Andre Agassi Branded a ‘Clown’ as Tennis Legend Makes Honest Admission on His Rise in the Sport

By Pune Media On Sep 27, 2025

Rebellious, modern, and influential. Andre Agassi stepped foot on the tennis court in the early ’90s like a flamboyant young kid with long hair and a sprinkle of tennis magic in his racket. Known for his aggressive brand of tennis and quirky fashion sense, he became the Allen Iverson of the tennis court. Around the same time, legends like Boris Becker had already carved a niche, and battles with Agassi promised fireworks.

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During the early years of Agassi’s career, he had an intriguing rivalry with Becker. It began way back in 1988 when they faced each other in Indian Wells. While Becker dominated the early parts of their rivalry, winning three consecutive matches, Agassi found his way back and leads 10-4 in their head-to-head battles. Unlike other rivals like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the two didn’t have the warmest of relationships on and off the court, and Becker spoke about it during an interview with Virgin Radio.

He said, “When I debuted in 1985, I was labeled the new superstar, and I enjoyed that. You know, we all have a little bit of vanity, and we like people to like us. So when he came on the scene in the early ’90s, with his long, colored hair, earrings, and the ‘born and raised in Las Vegas’ thing, I thought he was a clown, but he stole all the publicity, all the attention.”

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via Getty

Further, Becker added, “To make matters worse, he was a very good tennis player. Then he started beating me and took away all the status I had, so I was seriously, you know… I was very upset, I was very upset about Andre Agassi coming in. I didn’t like it.” Winning the last ten matches, Agassi got his number following initial struggles with Becker. Well, he might have found a hack, too.

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With various unique tales of superstitions and traditions, sometimes, the smallest analysis becomes a game-changer. Agassi noticed Becker’s tongue movement during his serve to understand where the ball lands. It’s a trick that deeply unsettled Becker. Yet, the level of respect they have for one another remains true to their personalities.

Despite Becker’s revelations, Agassi carved a niche for himself in tennis. He won eight Grand Slam titles along with a host of other big trophies as he carried American tennis on his back. Years later, Agassi remains a force in the tennis world and guided Team World to the Laver Cup victory. Subsequently, he reflected on one of the most memorable weeks of his life in San Francisco.

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Andre Agassi can’t get over Team World’s Laver Cup win

Last week, Team World delivered a stunning performance under Agassi’s leadership to lift the Laver Cup crown. Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur played scintillating tennis to help their team to victory. The tournament’s unfolding brought Agassi great joy, and he labeled it one of the most unforgettable experiences of his life.

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He said, “Everybody played a part in making this one of the most memorable weeks I’ve ever spent on a tennis court. I can honestly say that, and that’s saying something, because it was a lot of years I’ve been out there in one form or another with a perceived team, but this really was a team. So proud of the guys. Just unflappable. They never stopped believing.”

After a stellar tennis career, Agassi shifted his focus to another sport, rapidly picking up pace among the public. He has entered Pickleball’s professional world and stamped his authority over there as well. Indeed, he is a legend in the true sense, dominating every area that he enters.

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