OK. What are your thoughts on this: I'm a Agassi fan, as most of you know, and I've seen a few people who think Andre somewhat tarnished his legacy by not retiring sooner. But, other than Sampras, has any tennis "great" ever gone out on a high note like that? Players like Laver, McEnroe, Connors, Becker, etc. all, from their records, seem to have retired after they reached the point of not being very competitive any more. Even Borg, who is generally considered to have retired early, wasn't doing so well just before he retired, and made a failed comeback attempt several years later.

But that's not what we remember about them. We remember the accomplishments. Sampras winning his final US Open to cap off a great career was very memorable, but hardly the typical way for a great player to retire.

Hmm interesting one.

Well I would say that Martina Navratilova has gone out on her career, or specifically doubles career on a high. You could argue that she went of her singles career on a high too by reaching one last Wimbledon final in 1994 at the age of 38!! (I think, could've been 37), either way it's old!

Steffi Graf also definitely went out on a high. When she retired she was the world number 3 and she had just got the Wimbledon final and won the French Open; after most people including world number one Martina Hingis had written her off; I think that was pretty special; and definitely a high way to go.

Even though Bjorn Borg lost his Wimbledon crown, I would still say he went out on a high. As French Open Champion and Wimbledon and was it USO Finalist as well? (Let's forget about his short comeback)

These are the only great ones I can realy think of who have gone out on a high. So many have hung around till they are past their best, Agassi, McEnroe, Connors, Evert, Seles, Court, Hingis?

Well it is always nicer to end on a high, but the reality is that doing so is rarely possible. In a sport where fitness and age take their toll as your career progresses, quitting on a high is virtually impossible. And also, what are sports persons supposed to do? Quit when they win a slam? How do they knwo ho wmany more they are goin gto win, even if they are still a serious contender? They don't know and unless they are psychic picking th eultimate glory moment to quit is hard. Of course, if one comes later in your career when you have not been at your best for a while and your career is virtually over, then it is easier to decide and I think Sampras's retiring when he did was an excellent and fitting end to a great career. And many woudl argue Andre should have quit as 2005 USO runner up, as that was some achievement at his age. I guess it would have been a more fitting ending, but I personally do nto think what he did after that was a mistake, nor in any way tarnishes his career as I will explain.

Andre's career and what he has achieved is very different to what Pete has achieved. Pete was NEVER going to be playing for as long as Andre, or be a Navratilova and carry on dabbling whilst playign top level doubles. So for him perhaps best quit while he was ahead, as he was ahead in most of his career. Andre howeve ris a different kettle of fish. He's had an up and down career, falling down the rankign even after he had won big titles. His trademark is survival and battling against setbacks liek slumps, injuries and age, so why nto try again if he wanted to? Also he was considered past it in age terms anyway, and longevity is another of his trademark characteristics, so why not play one more time for his fans and himself? I actually respect him for doing the final year, and beign prepared to put it all on the line and go for it. And being British I think it was great that he made sure he said goodbye to Wimbledon by adjusting his schedule, even though it was a shame he was nto fully fit and bowed out early, but losing to the eventual RU Nadal who is almost half his age was no disgrace was it? And his USO run provided a memeorabel match with Baghi, maybe not such a good match with Becker, but I admire his guts for doing that and beign prepared to risk the fact that his fairytale ending migh tnot come off. But that doesn't matter to me, at least he said his goodbyes and shared soem emotional moments afterwards.

I think what he did was very inspirational. And realsitically he was not going to win either slam in his physical state, and with the competition especailly Federer, so no disgrace at all in my mind just a display of true grit and determination for which he should be commended. And given how well he played last year I don't think it was foolish to try again this year at all. :ok:

It's always difficult to say goodbye. I think the main reason Andre stayed on this year was to play one last Wimbledon, he hasn't really had a chance to shine there since 1999. And even though he only got to the third round, I still think he played well. And it was nice that he got to say goodbye to the fans in the arena where he won his first grand slam 14 years ago. That was the fitting end of his career to me. Im glad he played the US Open and got to say goodbye to his home crowd and produced a thrilling match with Baggy but the end of his career will always be at Wimbledon for me. As that loss to Nadal was the true moment I realised Andre couldn't win another slam.

I know, and totally agree with you. I still can't beleive how Nav pulled off that dream ending though, I knwo I keep saying it but it is just so great. :D

I know, im so glad she ended on a win. She's had to put up with a few heart breaking losses this year, but it was all worth it in the end :)

She is such a true champion.

Venus and Serena? Davenport?

I'm not sure Agassi really believed he could win a whole event this year - he announced his retirement early so that he could embark on a nostalgia tour and say goodbye to the fans, hopefully playing some good tennis and proving that he could still play along the way - I think he achieved that and bowed out gracefully. Andre has always been a great self-promoter and probably realised that by keeping his career going and becoming a respected elder statesman of the game (as opposed to his brash, rebellious self of the early 90's) he would cement himself in tennis history and distinguish himself from other multi-slam winners.
Also, retiring after losing in the USO final to Sampras would surely have only forever tarnished Agassi as Sampras' underling.

No because Venus, Serena and Davenport have all won a slam or been runner up within the last 18 months. And if they hadn't been largely out injured since there's every reason to think that they would've won more and got to more finals.

It would've also been very stupid because he won the AO a few months later and was a factor at Grand Slams throughout 2003. In fact many were surprised he didn't win another.

I agree with what you say about him wanting a nostalgia tour more than anything. He has had a very long career afterall, and it would've been hard to go without any 'proper' goodbye. :)

As long as he had a chance of winning a Slam, he played on . I think it was losing to Federer in the US final that made him think about retiring.