Another title for the rebel boy Agassi

从昔日的不羁浪子到当今的不老神话，
网坛名将阿加西书写传奇人生。


AS a teenager, Andre Agassi hated tennis. He was a rebel. The strict training that his father pushed upon him got in the way of his wild lifestyle. But, he finally gave in and admitted his love for the game. Now he is an international star.

Celebrating his 33rd birthday last Tuesday with a title from the US Clay Court Championships, American Agassi is now the oldest player to top the world rankings.

"It's an amazing feeling because it's the result of a lot of hard work and a lot of determination," he said.

But the effort that Agassi has put into his game is just half the story. He owes much of his success to his father and his second wife.

Agassi's father dreamed of his son playing tennis. When Agassi was two years old, his most prized toy was the racket his father gave him. He would take it to bed and sleep with it. His father made him train hard every day.

But, when he was 12, Agassi began to get bored and he rebelled, first against his school and then against his father's strict coaching. He began to go out with a group of older boys — to drink and make trouble.

So his father sent him to a tennis camp for young hopefuls, thinking that the discipline there would change his son's rebellious nature.

The camp was very strict. The young players were not allowed to make friends with each other — they were only to compete. "I don't hate it now, but I did then," said Agassi. "I just wanted a normal life without pressure. Tennis stopped all my happiness at that time. I was very lonely there."

The discipline, however, did not improve Agassi's behaviour. He grew long hair, was rude to spectators and would throw his racket on the ground when he lost a match.

His first big year was in 1992. He won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon, and in 1994 he won the US Open.

Yet his first marriage to actress Brooke Shields in 1997 led to professional disaster. He dropped to 141 in the world rankings.

Steffi Graf, the greatest female tennis player of all time, became Agassi's second wife four years later. She taught him to be strong-willed and not to give up easily.

Soon Agassi began winning titles again.


Clay Court Championships 红土赛场网球锦标赛                   hopefuls n. 有前途的选手

Grand Slam  大满贯