By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Photograph credit score: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty
NEW YORK—Andre Agassi has been a dream-maker for college students and gamers for years.
On opening night time of the US Open, Agassi was honored for his work.
The USTA Basis introduced Agassi with the Serving Up Desires Award at its annual Opening Evening Gala on Sunday night time on the US Open.
Agassi is among the many few skilled tennis gamers to ascertain a basis throughout their taking part in careers, and he approaches his philanthropy with the identical unflagging drive and focus as he demonstrated on the court docket. In 2001, Agassi based the Andre Agassi Basis for Training to enhance public colleges and put money into communities. His efforts have raised over $180 million up to now. He based and operated the Andre Agassi Faculty Preparatory Academy (Agassi Prep), a free public constitution college in his hometown of Las Vegas, which graduated 9 senior lessons below Agassi’s management, and nonetheless stays open right this moment. He additionally co-founded the Turner-Agassi Constitution Faculty Amenities Fund, which helps construct colleges in low-income areas throughout the nation. Agassi has devoted a lot of his post-tennis life to schooling reform, significantly for younger folks from under-resourced communities.
Agassi additionally personally funded a Boys & Ladies Membership in Las Vegas.
The Corridor of Famer famously retired on the 2006 US Open as gamers on adjoining courts stopped play to acknowledge Agassi’s remaining match.
The 55-year-old Agassi, who captured 60 profession championships and impressed numerous gamers over his superb professional profession, was accompanied by daughter Jaz Agassi to the USTA Basis Gala. Agassi shared these pictures of the night on his Instagram web page.
“Nice to be again at Arthur Ashe for the @usopen, even higher to be there with my stunning daughter @jazagassi by my facet,” Agassi posted on Instagram. “Because of @ustafoundation for all that you simply do for tennis and the group, honored to just accept the Serving Up Desires Award on the opening night time gala.”
USTA President and Chairman of the Board Brian Vahaly, a former ATP professional, sat subsequent to Agassi inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. In a previous interview with Tennis Now, Vahaly mentioned Agassi and Roger Federer have been the hardest opponents he ever confronted on court docket.
“For me, the most important problem was Agassi. As a result of there was nothing I might try this Agassi couldn’t do higher,” Vahaly informed Tennis Now. “So there was nowhere to go. We performed in DC, we performed in Australia. I feel I gave him one of many closest matches when he received the Australian Open that 12 months [2003]. Nevertheless it by no means felt like I used to be one or two factors away.
“Agassi’s backhand was higher, his forehand was higher, his volleys higher, his serve was higher—every part was higher. And Agassi simply hit the ball so arduous. For me he was simply my hardest opponent. To not say different gamers aren’t higher than him, however no less than you would mentally assume to your self: okay if I take this tactic perhaps I’ve a shot. Towards Agassi, I didn’t know the place to go.
“Agassi was consistently hitting the ball with unbelievable depth, unbelievable velocity, simply transferring you throughout the court docket on his phrases. There was simply no approach for me to play my recreation. Even when I felt like I had the most effective backhands he might simply hammer it again even tougher. They have been enjoyable matches to play. It’s enjoyable to play in entrance of that crowd, however I can inform you it’s actually arduous to play in opposition to Agassi and to play in opposition to the gang as a result of the gang all the time supported Agassi. I used to be simply form of the annoying underdog.”
