Archive of posts tagged Andre Agassi

USTA Foundation to Honor Andre Agassi with Serving Up Dreams Award

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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 8, 2025
Photo credit: USTA Foundation

Andre Agassi has been a dream-maker for students and players.

This month, Hall of Famer Agassi will be honored for his efforts.

The USTA Foundation announced former World No. 1 Agassi will be honored with the Serving Up Dreams Award at its annual Opening Night Gala on Sunday, August 24th, at the US Open.

Agassi

The Serving Up Dreams Award is presented “to an individual who embodies the values of dedicated service to advance the USTA Foundation’s work to prepare young people for the life challenges they will face, both on and off the court,  through the powerful combination of tennis, education, and life skills development,” the Foundation said in a statement.

Agassi is among the few professional tennis players to establish a foundation during their playing careers, and he approaches his philanthropy with the same unflagging drive and focus as he demonstrated on the court. In 2001, Agassi founded the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education to improve public schools and invest in communities. His efforts have raised over $180 million to date. He founded and operated the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy (Agassi Prep), a free public charter school in his hometown of Las Vegas, which graduated nine senior classes under Agassi’s leadership, and still remains open today. He also co-founded the Turner-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund, which helps build schools in low-income areas across the nation. Agassi has dedicated much of his post-tennis life to education reform, particularly for young people from under-resourced communities.

Agassi also personally funded a Boys & Girls Club in Las Vegas.

One of only five men to achieve a career Grand Slam in the Open Era, Agassi transformed the sport of tennis in the 1990s, becoming a global legend with his charismatic personality and bold playing style. Alongside his eight major singles titles, he won an Olympic singles gold medal in Atlanta and 60 tour-level titles during his 21-year professional career, before retiring at the 2006 US Open.

“Investing in education is one of the most powerful ways you can transform lives and communities. While my career may have been in tennis, I believe my true calling is to help create quality academic opportunities for young people that I frankly didn’t have,” said Agassi. “It’s a privilege to be able to make a difference and help give kids the chance to choose their own path. This honor serves as a reminder that when you put in the hard work and hold yourself accountable for achieving real outcomes, you can change lives. That’s the only result that truly matters.”

To learn more about the USTA Foundation, please visit ustafoundation.com 

Alexander Zverev joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic in 'Club 50'

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Alexander Zverev

World no. 3 Alexander Zverev is the top seed in Toronto following the withdrawals of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The 2017 champion is through to the last four after dethroning Alexei Popyrin in three sets.

Alexander has collected a couple of notable milestones in Toronto. He notched his 500th ATP victory in the third round, becoming the first player born in 1990 or later to achieve that.

The German reached his 21st Masters 1000 semi-final, leaving Andy Roddick on 20 and standing seventh on the all-time list. In addition, Zverev embraced his 50th notable quarter-final in Canada.

World no. 3 is only the tenth player since 1990 to achieve that feat at Majors, Masters 1000 events and the Olympic Games. Alexander joined the ultimate legends of our sport, including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

Zverev has been one of the most consistent players born after Djokovic and Murray. The 28-year-old reached four notable quarter-finals in 2017 when he was only 20. The young gun raised that number to eight in 2018!

He competed in the last eight at seven Masters 1000 events and at Roland Garros. Alexander added four quarter-finals to his collection in 2019 before reaching three during the reduced 2020 campaign.

Alexander Zverev, Toronto 2025

Alexander Zverev, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The German returned at his best in 2021, earning nine notable quarter-finals to his name! He accomplished that at three Majors, the Olympic Games, and five Masters 1000 events, improving his already impressive tally at 24.

Zverev was on the same pace in 2022, making five quarter-finals by Roland Garros before experiencing a severe ankle injury that ended his season. Alexander had to wait for a year to add his name to a notable quarter-final.

He gathered three in 2023 before recovering his A-game last year. The German played in ten big quarter-finals, achieving his personal-best result and standing on 46 at the end of the season. 

Alexander Zverev, Roland Garros 2025

Alexander Zverev, Roland Garros 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Zverev fought in the last eight at three Majors, the Olympic Games and six Masters 1000 events, proving his class and impressive consistency. Eight years after starting his journey at notable events, Alexander is a proud owner of 50 top-tier quarter-finals.

The 47th came at the Australian Open before missing it at four straight Masters 1000 events, sailing through an uncharted territory. Alexander added one in Rome and repeated that at Roland Garros for 49. 

Wimbledon has never been on the German's list, and he failed to change that this year following an early exit. However, Zverev bounced back in Canada and made his 50th notable quarter-final, becoming the first player to achieve that after the 1987 generation. 

Osaka: Three Reasons for Montreal Resurgence

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By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 4, 2025
Photo credit: Omnium Banque Nationale Facebook

Being fitter makes you smarter on court, Andre Agassi famously observed.

Naomi Osaka points to improved fitness as one of three main reasons for her Montreal resurgence.

Former world No. 1 Osaka crushed former US Open semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in a 49-minute thrashing that was the shortest match of her accomplished career.

Anastasija Sevastova

It is Osaka’s fourth straight win equaling her longest winning streak of the season which came in Auckland in January. It sent Osaka into her first Canadian Open quarterfinal and vaulted her to No. 34 in the live rankings—as she moved within striking distance of a US Open wild card.

Osaka attributes her career-best Montreal to three primary reasons: she’s fitter on court, happier off court and believes her trial with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski is working well so far because of the Polish’s coaches direct, no-nonsense style.

“Honestly, I think for me what’s working well is I am very confident in my fitness,” Osaka said. “I’m really
comfortable just getting balls back now, and I really enjoy Tomasz. I don’t know if to say his name is ‘Thomas’ or ‘Tomasz.’ I’m so sorry.

“But I enjoy his coaching style. He’s very direct and to the point. For someone like me, who my thoughts scatter around often, it’s very helpful.”

At times this season, Osaka was getting beaten by deep balls in the corner and sometimes tried playing big strikes down the line rather that playing back a deep ball to give herself time to recover back to the center of the court.

In fact, as recently as her 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 comeback conquest of 13th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in round two, Osaka was getting beaten repeatedly in crosscourt exchanges and sometimes taking one big step rather than the short, precise preparation steps to give herself ideal spacing between her body and the ball.

The 2023 Montreal finalist Samsonova held double match point at 6-4, 5-4, 40-15 when Osaka dug down and denied two match points sparking her stirring comeback.

In retrospect, it’s possible that comeback win could change the course of Osaka’s season if she sustains this winning streak. Saving those match points, Osaka started putting productive points together rather than resorting to try to end points prematurely with one big strike.

Similarly, Osaka said she’s now focusing on achieving “Mini goals” at tournaments as she tries to stack more wins together and pursue her ultimate goal of a Top 10 return and eventually competing for Slam titles again.

“It’s weird. I talked to my dad, and he said, like, Just being healthy and happy is a form of success,” Osaka said. “I agree with that, but I want more.

“I mean, definitely, of course I would want to win slams, of course I would want to be in the top 10, but I
think I need to pace myself and go for the mini goals, and they’ll eventually turn into the big goals. Yeah, I think being in the quarterfinals here is a step to hopefully getting to the semis and the finals, so I’ll try to treat it more like that.”

Osaka scored her 20th win of the season in Montreal which matches her total 2024 victory output. Now, she’ll try to sustain her roll facing 10th-seeded Elina Svitolina for a semifinal spot. The 27-year-old Osaka has won four of seven meetings vs. Svitolina, who will test the Japanese power players patience with her precision.

Holger Rune shares his frustration after his loss in Toronto

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Alexei Popyrin

There were huge expectations on Holger Rune in this edition of the Toronto Masters 1000, where the young Danish ace could benefit from the absence of several top players such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper. The former world number 4 had started his run well in Canada and seemed to be able to go far in this tournament, but was eliminated by Alexei Popyrin in the round of 16.

The winner of the 2022 Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 lost to a very dangerous player on this surface, who is capable of shining at the 'Canadian Open' considering that he lifted the trophy in Montreal a year ago, but Rune showed all his weaknesses once again.

The former Top 5 player had the chance to practice alongside a legend like Andre Agassi before the start of the North American tournaments, but ruled out that the American will follow him around the world as he already has a very busy schedule.

Rune lost again

The feeling is that Holger needs new stimuli at this stage of his career, which has entered a stagnant phase and there do not seem to be effective solutions for the moment. With the exception of excellent performances in Indian Wells (where he reached the final) and Barcelona (where he lifted the trophy), Rune's 2025 has not been satisfactory so far and his results in Grand Slam tournaments have been far below expectations.

During his latest press conference in Toronto, the Danish star confided that he was quite disappointed: "I didn't play my best tennis and it was a disappointing performance, there's not much more to add. I didn't express the level I wanted, I struggled with my serve and I didn't feel comfortable on court. I have to adopt better strategies during matches and select my shots in a better way. When I can make this improvement, then my results will improve."

Rune's next tournament will be the Cincinnati Masters 1000, scheduled for August 7-18.

Holger Rune reveals his feelings about his time with Andre Agassi

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Agassi Holger

Holger Rune is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated players at the Toronto Masters 1000, where he has the chance to achieve a prestigious result given the numerous absences among the top players. There are no Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who occupy the top two positions in the ATP rankings, and Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper are not present in Canada either.

The young Danish star is not going through a brilliant moment in his career, especially considering that there were huge expectations on him when he took his first steps on the professional tour. He has had several injuries in recent seasons and has made several mistakes, changing coaches several times and never finding the necessary stability to fully express his talent.

At the beginning of his career, Rune was considered at the same level as Sinner and Alcaraz, but it is difficult to have the same opinion today given that the Italian has already won four Grand Slam titles and the Spaniard has won five Majors.

Rune opens up on Agassi

Holger – who also disappointed expectations at Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships – understood that something must change to turn his career around and practiced in Washington together with a legend like Andre Agassi, who was by his side for three days before the start of the event. The Dane was unable to participate in this tournament due to back discomfort.

In a long interview with 'Ziggo Sport' before the start of the 'Canadian Open', the former world number 4 reflected on his time together with Agassi: "It was a great experience to share the court with a tennis legend for a few days. I learned several things and we tried to understand how to perfect my tennis. Andre is very good at listening and gives great advice, which is why I am really grateful to him. It spurred me on to find more balance in my game and there I worked with maximum effort."

Rune will not have an easy debut in Toronto, as his first opponent will be French ace Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Rune Working with Andre Agassi Ahead of Citi Open

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The pair will reportedly spend three days together, according to a report by Stephanie Myles. Andre Agassi

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday July 19, 2025

Holger Rune and Andre Agassi are spending some quality time together at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C.

Tennis Express

According to Stephanie Myles of Open Court, who shot the below video, the pair are to spend three days together prepping for the ATP 500 event.

According to Myles, the pair will spend three days together in the hopes that Rune can gain some insight from the eight-time Slam champion

The Dane has had both good and bad moments this season. Famously, he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Barcelona final. But he's only 22-14 on the season with the one title. He reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, but lost in the first round at Wimbledon.

Agassi has been on the scene a bit in recent months, commentating for TNT at Roland-Garros for four days, and appearing on the Andy Roddick First Serve Podcast for an in-depth interview.

Shelton's Top-10 Debut Makes Three Americans in the ATP's Top-10 for the First Time Since 2006

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The Americans could have four in the coming months. Andre Agassi

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday June 16, 2025

American men’s tennis continues to grow its momentum. After landing two men in the quarterfinals at Roland-Garros for the first time since 1996, the American men now have three players ranked inside the Top 10 for the first time since 2006.

Tennis Express

Enter Ben Shelton, who reached the semifinals last week in Stuttgart, and enters the Top-10 for the first time in Monday’s ATP rankings.

Shelton, 22, is the first American man born in the 2000s to achieve the feat.

Shelton is joined by Taylor Fritz, who returns to No.4 after winning the Stuttgart title, and Tommy Paul, who is at No.8, thanks to his quarterfinal run at Roland-Garros.

The last time three American men held Top 10 rankings at the same time was April 17th, 2006, when Andy Roddick was No. 4, James Blake was No. 7 and Andre Agassi was No. 10.


Shelton is the fourth ATP player – and second American, along with Paul – to make his Top-10 debut in 2024. The other two players are Jack Draper and Lorenzo Musetti.

Diallo Cracks Top-50

Canada’s Gabriel Diallo, 23, cracks the Top-50 at No.44 thanks to his title at ‘S-Hertogenbosch. Diallo became just the second Canadian to win a grass court title on Sunday, and the first since Greg Rusedski in 1993.

Italy’s Flavio Cobolli also cracks a career-high at No.24.

Zizou Bergs (+14 to No.49) and Reilly Opelka (+12 to No.75) were also among the big risers in this week’s ATP rankings. Opelka has risen over 200 spots since January. He played Brisbane at No.293 this year.

Bergs, who lost to Diallo in the ‘S-Hertogenbosh final, is back at his career-high.