran, my father speaks five languages, none of them well, and his English is heavily accented."

“This book is a recollection, a work of memory, a comeback story; but it’s also an atonement, an attempt to share what I’ve learned,” says Agassi in a video posted on Amazon.

Agassi’s incredibly rigorous training begins when he is just a child. His father is his first trainer. “Watch your volleys, he yells—or tries to. An Armenian, born in Iran, my father speaks five languages, none of them well, and his English is heavily accented,” Agassi writes. “He mixes his Vs and Ws, so it sounds like this: Vork your wolleys. Of all his instructions, this is his favorite. He yells this until I hear it in my dreams. Vork your wolleys. Vork your wolleys.

By the age of 13, he is banished to a Florida tennis camp that feels like a prison camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980’s icon. He dyes his hair, pierces his ears, dresses like a punk rocker. By the time he turns pro at 16, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning-fast return.

And yet, despite his raw talent, he struggles early on. We feel his confusion as he loses to the world’s best, his greater confusion as he starts to win. After stumbling in three Grand Slam finals, Agassi shocks the world, and himself, by capturing the 1992 Wimbledon. Overnight he becomes a fan favorite and a media target.

Agassi brings a near-photographic memory to every pivotal match and every relationship. Never before has the inner game of tennis and the outer game of fame been so precisely limned. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals from several generations—Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer—Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He reveals a shattering loss of confidence. And he recounts his spectacular resurrection, a comeback climaxing with his epic run at the 1999 French Open and his march to become the oldest man ever ranked number one.

In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf. Inspired by her quiet strength, he fights through crippling pain from a deteriorating spine to remain a dangerous opponent in the 21st and final year of his career. Entering his last tournament in 2006, he’s hailed for completing a stunning metamorphosis, from nonconformist to elder statesman, from dropout to education advocate. And still he’s not done. At a U.S. Open for the ages, he makes a courageous last stand, then delivers one of the most stirring farewells ever heard in a sporting arena.

With its breakneck tempo and raw candor, Open will be read and cherished for years. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis.

23 Comments

  1. I still insist that an Armenian painter should have painted the cover of Andre Agassi’s Autobiography, showing his talented hands which arouse from his inspective creative mind.
    Enchanting  enchantive  moments for those who observed him actually or through the T.V.
    There is proverb which says that Armenians have the hands of the creator.
    ———–
    This poem is written to a cardiac surgeon.
      ‘HANDS’ GOD OF MAN
     Hands… speak the man
     Hands in hearts, revive new life
     Hands build’s towers of man 
     Hands, is the God of man.
     
    Hands… breathe the man
    Hands… hold the venture sign 
    Hands… creates every- tine
    Hands, is the life of man.
     
    Hands … write
    Hands … play
    Hands … carve
    Activating desires of life.
     
    Hands deliver newborn alive,
    To give…. breathe, hence to believe
    To grow real man possessing hands
    To recreate, survive, building a hive!
     
    Those blissful hands,
    Can alive, failed hearts.
    If cannot achieve; the spirit will fly, 
    The flesh decays, descend in sands!
     
    A wish extends to every child,
    To be born with hands: designs,
    Creates constructs have reigns,
    Handling gifts to new and old lives!
    _______________________________________

    From the poetry collections ‘ Lance my Hart at a glance’  July 2007

  2. Who cares about him.

    Did he talk about the Genocide that moved his surviving orphaned grandparents to Iran? No

    Did he do any good to his own people? No.

    Did he help fund a school for disadvantaged poor Armenian kids? No

    Did he donate money for building a tennis school in Armenia? No

    Did he help pay for construction of housing for your 400,000 displaced Armenian refugees? No

    Did he ever go to Armenia? No…I heard that your greatest singer Cher did…

    Now that he is down and out, he needs his people for personal gratification..too bad..

    So, being born in an Armenian family, should not make him a hero for your people. I’m sorry, but that’s my two cents worth  here..
    But hey, I love your beautiful Armenian architecture. Can an Armenian  here point me to a website where I can watch these beautiful churches and buildings from an Architects point of view?  These churches are magnificant houses of worship. Beautiful straight lines that only an architect can appreciate.

  3. you Ferhat,can see more than 3000 Armenian churches destroyed by islamo-facsits Taliban Turks  in   occupied  Western ARMENIA  since the Genocide of 1915   in Turkey, and you can admire ” open-minded mentality of islamo-fascist Turks

  4. Very true Ferhat. I respect Agassi but he is just a man and perhaps because he resents his father so much (with good reason) he barely acknowledges he’s Armenian

  5. Ferhat, what reason or obligation would Agassi have to the Armenian Nation or even it’s people? He could help if he wants to, but just because he made it, don’t feel as if he owes anybody anything.  He made it in the United States and it was this country that gave him all he has.  Did any single Armenian Organization lift a finger to help Agassi achieve his success as he was coming up?  How many of the Armenians we like to brag about, who made it, got any assistance prior to making it from our Armenian Organizations?

    Two sides to every coin.

  6. Ferhat, Perhaps Agassi was so much into his work and personal works and achievements that he forgot he was Armenian.  However I see your point.  Cher on her shows a few times talked about Armenian computers to let the world know that we are computer wiz, despite the fact that her Armenian father (Mr. Sarkissian) abandoned both her and her mother when she was little; but Cher felt Armenian in her blood and her roots and did not forget it.  Because we are little in quantity, when we hear a well achieved and an international sportsman, a singer or an artist; we start feeling proud and that is national; however it takes a special person to make himself known, talk about and also visit Armenia, promote and help his anscestral country, especially when it has newly been formed.  In many ways I appreciate where you are coming from.  He never let himself known or talked about being Armenian.  He was angry with his father, but what about his mother?  And yet Cher’s only Armenian parent was his father who abandoned him, yet she felt and acted close to us. 

  7. Nocomprendo, I don’t share your thoughts.  Yes Agassi’s achievements were made by himself, with his hard work, with luck and the fact that he lived in the US.  However, when he knows his roots and the reason why he was born in this country away from his anscestral soil, then he should or any Armenian man for that matter must not forget about his roots and his nationality.  Simply because he is well known now?  So what?  Because we are rich and famous, we should forget our roots or because no other Armenian had the opportunity to help him up on the ladder?  I remember Krikor Ohanian “Mannix’ sitcom” has made a film – a documentary – about our “Musadagh Armenians’ heroic acts”.  For instance, Mr. Kirk Kirkorian who has billions of dollars and was well known for his Las Vegas MGM.  He helped a great deal with his millions for Armenia.  He didn’t forget his people.  And you may ask yourself, that what Armenian helped him?  None, nevertheless he did not forget his anscestral roots nor his newly formed Armenia and he helped them with his hard earned dollars. 

  8. Nocomprendo: 
    Well, technically you are right. Having said that, what makes you or Agassi Armenian? Just your name and last name?  With that logic, we all lose. Then the idea of ethnicity is absurd.
    I am a Kurd. But, if I don’t fight the Islamo_Fascist Turks, what good I am for the Kurdish nation?
    Cher, your famous singer, at least acknowledged her Armenian side and did so proudly, I heard that she even went to Armenia. Chers father, mind you, was anything but a good father.
    My own father told me that his father, my grandfather, was a very strict disciplinarian, who continuously beat him and his siblings…BUT, he died fighting on the mountains for the Kurdish people. That made him a hero for my dad and our Kurdish nation.
    Now, you tell me in your own words “what good is my ethnicity, if I have no contact with my people,  and shy away from the Armenian spotlight?”
    Anyone?????

  9. Well despite the fact that I said my peace above; but I have had my share of good or not so good experiences from some of the Armenians that I met in my past; but that doesn’t stop me from continuing to do good or trying to stay close to my countrymen and read the news about Armenia’s current events and or contributing with my dollars if and when I can.  It is after all, a good part of our fabric being Armenian and staying Armenian.

    Now I will let nocomprendo or others to speak up. 

  10. FERHAT,       I FORGOOT TO SAY WITH  THE   CRIMINAL COMPLICITY OF THE    TURKISH  KURDS (destroyed Armenian monuments in Western Armenia  THAT YOU CAN ADMIRE  )and nom claiming that    Western   Armenia  became “Kurdistan”  proves only  criminal COMPLICITY   duplicity of the KURDS WHO HAVE TAKEN PART TO THE GENOCIDE OF 1915. AS REGARDS AGHASSI’s CASE WHO NEVER CLAIMED HIS ARMENIAN ROOTS DURING HIS CARRIER CONSTITUES A NON EVENT

  11. Hi Vardan, Ferhat on numerous times sincerely apologized on these threads not only for his anscestors but also for his own grandfather that they have collaborated and were part to the Armenian Genocide when the orders were given by the Turkish government.  Ferhat also stated that the Kurdish senate have accepted the Armenian Genocide.

  12. Vardan, lest you misunderstand me. Here is a short history of my people:
    1. Indo Europeans like our neighbors, the Armenians and the Iranians.
    2. Yes, we actively participated in executing the Genocide alongside the Ottoman Turks. Not proud of that part of our history at all, very ashamed and humbled for the support that we get from the Armenians worldwide. We apologized and still do, I cannot talk for the Kurdish men who participated killing innocent and defenseless Armenians, all I can do is ask “Forgiveness” for their sins.  Dark chapter in  the history of my people, sad times, we don’t want to remember the cries of the butchered Armenians. We are forever ashamed for falling into the Turkish trap, and helping them butcher innocent young and old men, women and children.
    3. Unlike the Turks, our parliament in exile has accepted our complicity in executing the Genocide.
    4. Proud people, but not scared of the truth. We stood up like honorable men, accepted our dirty deeds, and hope that Armenians will find forgiveness in their hearts and friendship for the future.
    5. Any Kurdish tribe currently living in historical Western Armenia, will gladly move out if one day Turkey returns your ancestral lands to you, and the Armenians want us out, out we go. Those were never our lands, they belonged to you and it still does, period.
     6. As for south west Turkey, where the bulk of my 20 million people live, close to Syrian and Iraqi borders, that is where we will build our new nation.
    Vardan, if there is something that you want me, a Kurd, to do, to show that we erred and sinned in a monumental fashion, and are sorry killing innocent and defenseless Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks,  and helping the Genocidal Turk, then spill it out in capital letters. We don’t hide behind tanks and fighter jets as most Turks do. We are honorable people, we did, we accept, we ask for your forgiveness, and hope that we can be friends again.

    As for Agassi: Why should we like a man, who has done absolutely NOTHING for his people. Has spent 30 million of his own money building tennis schools in USA, and all the while disadvantaged and poor Armenian kids are forgotten. He could have opened 60 schools in Armenia, imagine 60 schools. I heard that a school ina small city in Armenia costs about $500,000.
    Or, why should I be proud of former prime minister of Turkey, Torgut Ozal, an ethnic Kurd, a turncoat and a sellout, a dirty obese down to earth murderer, working for Turkey and bombing his own people? Just because Agassi is an Armenian or a Kurd, I should go out be amazed by his heart wrenching story?
    You all know Mike Conors(Krikor Ohanian) former TV star of Mannix? OK, that guy is a true patriot, because he expressed and was proud of his ethnicity by forcing Mannix TV production, to display the tricolors of Armenia. Go check and see. The least he did was acknowledge his people. Agassi on the other hand, hid his background, did not spend a dime, and basically turned his back on his people.
    Remember what Kennedy said in his inaugural address? “Ask not what your country can do to you, ask what you can do for your country.” ……Agassi failed his people. That’s all….WHO CARES ABOUT HIM… he needs to come clean and start to build ONE single school, not 60 but 1. Is that too much to ask from a guy who spends millions of his own money building tennis schools for disadvantaged American kids? And how many poor destitue and disadvantaged Armenian kids are there in Armenia today? THOUSANDS..and do they dream of having a luxurious school packed with tennis courts and tennis classes, good nutriteous free meals etc etc?
    I have no right answering that question, I am not an Armenian but a friend…..but I’ll tell you this: I still have to see an American player who will spend 30 million of his own money by building a modern school for disadvantaged Armenian kids in Armenia.

  13. Of course one should say that Kurdish Yezidis were always on the side of Armenians against the Turkish CRIMINAL  state,during the struggle of 1880  to 1915 were always close friends to Armenians and nowbody can put that  reality and   friendship in question,i was refering to those who were manipulated (Muslims Kurds) by Ottoman state against Armenians, and the KURDS(yezidis)  living in the republic of Armenia   have all kind of cultural and national rights as they shared the same genocidal destiny of Western Armenians and i now that the KURDS and ARMENIANS are condemned to colaborate side by side in order to face Turkish treat in the region.

  14. We need to build bridges with the Kurds somehow. Some are undoubtedly working on behalf of the Turks but many more are not and indeed find themselves in the same situation as Armenians last century. At the same time, it would be beneficial if the Kurds reached out to Armenians and Assyrians.

  15. Sylva
    No one should approach you and beg you for money.  No matter what circumstances you grew up, whether poor or rich, you should Always look back, look where you came from, your orphaned grandmothers were forced to walk thousands of miles so that you can have life. Someone mentioned that Agassi detested his dad, SO WHAT? What does your dad have to do with your Armenianness? Nothing… It is a choice, and Agassi chose to turn his back on his own people. No one asked him to spend 30 million of his own money to open tennis schools were disadvantaged American kids, am I right?  Why should your own people beg you for handouts? You should have the moral courage and if you can afford to, contribute for the welfare of your people. Otherwise what good are we for our collective people?  good charms? good personality? handsome face? Those things do not make the daily lives of your people any good,  Agassis handsome face DOES NOT in any way, shape or form alleviate the hardships of thousands of dirt poor Armenian kids in Armenia, nor does Kim Kardashians pretty face or body.
    In his book, Agassi praised EVERY imaginable person EXCEPT his own people.
    So, I don’t understand why you should be proud of this selfish young man. I, on the other hand, love, admire and praise Cher, Kirk Kirkorian, Mike Conors, and many others, who were NOT ASHAMED of their ancestry, why should you?  You can dye your hair blond, you can use blue contact lenses and wear western clothes, but you SHOULD NEVER BE ASHAMED OF YOUR ANCESTRY.

  16. I fully agree with Ferhat. He is just a selfish guy who does not care about being an Armenian. Thus, why should we care about him? I think we are just wasting time and space on someone who can be just anyone!

  17. There’s an article in the Yerevan magazine, an Armenian international magazine published in Los Angeles and Moscow that has Agassi’s interview (Spring 2010 Issue [8]). Actually, Agassi emphasized that his father always told him to make sure to tell people he was an Armenian, not Iranian. He also revealed that the Armenian fan base treated him ‘like a family, really, a lot of support’ throughout his career, and that he’d always ‘give a little extra time to an Armenian.’ He added that he’s ‘interested in the Armenian life and culture, it’s part of [his] blood, so the older [he] gets, the more important it becomes.’

  18. Ferhat — I have not read all of your posts but I just want to tell you what a refreshing voice you have.  Thank you for your progressive and informed opinions.  I am glad for the changes in the relationship to Kurdish people like you that has happened since the genocide.  I have felt support for the Kurdish people and their struggle for their own rights, regardless of the past.
     
    I don’t wish to be insulting although I think it will sound this way:  my grandmother’s point of view was that the Kurds would do whatever they were paid to do at that time.  If the Turks paid them to help slaughter Armenians, that is what they did.  If an Armenian family paid them to take care of their relatives, then they would do that until the money ran out.  My great grandmother was cared for by a Kurdish family after her husband was killed; the children were sent to live with their Turkish business partner.  Great grandmother was cared for until the money was gone and she died of typhus.  Then my grandmother with her brother ran away to the orphanage to be with the rest of the Armenian children.
     
     

  19. edit:  I should say great grandmother was pregnant when she was beaten by Turkish authorities after her husband was tortured to death.  Later her child was stillborn while she was in the care of Kurdish family.  Eventually she died of typhus later.  Her children were in the only place she knew they would at least be safe from murder by the soldiers; after she died they ran away to the orphanage.  So heartbreakingly sad.  Unfortunately not unusual.    My grandmother would not speak about this until very late in her life; she thought she was protecting her children.

  20. Ferhat – thank you for your sympathy and friendship. I do see a sincere whish from young Kurds to bulid up a good and hounest relationship with Armenians. I live in Sweden and many Kurds here did help us to get the Swedish Parliament recognize the Armenian genocide. Also my own grandfather was rescued by his nanny, a Kurdish woman he called mom. Many kurds and TURKS did help Armenians and yes in general we Armenians know that the Kurds are hounarable race and men of their word.

  21. Agassi is no longer Armenian, he chose his Non Armenian path a long time ago. If not for his Father he would have ended up an uneducated individual and would never have reached the highs he did. He should be grateful. And yes many Armenians and Armenian oganizations approached him, and he rejected them all like his ethnicity

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