The ‘shocking’ realization Andre Agassi had about tennis after he decided to retire from the sport

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Andre Agassi enjoyed real success during his time as a professional, bringing home eight Major singles titles.

Only five players have won more Grand Slam singles titles than Agassi during the Open Era, as the American star proved himself to be one of the best players alive.

Agassi won his first Major at Wimbledon in 1992 before winning his last at the Australian Open, 11 years later.

The American also became the first player since Rod Laver to complete the Career Grand Slam, when he finished the ‘set’ with a French Open title in 1999.

During his 20-year career, Agassi spent 101 weeks as the number-one ranked player on the ATP Tour, dominating his rivals at the sport’s biggest tournaments.

However, after retiring in 2006, Agassi reflected on his time in tennis, later admitting that he never chose to play the sport.

Andre Agassi found himself in a life ‘he never chose’ before winning eight Grand Slam titles

Speaking on The Ellen Show in 2009, the former world number-one shared what he thought to himself after retiring.

“It was shocking to me when I retired, I turned a hard lens on myself, and realized that tennis was not something I ever chose,” he said.

“I think we all have conflicts in our lives and contradictions.

“It was so apparent to me now, looking back on my life, the pressure I lived with as a young boy, I internalized a lot, and then I found myself in a life I never chose, got sent away from home when I was 13.”

Agassi then revealed what training was like as a youngster, comparing one stage of his development to a ‘prison camp.’

“Really fast, he [Andre Agassi’s father] was convinced that if a kid hits 2,500 balls a day they’ll hit 1,000,000 balls in a year, and no-body will beat a kid that hits [1,000,000 balls in a year],” he said.

“Got sent away at 13 to a tennis academy which I kind of referred to as a glorified prison camp, teenagers who were raising themselves with no real adult supervision, it’s like Lord of the Flies with four hands, and you find yourself having to succeed just to get out of it.

“You’re conducting your teenage rebellions and finding yourself on the world stage, being labeled, being judged, and being asked to talk about the one thing you know least about which was yourself.”

The 54-year-old then explained how he dealt with depression for several years, before finally changing his outlook on the sport.

“When I was 27 years old, I said I was going to take ownership of my life, for the first time of my life I was actually going to choose tennis, I was going to attach new meanings to old tasks,” said Agassi.

“How many millions of people live in a life where they do something they hate, yet they find a reason to do it?

“When I took that ownership, tennis started to give me back a lot, it gave me my school in Las Vegas, it gave me my wife.”

The American married fellow tennis legend Steffi Graf in 2001, opening the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, that same year.

Andre Agassi’s eight Grand Slam victories

Agassi currently sits below just five ATP stars on the list of all-time Open Era Slam wins; Novak Djokovic (24), Rafael Nadal (22), Roger Federer (20), Pete Sampras (14), and Bjorn Borg (11).

His eight victories see him level with fellow American Jimmy Connors, and Czech star Ivan Lendl, as he impressed at the Major tournaments throughout his career.

Agassi secured arguably his most impressive Major final victory in 1995, as he took down his rival Pete Sampras in four sets to lift the title at the Australian Open.

The American lost four of his five Major finals against Sampras, and will no doubt look back fondly upon his day in the Melbourne sun.

He may not always have enjoyed tennis, but fans certainly enjoyed watching him play, as he entertained millions every time he stepped onto the court.