Not giving a child the opportunity to choose is the greatest crime there is

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Listening to Andre Agassi is always worth it, especially when he talks about topics beyond tennis. The American delves into memories of the past in his latest interview, leaving several headlines about everything he has learned over the years.

The conversation takes place during the recent Australian Open, specifically, on the AO Podcast, although this video was not shared on social media until several weeks later. It could have easily been a conversation full of clichés and empty content, but the questions were so good that the answers had to match. This is Andre Agassi, this was his love-hate relationship with competition, and this is his view of current tennis.

His hallmark

"When I entered the circuit, I was one of the few players capable of being very offensive on both sides, attacking both high and low balls. That gave me a certain advantage. Over time, I better understood that aggressiveness, controlling it, finding that balance that would lead me to unleash my full potential. Unfortunately, I began to fall victim to my own emotions; on bad days, I suffered a lot on the court, lacking the discipline to set aside my feelings. In that aspect, I envy Alcaraz a lot because he always remains positive."

Complicated relationship with his profession

"I turned professional at 16, but my disconnect with tennis began from the very beginning, as stated in my book with the famous phrase 'I hate tennis.' That internal love-hate struggle always accompanied me; I struggled to understand myself, engaging in constant rebellion exploring my feelings, most of which were contradictory. Sometimes, the court was my only escape, but at other times, it was the reverse. My team was essential in caring for this human aspect beyond sports because I never approached tennis with the goal of being famous, but the pressure was not good for me."

Life without tennis

"Many things have happened since my retirement, starting with my memoirs and continuing with my foundation, two different ways to try to provide a service to help others, or at least that was my intention. I would love for all children to have the opportunity to choose, something I never had. Denying a child the freedom to choose seems to me the greatest crime because that will mark them for life throughout all their stages. This topic motivates me a lot, seeing that everyone gets what they deserve, starting with an opportunity to choose."

Melbourne, a special place

"I skipped this tournament for nine years, and then I regretted it; I missed out on many opportunities in the first decade of my career. Coming back is an incredible feeling; I notice that people always remind me of my victories or how well I played. I remember spending two full months thinking and preparing for this tournament; it ended up being an event that was my top priority, even though so many years had passed without my competing here."

The greatest lesson learned

"Tennis, to begin with, is a sport that pushes you to learn a lot from day one. Many people talk about this topic; it is a very recurring question, but I would say that the most important thing is to learn to live in the present moment, to focus solely on that moment. This also means forgetting what just happened on the previous ball, so it does not affect what comes next. Living in the present is huge, although this does not start and end in tennis but also extends to life."

Do you see aspects of Agassi in today's tennis players?

"It's hard to answer; the game has changed a lot in the last twenty years. I have always been firm in believing that I was very good at hitting the ball, and I think that's what really helped me achieve so many goals in my career, something I could see right now in someone like Sinner. You see him hitting the ball, and it makes you feel good, even with the sound of impact. Mentally, I think it's amazing all that Medvedev does, how he does it, how solid he is, I love it. Alex De Minaur's fighting spirit also catches my attention, how he moves, how he takes you off the court, his speed, and so on. Of course, watching Alcaraz is super fun; I could spend hours watching him play, that way he tortures his opponents with drop shots drives me crazy."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, “No darle a un niño la oportunidad de elegir es el mayor crimen que hay”