Agassi Sets Retirement Date for US Open

One of only a few men to win all four Grand Slams, and fighting against a chronic back ailment at 36 years old, Andre Agassi broached the inevitable the weekend before Wimbledon, announcing that this will be his final appearance at the All England Club, and that he will retire after this year's US Open.

"I promised you I would tell you when I knew it," said the eight-time Slam winner Agassi, who fought back tears during the announcement, as did his coach Darren Cahill. "This has been an ongoing discussion (with wife Steffi Graf) for probably the last four years."

Struggling with a back injury during 2006, Agassi skipped the entire claycourt season to concentrate on a run at the grasscourts and Wimbledon, where he won his first Slam title.

"It's been a lot of sacrifices the last few months trying to get myself right to get back here and enjoy this tournament for the last time," Agassi said. "It's been a long road this year for me and this Wimbledon will be my last, and the US Open will be my last tournament."

Like his rival Pete Sampras, Agassi will get a grand send-off at Flushing Meadows, where he debuted in 1986 with a first-round loss to Brit Jeremy Bates, and last year lost in the four-set final to world No. 1 Roger Federer. In between he lost in the final in 1990 (l. to Sampras), won in 1994 (d. Michael Stich), lost the final the next year in 1995 (l. to Sampras), won in 1999 (d. Todd Martin), and was runner-up in 2002 (l. to Sampras).

"I look forward to it ending on my home turf back in New York," Agassi said. "Then I embrace the future."