Open – An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

Summary:
– The book starts with a chapter called The End where he talks about hating tennis from day one and only did it because he had that sports father who would put him through gruelling practice every day. His dad even bought the new house only for the size of the back yard to carry on practising. 2500 balls a day from a machine he called ‘the dragon’.
– His explanation of how a tennis player is an island with no coach to talk to on the court between rounds like boxers has given me a newfound respect for tennis players. This is why you see them losing it and losing it hard.
– Like other athletes, he’s very meticulous on how he arranges his rackets in his bag chronologically to positive self-talk.
– At some point his brother warned him not to take a white pill from his father which was speed. After Andre pretended that he wasn’t feeling well he never had to take it again.
– Hi dad could only afford to send him to a special tennis college for 3 months but after seeing Andre play they said he could stay for free.
– He started to rebel by drinking, smoking and getting a pink mohawk but no matter how much he wanted to get away he managed to stop studying and start playing fulltime.
– He turned pro at 16.
– At some point he gave away all his rackets to quit tennis but had to go back for the money as he couldn’t do anything else.
– His look was a mullet haircut and denim shorts which people copy.
– He meets Gil Reyes who was his best and favourite coach and father he never had.
– He starts losing his hair so starts wearing a hairpiece which once disintegrated and had to put back with 50 bobby pins.
– He replaces the hairpiece with a thick headband.
– He finally wins the Wimbledon grand slam after losing a few times.
– Starts dating Brooke Shields, gets a new coach Brad Gilbert and after losing finally wins where Brooke Shields grandfather was the first time winner. While Brook was watching in his box.
– He decides to shave his head.

– At 25 he’s the 12th player to be named the world number 1 player.
– He starts planning a wedding with Brooke even though their worlds are drifting apart. She’s busy with her career taking off and not interested in tennis, he’s not interested in acting. When she played a part in Friends, he even stormed off because she licked Joey’s hand.
– His performance dropped, started taking drugs and lies to ATP that he was spiked and they let him off.
– He’s inspired by meeting Mandela.
– Gets back into it and divorces Brooke.
– Steffi and Andre were the only people to win all 4 grand slams and an Olympic gold medal.
– They get into a relationship. She retires while he gets stronger and regains world number 1 ranking.
– They get married and have a son.
– He starts Andre Agassi College Preparatory.
– They have a daughter.
– The book ends with a chapter called The Beginning where he’s happy and at peace with himself, his life and everything finally.