|
KING: What was going through your mind right there?
AGASSI: The mind was very confused. The heart was feeling and that was a lot of years coming to that one moment there.
KING: As a competitor were you first down over losing the match?
AGASSI: No, no. I've been criticized for not having perspective in the past and I thought that of myself many times but not there.
KING: So you accepted that?
AGASSI: Oh, yes, that was -- it wasn't about tennis. That wasn't about tennis for me. I had to, you know, it was coming to that moment there that was worth -- that was worth the difficulties of the last few hours.
KING: Were you at all surprised by what took place?
AGASSI: Very much so. You know over the last few months since I announced that the U.S. Open was going to be my last tournament I've been very unprepared sort of emotionally and, you know, for the feeling that I would have to deal with, you know, when it would hit me, how it would hit me, the tears, the many tears. I mean it all sort of ended here and this was just crazy. I mean they just...
KING: You certainly must have realized how popular a tennis player you were. I mean you're intelligent. You obviously had to know that.
AGASSI: Well, you know, I've bonded with a lot of people over the years, you know. We played the same tournaments year after year and we go back to the same place and many times the seats have been full and that has meant the world to me for sure.
KING: And having your wife and the kids there that had to be special.
AGASSI: Yes, yes, you know, my son is now old enough where he'll hopefully remember seeing me play and, you know, that meant a lot to me to have him there and, you know, to share that moment with your future is...
KING: Is it a plus to have a family where both parents play the same sport?
AGASSI: It's not necessary for a great relationship but it sure is a luxury because I think one of the things that happens over the years is not all the things you end up saying to each other but all the things you don't have to say to each other and all the things that are sort of understood, the times of preparation, the times of focus and also the times of rest. It's the times of quiet, the times of need or well understood.
KING: That would hardly seem the place to play tennis being the climate is rather difficult.
AGASSI: My father actually moved out from Chicago just so he could play tennis 365 days a year, so it was -- it was a place we played every day. We played before school. We played after school. We woke up. We played tennis. We brushed our teeth in that order.
KING: You were a natural?
AGASSI: (INAUDIBLE).
KING: I mean you (INAUDIBLE).
AGASSI: I don't have a memory in life without -- without tennis, not a memory.
KING: You played before school and after school?
AGASSI: Yes, yes, before school, after school and, you know, twice on the weekend.
KING: When -- at what point in your young life did you know you were good?
AGASSI: I was...
KING: Chris Evert knew it at 12 I think she told me 12, 11, 12 she thought "I'm going to be a tennis player."
AGASSI: It's the only thing I ever thought I was going to do and I don't know how much of that was sort of -- what was ingrained in me. You know my dad pushed me to believe that I was going to be the best. I just never thought of life without tennis, even looking forward.
But, I would say when I was four years old and I was at the Alan King Tennis Tournament and I was hitting with all the pros that would come to town. They would get me on the court or take notice and that stayed with me.
KING: What part of the game was the most difficult for you?
AGASSI: I would say, you know, living out the -- the -- I would say get out there in between the lines sometimes and competing. I always felt like there's a lot of landmines out there. Tennis was always sort of a -- a learning. It was a vehicle for me to discover a lot about myself. And the things that I sort of discovered at times I not only didn't want to see it for myself but I certainly didn't want millions of people to see it.
KING: You mean temper?
AGASSI: Not just temper but, you know, also fears and doubts and all that good stuff.
KING: How much -- how much of it is mental?
AGASSI: Gees, I would say most of it is -- is mental. The physical demand is -- is -- you can quantify what you need to have prepared.
KING: So, among all the good players they can all play well and all do the right things?
AGASSI: Yes.
KING: If I can out think you...
AGASSI: That's right and sometimes it requires you to not think so it requires to react and let it -- let it happen and other times it requires you to -- to control, you know, what it is you're feeling. But you have to figure it out between your ears.
KING: To San Bernardino, California, hello.
CALLER FROM SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA: Hello, Andre. I'd like to thank you as a fan for your completely wonderful words on Sunday. I've never heard anyone be more sensitive to the fans.
My question is on Sunday someone mentioned the tennis commissioner and they mentioned your name in conjunction with tennis commissioner. And, after what you just said about being effective and wanting to assist children that don't have this opportunity, is there a tennis commissioner, is this a possibility? I, for one, think you would be a wonderful candidate. Thank you again.
AGASSI: Thank you.
KING: Thank you.
AGASSI: Thank you. Well those are big words and a big compliment. I mean there's no official position that is called the sort of tennis commissioner. I think that would be great for the sport. I think the sport could use somebody that has the platform to move it as a unit, as a whole sort of entirety, you know, and that would be good for our sport.
I would be interested to help this game anyway I could. Certainly the more I could help the more I would be excited about it but I wouldn't be interested in a token situation. We need a system that really allows for us to move together and I think that would be a great thing.
KING: You were in a high profile marriage to Brooke Shields.
AGASSI: Yes.
KING: Are you friendly still? Was that a friendly ending?
AGASSI: Oh, certainly it was very, very mutual. I mean we saw eye to eye. But, you know, I haven't spoken to her in a number of years, you know. I haven't. I think sometimes when you take steps closer to your dreams and your -- and your goals sometimes that means you take steps away from each other. |