Andre Agassi was one of the best players of all time, but didn’t always follow the rules…
The American star won eight major titles and became the first player to complete the Career Grand Slam since Rod Laver.
Who is the greatest male tennis player of all time?
He also spent 101 weeks ranked number one in the world and took home an Olympic gold medal in 1996.
But where did it all start for Agassi?
He won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 1992, an event he had an eventful relationship with…
Andre Agassi once admitted he broke the rules at Wimbledon because he was a rebel
Appearing as a guest on ‘This Morning‘ in 2017, Agassi shared his thoughts on the Wimbledon rules.
“I was a rebel. That’s what I was. I went through my teenage rebellion, and I took issue with any rules that were imposed on this game,” he said.
If you could change one rule in tennis what would it be and why?
“If it was traditional to wear white, I wouldn’t do it.
“It was more a rebellion than a particular strategy.
“The colors I don’t mind so much, but there were some other rules around here that I’m not terribly fond of.”
Agassi was also asked about the locker room situation at the All England Club.
“Here at Wimbledon, the seeds have their dressing room and the rest of the field have a different one,” he said.
“So there’s this pecking order around here that’s pretty clear.
“You earn it, I guess, by being seeded, to be treated a little differently, get more playing time, that sort of thing.”
Achieving as much success as he did on tour, Agassi spent most of his time in the seeded locker room…
How did Andre Agassi win Wimbledon in 1992?
Agassi had only played Wimbledon twice before 1992, losing his opening match in 1987 and in the 1991 quarterfinals.
Returning in 1992 as the number-12 seed, Agassi was determined to win his maiden Grand Slam title.
He made a brilliant start, reaching the final, defeating two tennis legends along the way.
Andre Agassi’s route to the 1992 Wimbledon final
- 1992 Wimbledon 1R [WIN] vs Andrei Chesnokov (Russia), 5-7, 6-1, 7-5, 7-5
- 1992 Wimbledon 2R [WIN] vs Eduardo Masso (Belgium), 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
- 1992 Wimbledon 3R [WIN] vs Derrick Rostagno (USA), 6-3, 7-6, 7-5
- 1992 Wimbledon 4R [WIN] vs Christian Saceanu (Germany), 7-6, 6-1, 7-6
- 1992 Wimbledon QF [WIN] vs Boris Becker (Germany), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
- 1992 Wimbledon SF [WIN] vs John McEnroe (USA), 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
With Boris Becker and John McEnroe beaten, Agassi was just one win away from Wimbledon glory.
Standing between Agassi and the Wimbledon title was Croatia’s Goran Ivanisevic, who had enjoyed a similarly impressive run to the final.
Goran Ivanisevic’s route to the 1992 Wimbledon final
- 1992 Wimbledon 1R [WIN] vs Lars Koslowski (Germany), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
- 1992 Wimbledon 2R [WIN] vs Mark Woodforde (Australia), 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3
- 1992 Wimbledon 3R [WIN] vs Marc Rosset (Switzerland), 7-6, 6-4, 6-4
- 1992 Wimbledon 4R [WIN] vs Ivan Lendl (Czechia), 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 1-0 (RET)
- 1992 Wimbledon QF [WIN] vs Stefan Edberg (Sweden), 6-7, 7-5, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
- 1992 Wimbledon SF [WIN] vs Pete Sampras (USA), 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2
After beating Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, and Pete Sampras in consecutive matches, Ivanisevic was full of confidence, and that showed during the opening set of the 1992 Wimbledon final.
The big-serving Croat edged a tight first set, winning the tiebreaker 7-6 [10-8] to take the lead on Centre Court.
Then, Agassi fought back, winning the second and third sets 6-4, moving himself within touching distance of the title.
Refusing to lie down and be beaten, Ivanisevic pushed ahead in the fourth set, winning 6-1 to force a decider.
There, it was Agassi who prevailed, holding on to his one break advantage, to become a Grand Slam champion for the first time.
Agassi remarkably never won another title at Wimbledon, but reached one more final, losing to his countryman Sampras, in 1999.
He may not have won as many titles as the likes of Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, but that won’t stop Agassi from being remembered as one of the greatest players to grace the grass courts of Wimbledon.
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