The Intensity of Andre Agassi
A mindset that overcomes everything.
*Scroll down to the end for 7 Takeaways from this article.*
Andre Agassi hated tennis, but his intensity made him an all-time great player. As a child, Agassi hit balls from an angry machine called “the dragon” that was built by his father, the former olympic boxer. From the dragon to the glory, the autobiography Open by Andre Agassi is a journey through this intensity.
Agassi’s father pushed him everyday. The goal was to hit a million balls a year. The Las Vegas desert sun beat down on Agassi. His father yelled and yelled. The intensity burned into the young child. Agassi only had peace in small moments. He writes,
“Though I hate tennis, I like the feeling of hitting a ball dead perfect. It’s the only peace. When I do something perfect, I enjoy a split second of sanity and calm.”
Perfectionism will come back to haunt Agassi. But first, it drives him to be a young master of the game. He beats grown men in matches. He plays with local greats like Jimmy Connors. When he is old enough, Agassi goes to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy for more intense training.
At the academy, Agassi has high school in the morning and tennis drills the rest of the time. The teenagers compete against each other in matches. They study psychology and thinking to build their minds. They learn about toughness and game visualization.
During his time at the academy, Agassi becomes a rebel. He gets a mohawk and dyes it pink. He gets his ears pierced, fights with kids, and drinks alcohol. Even at high school age, Agassi shows a desire for fierce and unrestrained self-expression.
In his mid to late teens, Agassi works the tournament circuit. When Agassi turns sixteen, everything changes for him. He gets to the finals of the Masters tournament, and he becomes a professional player by accepting a check for $1,100.
The good luck doesn’t stop. Sort of. Nike signs Agassi to a two-year endorsement deal for around $20,000 each year. He does well in many professional and Open tournaments. But, he struggles to win tournaments.
The defining moment for Agassi is in Brazil. He wins a tournament and a windfall of $90,000. He enjoys when all of the Brazilians run on the court, lift him up, and cheer him. A first taste of fame and glory. In Agassi style, he buys a white Corvette.
Agassi is a tennis rockstar. The public cheers for him. He appears in major advertising campaigns. But, he is often struggling in his game. He is physically outmatched by many opponents. So, he hires Gil Reyes, a personal trainer from the University of Nevada Las Vegas athletics.
Gil brings more attention to Agassi’s fitness routine and diet. He channels Agassi’s intensity into weight training and conditioning. He also serves as a spiritual mentor to Agassi. Gil becomes part of an entourage that includes Agassi’s coach, manager, and friends. Agassi writes,
“If I must play tennis, the loneliest sport, then I’m sure as hell going to surround myself with as many people as I can off the court.”
Agassi’s entourage keeps him grounded. They bring much-needed alternative perspectives to his game. After winning his first major at Wimbledon, Agassi struggles with other matches, opponents, and tournaments.
His entourage brings in tennis player Brad Gilbert to analyze Agassi’s game. Brad criticizes Agassi’s perfectionism. He says, “You try to hit a winner on every ball, when just being steady, consistent, meat and potatoes, would be enough to win ninety percent of the time.”
Agassi takes the advice, brings on Brad as a coach, and overcomes perfectionism. Although Agassi’s game improves, he still struggles with the intensity of his emotions. He conflicts with his hate for tennis. He falls into marital troubles and drug addiction.
Finally, though, he finds a goal big enough and intense enough to fit his personality. He discovers a new reason to fight and compete against the best. He wants to give back and establish a school for the underprivileged in Las Vegas. He writes,
“It’s not about my comeback. It’s about my team. My new team, my real team. I’m playing to raise money and visibility for my school. After all these years I’ve got what I always wanted, something to play for that’s larger than myself and yet still closely connected to me.”
Agassi uses the school as motivation for him to win more tournaments and majors. Even with injuries, he has an intensity that pushes him forward. When he looks back on his career, he sees it as an evolution, a process. He disagrees with critics who look at his career as a “transformation.”
“Transformation is change from one thing to another, but I started as nothing. I didn’t transform, I formed.”
7 Takeaways from the Intensity of Andre Agassi
-Practice with intensity and focus
-Work hard within structure and discipline
-Rebel and express yourself to find your individuality
-Have a team of mentors and coaches to support your growth
-Don’t get trapped by perfectionism
-Change your mindset with advice from others
-Act with a higher purpose and motivation
