‘Can’t Avoid Hurting Someone’s Feelings’ – Andre Agassi’s Autobiography Ghostwriter Opens Up

In 2009, the autobiography of Andre Agassi, Open, made its way into bookstores and shared the iconic American tennis star’s story with the world. The autobiography went on to be a resounding success, but writing it was a challenge for Agassi. However, he got a helping hand from renowned journalist J.R. Moehringer, who served as the book’s ghostwriter.

In a recent long-form piece J.R. Moehringer wrote for The New Yorker, the journalist revealed what it took to get Agassi’s story out there. It was a compelling read, as Moehringer shared how he and Agassi overcame the challenges that came their way.

Journalist reluctant to help Andre Agassi write his memoir?

When Andre Agassi approached J.R. Moehringer for his help with writing his book, the journalist wasn’t very enthusiastic. However, a chain of events eventually made him change his mind.

In a New Yorker piece, J.R. Moehringer wrote, “He asked if I’d help him do it. I gave him a soft no. I liked his enthusiasm, his boldness—him. But I’d never imagined myself writing someone else’s book, and I already had a job.” Following his rejection, Moehringer bagged a role at the Los Angeles Times as a long-form journalism specialist. However, things changed quite rapidly as the Los Angeles Times started to do away with long-form journalism altogether.

Read More: ‘I Have No Regrets With What I Did’- Andre Agassi Said He Was Proud of the Things He Wrote in His Book ‘Open’ a Decade Ago

This made Moehringer consider Agassi’s offer, and ultimately, he obliged. Agassi was also ready to pay Moehringer much more than what he was earning at the Los Angeles Times. Writing Agassi’s memoir proved to be a tough task for Moehringer though. He motivated the tennis sensation by telling him, “Sometimes, in order to tell the truth, you simply can’t avoid hurting someone’s feelings. It goes down easier, I said, if you’re equally unsparing about yourself.”

Moehringer’s motivation served as a catalyst for Agassi to share his brutal take on tennis

Without Moehringer’s relentless motivation, it would have probably been very hard for Andre Agassi to share his story with the world. However, when the book finally came out, Agassi minced no words as he revealed the ugly side of professional tennis.

Agassi portrayed tennis as a sport where players, especially those at the top of the game, are constantly in a state of loneliness. He compared tennis to boxing, saying that professional boxers find companions, even in opponents. Well, tennis fans will certainly be glad to know that Moehringer was there by Agassi’s side to encourage him to speak his truth.

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