Open

A stunning, eerie autobiography from one of the most adored sportsmen in history and one of the most brilliant individuals ever set foot on a tennis court: Andre Agassi.

Agassi starts his very demanding training regimen as a young age. He gets sent to a tennis camp in Florida that resembles a prison camp when he is thirteen years old. He protests in ways that will quickly make him a 1980s legend because he is terrified, lonely, and a ninth-grader dropout. He gets his ears pierced, colors his hair, and dons a punk rocker look. When he gets professional at sixteen, both his lightning-fast comeback and his new appearance threaten to permanently alter tennis.

And yet, he has early challenges in spite of his natural skill. We experience his confusion at losing versus the finest in the world and his even greater bewilderment upon beginning to win. Agassi surprises everyone, including himself, by winning the 1992 Wimbledon championship after losing three Grand Slam finals. He quickly gains popularity and media attention.

Every important match and friendship is enhanced by Agassi's almost photographic recall. The inner game of tennis and the outside game of celebrity have never been more accurately limned. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals from several generations—Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer—Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He discloses a devastating lack of self-assurance. Additionally, he talks about his incredible recovery, which culminated in his historic victory at the 1999 French Open and his ascent to become the oldest person to ever hold the top spot.

In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf. Inspired by her quiet strength, he fights through crippling pain from a deteriorating spine to remain a dangerous opponent in the twenty-first and final year of his career. He was praised for making a remarkable transformation, going from nonconformist to elder statesman, from dropout to education promoter, going into his last tournament in 2006. And he's not finished yet. At a U.S. Open for the ages, he makes a courageous last stand, then delivers one of the most stirring farewells ever heard in a sporting arena.

Open will be read and treasured for years to come because of its fast pace and unvarnished honesty. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis. Like Agassi’s game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed, and power.