What will you learn from this book
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Authenticity and Vulnerability: Agassi's memoir is characterized by its raw honesty and vulnerability, as he opens up about the highs and lows of his life and career. He reveals personal struggles with identity, relationships, and self-doubt.
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Pressure and Expectations: The book explores the immense pressure and expectations placed on Agassi from a young age, both by his demanding father and by the tennis world. It delves into the psychological toll of living up to these expectations.
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Love-Hate Relationship with Tennis: Agassi's complex relationship with tennis is a central theme of the memoir. He grapples with his conflicting feelings towards the sport, which he describes as both a source of torment and salvation throughout his career.
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Mentors and Influences: Agassi reflects on the mentors and influences that shaped his life and career, including his father, coach Nick Bollettieri, and wife Steffi Graf. He acknowledges the impact they had on his development as a person and a player.
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Personal Growth and Redemption: The memoir chronicles Agassi's journey of personal growth and redemption, as he confronts his demons and finds a sense of purpose beyond tennis. It is a story of resilience and self-discovery.
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Doping Controversy: Agassi's admission of having used crystal methamphetamine and subsequent cover-up to the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) forms a significant part of the book. He candidly discusses the consequences of his actions and the toll it took on his reputation.
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Tennis Rivalries: Agassi provides insights into his rivalries with other tennis greats such as Pete Sampras and Boris Becker, offering perspectives on the competitive nature of professional tennis and the psychological battles that ensued.
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Philanthropy and Giving Back: The memoir highlights Agassi's commitment to philanthropy and giving back to the community, particularly through his efforts to improve education for underprivileged children with the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education.
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Family Dynamics: Agassi delves into his family dynamics, including his troubled relationship with his father and the impact it had on his upbringing and career. He also discusses the importance of family in his life, particularly his relationship with his wife and children.
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Legacy: "Open" serves as a testament to Agassi's legacy as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but more importantly, as a human being who faced adversity with courage and resilience.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 0007358814 |
| ISBN-13 | 9780007358816 |
| No of pages | 400 |
| Font Size | Medium |
| Book Publisher | Harper Collins |
| Published Date | 01 Dec 2009 |
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He is one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court – but from early childhood Andre Agassi hated the game.
Coaxed to swing a racket while still in the crib, forced to hit hundreds of balls a day while still in grade school, Agassi resented the constant pressure even as he drove himself to become a prodigy, an inner conflict that would define him. Now, in his beautiful, haunting autobiography, Agassi tells the story of a life framed by such conflicts.
Agassi makes us feel his panic as an undersized seven-year-old in Las Vegas, practicing all day under the obsessive gaze of his violent father. We see him at thirteen, banished to a Florida tennis camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, 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 public relationship. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals, Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He reveals the depression that shatters his confidence, and the mistake that nearly costs him everything. Finally, he recounts his spectacular resurrection 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.
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. Like Agassi's game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed and power.