Andre Agassi

Career Grand Slam winner and Olympic gold medallist whose journey from rebellious teenager to elder statesman is tennis's greatest redemption story. Won eight Grand Slam titles across all four surfaces, reached world number one twice in different decades and founded a charter school in Las Vegas that has sent hundreds of at-risk students to college. His autobiography Open is considered the finest sports memoir ever written.

Andre Kirk Agassi was born in Las Vegas in 1970, son of an Iranian Olympic boxer, and became the most paradoxical champion in tennis history — the rebel who became champion, admitting he hated tennis while winning 8 Grand Slams across three decades. He turned professional at 16 and reached world number one at 25. His 8 Grand Slam titles span all four majors — Australian Open (1995, 2000, 2001, 2003), French Open (1999), Wimbledon (1991) and US Open (1994, 1999) — making him one of only five men to complete a career Grand Slam. He won Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996, completing the Career Golden Slam — all four majors plus Olympic gold — making him the only male player to achieve this. He won 60 career titles with an 870-274 win-loss record and spent 101 weeks at world number one. He served 4,581 career aces. He fell to world ranking 141 in 1997 while battling drug addiction and personal crisis before staging one of sport's most celebrated comebacks — returning to world number one in 1999, winning the French Open to complete his career Grand Slam. His second career from 1999 to 2006 culminated in an emotional farewell at the 2006 US Open. His autobiography Open (2009) revealed methamphetamine use and remains one of sport's most celebrated memoirs. He founded the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas in 2001.

Agassi was renowned for his aggressive baseline game and exceptional return of serve, often standing inside the baseline to take the ball early. His two-handed backhand was one of the most powerful and accurate shots in tennis history. He possessed incredible hand-eye coordination and court positioning that allowed him to hit winners from defensive positions.

Agassi revolutionized tennis with his colorful personality and brought mainstream attention to the sport during the 1990s. His comeback from near-retirement to win multiple Grand Slams inspired a generation of players and demonstrated the possibility of athletic longevity.

• Australian Open 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003
• French Open 1999
• Wimbledon 1991
• US Open 1994, 1999
• Olympic Gold 1996 (Atlanta)
• Davis Cup 1990, 1992, 1995 (USA)
• Career Golden Slam (unique)