Making Way For the New Generation

One of my favorite sports figures has announced his retirement. Few who follow tennis can't help but like Andre Agassi, who has had one of the most interesting, and the longest lasting, tennis career of his generation of champions. But it may not be too long before we see another Agassi. After all, the Agassi children with Steffi Graf as their Mom, certainly have the genes.

By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY
Published: June 25, 2006

WIMBLEDON, England, June 24 — With his voice calm and his eyes occasionally welling with tears, Andre Agassi announced Saturday that the end of his tennis career was near.

If all goes according to his carefully considered plan, this Wimbledon, which begins Monday, will be his last, and he will retire after the United States Open later this summer.

"I think there's a lot of factors," Agassi, 36, said at the All England Club. "It's starting with my family, starting with what it takes to be out here and compete on this level. I have to make sure I approach this through the sense of what's best for who I care about the most and what is best for me.

"There's been a lot of challenges, but it's been 20, 21 years of incredible, incredible memories."

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