Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi is a former professional tennis player who was ranked number one in the world. Today Agassi is a philanthropist who has raised more than $60 million to help disadvantaged children in Las Vegas. He is married to fellow tennis legend Steffi Graf.

Agassi announced his retirement on June 24, 2006, after a solid twenty year career. Due to an irritated Sciatic Nerve, Agassi officially retired after his 2006 U.S. Open appearance.VOA News: American Tennis Player Andre Agassi Retires

One of only five men to win all four Grand Slams, Agassi received an Olympic Gold Medal and was named one of the 12 greatest players of all time by Tennis Magazine. In his career he won eight Grand Slam Singles Championships including four Australian Opens, one French Open, one Wimbledon and two U.S. Opens.ESPN: Agassi to Retire after Wimbledon, U.S. Open

In 2009, Agassi published a controversial autobiography, "Open," in which he admits to heavy alcohol and drug use, failed a drug test while playing that the Association of Tennis Professionals - the governing body of professional men's tenns, never made public - to wearing a hairpiece when his trademark hair began to fall out and that he has always hated tennis because of his tyrannical father.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/06/AR2009110601492.html

"I believe the most powerful way to empower a child is through a strong education. We've created an atmosphere that helps children dream of possibilities that they may not otherwise have considered for themselves, and we provide the tools and resources to help them achieve their goals."-Andre AgassiATP Tennis: Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation

Agassi reached No. 1 in the world in 1995, only to plummet to No. 141 in November, 1997. http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/agassi/profile.html. Determined to make a comeback, Agassi rededicated himself to the sport.

Agassi entered the French Open, the only Grand Slam event he had not won, as the No. 13 seed and the No. 14 ranked player in the world.

He struggled against Frenchman Arnaud Clement in the second round before rallying from a two-sets-to-one deficit to win in five sets.http://www.itftennis.com/mens/tournaments/drawsheetbyround.asp?event=1010010234&tournament=1010004465

Agassi advance to the finals, where he met unseeded Andrei Medvedev. Medvedev jumped to a two-set lead, winning the first set in a mere 19 minutes. Agassi, however, persevered, breaking Medvedev at 4-2 in the third set and began to turn the match around. Agassi won the last three sets in a 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory to become the fifth man to complete tennis' grand slam, winning the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

• April 29, 1970: Born

• 1986: Turned Pro at the age of 16

• 1990: Part of winning Davis Cup Team

• 1992: Wins Wimbledon

• 1994: Wins U.S. Open (tennis)

• 1995: Attained World No. 1 ranking

• 1995: Wins Australian Open

• 1996: Won an Olympic gold medal at the Atlanta games

• 1997: Marries actress Brooke Shields

• 1999: Wins French Open

• 1999: Wins U.S. Open (tennis)

• 1999: Divorced Brooke Shields

• 2000: Wins Australian Open

• 2001: Wins Australian Open

• 2001: Marries Steffi Graf

• 2003: Wins Australian Open

• 2006: Retired from Professional Tennis