Andre Bids Farewell

Wimbledon starts today, but it began with an announcement from legendary tennis player Andre Agassi that he will be retiring this year, this will be his last time at Wimbledon. He will finish the summer season with several major tournaments and then will officially say good-bye at the U.S. Open in the Fall. Wow, I am flabbergasted, although he is 36 and that is the expected and perfect age to retire from professional tennis. But because he is around my age, he is almost an institution to the sport to me as I grew up with him watching him as he changed from his mullet-headed, colorful, big-personality younger days when he was brazen, rebellious and outspoken to his mature, head-shaven, married to another tennis great Steffi Graf, fatherly status (his kids are absolutely adorable!).

His professional tennis career has been a beautiful progression, and it has been wonderful to grow with him as he brought fire and great offensive, aggressive tennis to the sport over the years. Now he is preparing to say good-bye and will probably move onto the senior tour with the likes of Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe and maybe he will play mixed doubles with his wife Steffi, but it is definitely a sad day when it is decided that a legacy is bound to end this year. I look forward to watching him in his remaining matches as I am sure he will not go out lying down but rather with power punches and slick shots at every court angle. Go Andre! Go USA!