Andre Agassi finally a Hall of Famer

Andre Agassi finally a Hall of Famer

Tennis champion Andre Agassi, who won eight Grand Slam titles during his illustrious career, has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame according to hall officials. The induction ceremony will be on July 9 at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Agassi expressed his appreciation for his selection during an announcement in Agassi Prep, the school he created through his foundation in 2001 for at-risk youth.

"I'm truly honored to be recognized alongside the greatest players of tennis," the former world number one said. "My tennis career afforded me the opportunity to make a difference in other people's lives and it was truly special to share this exciting moment with the students of Agassi Prep."

Andre Agassi is one of only seven men who have made a so-called Career Grand Slam and is generally regarded as one of the best tennis players of all time. He was the first player to win all Grand Slam tournaments on three surfaces - grass, clay and hardcourt, when he won the French Open in 1999.

"During his 20-year career Andre Agassi recorded some of the most incredible achievements in tennis," said Christopher Clouser, the chairman of the Tennis Hall of Fame. Clouser said Agassi was an inspiration to a generation of tennis players and called the American as "a true champion of the game."

Andre Agassi was the world number one in tennis for 101 weeks. He won 60 tournaments and had a professional tennis record of 870-274. He won the Australian Open four times, the U.S. Open twice, and the French Open and Wimbledon once. Agassi also won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. He is married to fellow tennis champion Steffi Graf.

Posted by Andre Monohan on Friday January 21 2011, 1:26 AM EDT. Ref: Inquirer. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0