Insightful Life Lessons from Agassi: A Book Review of Open

Earlier in my life, I was moved by autobiographies like Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela and My Experiments with Truth by M. K. Gandhi.

So, when I needed another autobiography to read during my upcoming vacation, I turned to Open by Andre Agassi, a former world #1 tennis player. Not because I was a big tennis fan but because I was a fan of the ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer. He is widely known for his books, such as Nike Founder Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog and Prince Harry’s Spare.

Throughout my Hawaiian vacation, I could hardly put the book down. It kept me company on the flight while relaxing on the beach, waiting for my lunch to arrive at the restaurant, and at bedtime. It transported me to the world of tennis points and games, thrilling wins, and emotional losses. 

Join me as I  share my reflections on the book Open and what we can all learn from Andre Agassi’s journey. The story shares his relationship with tennis, triumphs, mental struggles, and climbing from rock bottom to #1 worldwide. 

Agassi’s Inner Conflict with Tennis

“No one asked me if I wanted to play tennis,” says Agassi in the book Open. It was more his father’s dream than his. As a young child, he played longer than he wanted despite aching shoulders, arms, and legs. He wouldn’t dare to oppose his father.

As a young child, he begged his dad to let him keep playing soccer along with tennis. ‘I don’t like being by myself on the huge tennis court. It’s lonely. There is nowhere to hide when you make mistakes.’, he says.

You can’t help but empathize with young Andre as he describes his grueling tennis practices with his father and his helplessness in knowing he can’t stop playing even if he wants to.

The candidness with which Agassi describes his experiences makes it very real to the reader. He didn’t hesitate to express his honest opinions about his father, coaches, or former teachers.

Making His Mark through Rebellion

Agassi says I didn’t know what else to do, so I kept playing tennis. He begins to rebel against his lack of choice by experimenting with his hair and clothes. According to him, It was his way of sending a message to his father.

Open shows you what being in the limelight can do to a young adult. Agassi attracts more attention as he starts winning more tournaments and making a statement with his fashion choices.

Despite his career progress, Agassi reaches multiple grand slam finals without winning. He attracts negative attention from media and sports writers, who criticize him by calling him a fraud and a fluke. Agassi responds by losing his nerve and lashing out against his opponents, reporters, and fans.

The Mental Struggle of Being a Champion

Open takes you along on an inside journey of what it takes to continue to win in a world of competitive sports. Loses, Agassi says, stay longer with you than wins do.

Despite winning the 92 Wimbledon, 94 U.S. Open & the 95 Australian Open, Agassi was consumed by some of his setbacks, like losing to Pete Sampras in the 95 U.S. Open.

His fear and self-doubt lead to many subsequent losses. Sportswriters write that he isn’t trying hard enough, but his struggle is more mental than physical.

The constant pressure leads to Agassi using drugs, which almost gets him suspended. His volatile behavior on the court gets him disqualified from matches. He hits rock bottom.

With his coach’s help, Agassi decides to turn his life around by starting from the ground up. He starts by playing at the tournaments he played as a young kid, winning them one by one.

Around this time, Agassi began his philanthropy work by investing in at-risk children and building schools and recreational facilities. He said he could see meaning in tennis only by giving back through it.

With a renewed purpose, Andre Agassi won several titles in his thirties, including the 1999 French Open, the U.S. Open, the 2000 Australian Open, and more. 

Reliance on His Inner Circle

In addition to his competitive spirit, Open also shows you a warm side of Andre Agassi. He valued the people closest to him, such as his brother Philly, his best friend Perry, his spiritual guide J.P., and his trainer, Gil.

Agassi’s relationship with Gil is particularly inspiring. He later named his son after his trainer, who was like a father to him.

The part about Agassi courting Stephanie Graf is highly entertaining. You will chuckle at how he took the help of his coach, his friend, and their wives to discuss Steffi and get her to go out with him.

Lessons beyond the Tennis Court

The book Open flows from one topic to another, giving us front-row seats to each milestone and meaningful conversation in Agassi’s life.

You will fall in love with certain characters and appreciate the depth of the relationships Agassi shared in his life. Especially the one with his trainer, Gil. We all need a Gil in our lives, whether in the form of a life partner or a best friend.

Open is more than just a sports autobiography. It shows how critical it is to have the right mindset to reach our goals and dreams. It also shows the value of maintaining close relationships that can be your support system.

As a parent, it shows the importance of protecting children and not living through them by imposing your dreams on them. Thank you, Agassi, for sharing your story with us, and J.R. Moehringer, for writing it in a way that struck a chord.

We’re in a fight, and you can count on me until the last man is standing. Somewhere up, there is a star with your name on it. I might not be able to help you find it, but I’ve got pretty strong shoulders, and you can stand on my shoulders while you’re looking for that star. You hear? For as long as you want. Stand on my shoulders and reach, man. Reach.

– Gil Reyes (Open)