ANDRE AGASSI WALKED OFF THE COURT THE WAY HE WANTED, TO A CHAMPION’S OVATION

Panorama.am
13:30 04/09/06

In the end, despite all the tears, it hardly made a difference to
him or his fans that he didn"t win.

A career for the ages came to a close Sunday with Agassi worn down
and wincing, losing to 112th-ranked Benjamin Becker 7-5, 6-7 (4),
6-4, 7-5 in the third round at the U.S. Open.

Betrayed by a creaky body that needed four injections this week,
his spirit never waned. And that is something Agassi and his fans
will always remember.

"For me, it was never about winning and stopping," he said. "It was
about getting the most out of myself for as long as possible," he said.

Agassi announced this summer that the Open would be his final event. It
seemed unimaginable that he could win seven matches to take the title,
but after two inspiring victories, fans began to hope and wonder.

Instead, the end came with Agassi looking like what he"d become —
a 36-year-old man with a bad back, ready for retirement.

"I just credit the doctors that I was able to play out there today,"
he said. "I didn"t expect a whole lot physically. And sure enough,
it was real early when I wasn"t feeling so good."

The 25-year-old Becker started strong, showing few nerves, and closed
out the match with a 133 mph ace.

Moments later, Agassi teared up on the blue court as he addressed a
crowd that showed up early at Arthur Ashe Stadium and tried to spur
him all afternoon.

"The scoreboard said I lost today," he said. "But what the scoreboard
doesn"t say is what it is I"ve found."

Becker, who had to win three qualifying matches merely to make it
into the Open, applauded as Agassi spoke.

Agassi"s wife, Steffi Graf, and their two young children looked on.

"He was my idol growing up," Becker said.

He joined the crowd for a four-minute, loud standing ovation saluting
Agassi, who stared out at the crowd from his chair, wiping tears from
his eyes.