Rating
5.0

Andre Agassi is considered one of the greatest players to ever set foot on a tennis court. He has won more than 800 singles matches, eight Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal and is one of only six men in tennis history to achieve a career Grand Slam.

Despite his many achievements, Agassi was a lightning rod of controversy throughout his whole career due to his initial punk rocker appearance and attitude. Agassi’s autobiography, Open, is a sad glimpse into the life of a man whose very existence is defined by a sport he hated.

Open begins with a 7-year-old Agassi growing up on the barren outskirts of Las Vegas, spending his childhood confined to a tennis court, hitting thousands of balls per day. His father often watched him, yelling and cursing at him if the ball hit the net and beating him if he refused to practice.

Agassi longed for a normal life, a life devoid of tennis, but his father was determined to make sure that never happened. The brutal lows and euphoric highs of Agassi’s professional tennis career are also discussed.

Despite taking the tennis world by storm, he always faced conflict, often wanting to hang up the racket and quit the sport he loathed. He argued with line judges, was kicked out of matches, smashed his trophies and even resorted to smoking meth as he channeled his anger and rage toward the game. The most noticeable aspect of Open is Agassi’s photographic memory.

He describes all the events in his life with meticulous imagery, sparing no details. He remembers every match, opponent, bad line call and racket he ever swung. These in-depth recollections make for an engrossing first-person narrative.

He remembers walking the streets of Palermo alone and drunk after officially becoming the No. 1 player in the world, feeling nothing but isolation from society and contempt for tennis — using alcohol and drugs (primarily crystal meth) to quell his disdain. Agassi writes with such candor I had to believe every sad, angry and bitter word in Open. And believe me, there are far too many.

Agassi’s writing style is surprisingly smooth throughout the book. He uses very creative diction to describe his opponents’ games, comparing Pete Sampras’ serve to a hand grenade and Roger Federer’s composure as “permanently smooth.” His writing ranges from contemplative to obscene, which perfectly complements the inner turmoil Agassi has fought his whole life.

In a time in which athlete autobiographies are commonplace and expected, Open stands far above the rest. It shows the resilience of the human spirit and the endurance to conquer any obstacle. I look at Agassi in a light of awe and admiration because he is truly one of the strongest individuals in the history of tennis.