Challenges in the Life of Andre Agassi in a Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Andre Agassi's life and career.

Andre Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player, achieving the world No. 1 ranking for 101 weeks. He secured 60 ATP Tour-level singles titles, which include eight major titles, leading him to complete a Career Grand Slam. Agassi also earned an Olympic gold medal and contributed to multiple United States Davis Cup victories. He further distinguished himself by winning the ATP Tour World Championships in 1990 and 17 Masters titles. He is one of the few players to achieve a Career Grand Slam and a Career Golden Slam.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1987: Wimbledon Debut and Loss

In 1987, Andre Agassi first played at Wimbledon, only to lose in the first round to Henri Leconte.

1988: Wimbledon Absence Begins

From 1988, Andre Agassi chose not to play at Wimbledon due to the event's traditionalism and dress code.

1988: Becker prevails over Agassi at Indian Wells

In 1988, Boris Becker prevailed over Andre Agassi at Indian Wells, marking one of their first matches.

1989: Becker wins Davis Cup semi-final match

In 1989, Boris Becker won the Davis Cup semi-final match against Andre Agassi in five sets, after losing the first two in tiebreaks.

1990: Continued Wimbledon Absence

In 1990, Andre Agassi continued to not play at Wimbledon due to the event's traditionalism and dress code.

1990: US Open Final Loss to Sampras

In 1990, Andre Agassi, ranked No. 4, lost the US Open final to Pete Sampras in straight sets, marking their first Grand Slam tournament final meeting.

1993: Wimbledon Quarterfinal Loss to Sampras

In 1993, Andre Agassi lost to Pete Sampras in five sets in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, where Sampras went on to win his first Wimbledon championship.

1993: Doubles Title and Injury

In 1993, Andre Agassi won the only doubles title of his career at the Cincinnati Open with Petr Korda. He missed much of the early part of that year due to injuries and required wrist surgery late in the year.

1995: Becker wins Wimbledon semi-final

In 1995, Boris Becker won that year's Wimbledon semi-final against Andre Agassi after being down a set and two breaks, eventually winning in four sets.

1996: Chang records victories over Agassi

In 1996, Michael Chang recorded easy straight-set victories over Andre Agassi in the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and the US Open.

November 10, 1997: Ranking Drops to No. 141

On November 10, 1997, Andre Agassi's ranking sank to No. 141, prompting many to believe that his run as one of the sport's premier competitors was over.

1997: Methamphetamine Use

In 1997, Andre Agassi used and tested positive for methamphetamine, which he discussed in his autobiography, leading to reactions from fellow tennis players.

1997: Ranking Decline

In 1997, Andre Agassi's ranking declined to as low as No. 141.

1999: Wimbledon Final Loss and ATP Tour World Championships

In 1999, Andre Agassi lost to Pete Sampras in the Wimbledon final. Sampras forfeited the No. 1 ranking to Agassi when injury forced him to withdraw from that year's US Open, which Agassi won. They faced each other twice in the season-ending ATP Tour World Championships, with Sampras losing the round-robin match, but winning the final.

2001: Australian Open Title Defense and US Open Quarterfinal Loss

In 2001, Andre Agassi successfully defended his Australian Open title by defeating Arnaud Clément in the final. He lost to Rafter in the Wimbledon semi-finals and to Sampras in the US Open quarterfinals in an epic match without any breaks of serve. He finished the year ranked No. 3.

2001: Sampras defeats Agassi in US Open

In 2001, Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi in four sets during the US Open quarterfinals, in what is arguably their most memorable match. Notably, there were no breaks of serve during the entire match, making it a historic contest.

2002: Key Biscayne Title and US Open Final Loss

In 2002, Andre Agassi skipped the Australian Open due to injury but recovered to defend his Key Biscayne title by beating Roger Federer. He defeated Lleyton Hewitt at the US Open semi-finals before losing to Sampras in the final, which was the last match of Sampras's career. He finished the year as the oldest year-end No. 2.

2002: Sampras defeats Agassi in US Open Final

In 2002, Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi in four sets in the US Open final, marking their third meeting in a US Open final and the last ATP tour singles match of Sampras's career. En route to the final, Agassi defeated Lleyton Hewitt and Sampras defeated Tommy Haas and Andy Roddick.

2004: Cincinnati Masters Win and Australian Open Loss

In 2004, Andre Agassi lost in the semi-finals of the Australian Open to Marat Safin, ending his 26-match winning streak at the event. He won the Masters series event in Cincinnati, bringing his total to 59 titles and a record 17 ATP Masters Series titles. He finished the year ranked No. 8.

2005: Quarterfinal Loss at Australian Open and Rogers Cup Final

In 2005, Andre Agassi lost in the quarterfinal to Federer at the Australian Open. He won his fourth title in Los Angeles and reached the final of the Rogers Cup, losing to Rafael Nadal.

2005: US Open Final Run

In 2005, Andre Agassi made an improbable run to the US Open final, winning three consecutive five-set matches including a notable quarterfinal victory over James Blake. In the final, he lost to Federer in four sets. Agassi finished 2005 ranked No. 7, tying Connors for the most times ranked in the top 10 at year's end.

2005: Federer and Agassi play at Dubai Championships

In 2005, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi attracted worldwide headlines at the Dubai Championships with a publicity stunt, playing on a helipad almost 220 meters above sea level at the hotel Burj al-Arab. Also, Roger Federer defeated Andre Agassi in four sets in the final of the 2005 US Open, which was Agassi's last appearance in a Grand Slam final.

2006: Final US Open and Retirement

In 2006, Andre Agassi had a dramatic run in his final US Open, battling extreme back pain and requiring anti-inflammatory injections after each match. He won against Andrei Pavel and Marcos Baghdatis before losing to Benjamin Becker in his last match, after which he delivered a retirement speech.

2006: Injury-Plagued Season and Retirement Announcement

In 2006, Andre Agassi had a poor start due to ankle, back, and leg pain, leading to withdrawals from several events including the Australian Open and the French Open. He returned for Wimbledon, where he lost to Rafael Nadal and announced his retirement plans following the US Open.