Interviewee: Andre Agassi
Interviewer: Tavis Smiley
Date: November 19, 2009

Andre Agassi is a former professional tennis player and philanthropist. With eight Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal to his name, he is considered by critics and his peers to be among the greatest professional tennis players in history. Popular for sporting unconventional apparel and demeanor on the court, Agassi remains one of the most charismatic players the sport has ever known. In addition to his legendary athletic prowess, his contributions in reviving the prestige and public appreciation of the sport has made him one of the most unforgettable tennis players of all time. Tennis Magazine considered him as the 7th Greatest Male Player and the 12th Overall Greatest Player from 1965 to 2005.

Born on April 29, 1970, Andre Agassi spent his childhood groomed and trained by his father in order to become the world’s greatest tennis player. He turned professional in 1986 and earned his first Grand Slam victory in 1992 at Wimbledon. He would capture several other Grand Slam victories afterwards – the US Open (1994), the Australian Open (1995), and the French Open (1999). Andre Agassi also holds the singular title of being the only male tennis player in history to achieve a Career Golden Slam for having captured four Grand Slam victories and the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996. He also stands alone for obtaining four wins overall in the Australian Open (1995-2003) and for winning 26 consecutive victories from 2000 to 2004 in the same competition.

Late in his professional career, Andre Agassi suffered from several injuries, including spine-related complications spondylolisthesis and sciatica, forcing him to announce his retirement on September 3, 2006.

Following his exit from tennis, Andre Agassi devoted his time to philanthropy. He founded the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to addressing the needs of at-risk children in Nevada. His initiatives have resulted to the construction of the Las Vegas-based K-12 public charter school named in his honor, the Andre Agassi Preparatory Academy.