"Open"
by Andre Agassi

By Alexandra Hills

Mike Agassi and Andre in the early days of the "Dragon."

Don't believe what you may have heard. Until you read this book for yourself, you won't understand what "Open" is really about, or appreciate what Andre Agassi's autobiography reveals about his character and what really happened in the creation of this tennis legend.

At first, like many others, I questioned my admiration for Andre based on how the media was representing the book. The hype was that this book was about drug use. However, the book has little to do with drugs. The book is the story of who Andre is as a person, and how he became that person through a series of transformations.

From the first page of this book I felt I was hearing Andre's true voice. It starts with his bizarre childhood and traces every step that led to becoming one of the greatest professional tennis players in history. It also tells the story of how he found the love of his life, started his family and began a new life's work in education.

The book is painfully honest, as Andre doesn't hold back about anyone in his life, especially himself. Perhaps the most surprising part of Open, though, is how amusing it is, and Andre's own dry sense of humor. Andre sees the world in shades of gray and relates many tales with an ironic tone that makes them especially entertaining.

What was it like to hit hundreds of thousands of tennis balls from age 4 against the "Dragon," the customized ball machine Andre's father Mike used to torture him and his siblings in their Las Vegas backyard?

Was there a hairpiece involved in a Grand Slam final?

How did that over sized stuffed panda really end up in Nick Bollettieri's office chair one night during Andre's days at the Academy? And why?

Did you know that Andre was actually wearing a hairpiece toward the end of his long hair days and that the fear that it would fall off might have cost him a Grand Slam? Why was Andre sweating profusely from head to toe during his wedding to Brooke Shields?

And how does coach Brad Gilbert judge the merits of luxury hotels on the world tour? OK I'll tell you that one, it's whether they serve Bud Ice. Who could make this up?

Then there is the story of Brad and Andre documenting why Pete Sampras was known as such a terrible tipper. Or the ongoing antics by the members of Andre's inner circle to help him meet and finally win the love of Steffi Graf.

In addition to amusing, the book is also heartwarming. There are the stories about Andre's interactions with his young children. There is his obvious and complete devotion to Steffi, or "Stephanie" as he calls her. There is the story of how he came to found the Agassi Academy in Las Vegas, as well as the level of his commitment to his new career as an educator.

Then there is his relationship with Gil Reyes. You may know him (as I did) as the big scary guy dressed in all black, who was always sitting in Andre's box. Yes Gil was his personal trainer, but he was a lot more. Do you know the story of how he actually met Andre? Or how both men were there for each other like brothers in times of family crisis?

When we attended Andre's book signing in San Francisco it felt like a Hollywood premiere. The line extended all the way through the store, out the door, and around the corner. Was that Andre sitting in the back seat of the big black Escalade parked out front? (No, as it turned out.)

Andre is completely devoted to Stephanie, as he calls her, and their children.

We waited about 45 minutes to get to the front of line, and although countless people passed by the signing table you could sense Andre's appreciation was genuine.

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a special thrill when he stopped the line and took the time to say hello and shake hands with myself as well as Grace Fish, my co-reviewer and teammate at University High School in San Francisco. I'd like to think it was our natural charm, though the introduction from our coach John Yandell may have had something to do with it. (And by the way be sure to check out our 2009 team music video--also in this issue of Tennisplayer!)

Andre's attitude in person matched what I had felt in the book and made me feel he deserves every bit of admiration and success he has earned. The media was quick to jump on the story about his recreational drug use. But I refuse to let his mistake completely alter my view of either the player or this great book.

Alexandra Hills is a senior at University High School in San Francisco and a four year member of the girls' varsity team. She is one of only two players in the last 25 years at UHS to be named captain in both her junior and her senior year. This year she led her team to the first state sectional final in team history. As co- number 1 player this year she compiled a 16-4 record in singles.

If you have only read what the media has to say, you may have a completely inaccurate impression of this remarkable book. One of the most compelling sports autobiographies ever written, Open tells the story of Andre's amazing journey, both on and off the court. Open is packed with emotional insight, humor and the behind the scenes information rarely if ever revealed in professional sports.

Click Here to order.