‘Going to Live on My Own’- Andre Agassi Once Took an Extreme Step to Rebel Against a Traditional Grand Slam Tournament

Andre Agassi was always an audacious and aggressive player. When things did not go his way, he made sure to question them. In other words, he was a reb. And that is exactly what he did when he refused to conform to the all-white dress code of Wimbledon. He went on to the heights of refusing to be a part of the grass-court major.

Agassi was known for his on-court outbursts. He would fight with them and did not mask away his emotions, both on and off the court. His raw attitude and sheer brilliance on the court made him one of the most famous tennis players of all time.

Andre Agassi once boycotted Wimbledon for three years

Agassi was a rule breaker on the court, and this is not a new fact. He was adamant in his views and knew what he wanted to do. He was against the all-white dress code of Wimbledon. On the issue, at that point, he said, “Whether it was the long hair, or whether it was clothes, I felt like communicating that I wasn’t going to live on anybody else’s terms, I’m going to live on my own.” 

The American sensation missed Wimbledon three times consecutively n 1988, 1989, and 1990, just to rebel against the dress code. This is not unexpected from the player.

READ MORE: ‘A Little Art of Diversion’ – When Andre Agassi Made an Honest Confession About His Funky 90s Hairstyle

He had always been very aggressive and his legendary outburst in a US Open in the second round is quite famous. Andre Agassi had been caught in banter with the chair umpire and had to face a penalty and a fine.

Agassi and his eventual dislike for tennis

Eight-time grand slam champion is an inspiration for millions around the world for his gameplay on the court. However, it is worth noting that in 2009, Agassi came out with his book, ‘Open’. In this book, he confessed his dislike for the sport. He also opened up about the strict and harsh regime of his father who trained him when he was a kid.

His father, Mike Agassi, did not refute any claims later on. However, he made it clear that he did it for his son and it was better than sending him to a coach and ruining his talent.

WATCH THIS STORY: When Roger Federer toyed his opponent so bad, he asked for advice from Andre Agassi in the crowd Wimbledon championships

Now Agassi leads a peaceful life with his wife and 22-time grand slam champion, Steffi Graf. Graf too did not have a great experience while growing up. Her father was strict and trained her under a strict routine. The couple, however, has changed the ways of their lives and is happy that their kids did not follow the path of tennis.