Maybe he shouldn't have played, being not physically well, but the thousands who filled the stadium at broad daylight deserved that much. He didn't want to disappoint them, not after these very people carried him through two more magical nights when time seemed to stop for Father Timeless. It seems fitting too, that when goodbye finally came, it was in the light of day, where he was able to see clearly the faces of the people who were sending him off to the next chapter of his life.

Much has been said and written, but as I watched the man “who changed how the game was played” lay it all out for the game he loved so well, I pondered on five things that I learned from being a spectator of the life of someone who, in his relatively young years, managed to earn for himself the title “great.”

1. If your father pushed you too hard to be something growing up, marry someone he doesn't approve. Mike Agassi raised his children to be world-class tennis players, and with Andre he saw the realization of that dream. From infancy, he served tennis balls on Andre's plate. They had a strained relationship because of that and when he married Hollywood actress Brooke Shields, they stopped talking altogether. His father thought she would be a distraction to his tennis. He was right. So bad that as his marriage failed, he tanked his game. Talk about revenge. But that's alright, because when he finally acknowledged his mistake, he brought home someone who not only understands his profession perfectly to help him rebuild his career, but one with a heart that would melt his old man's and is up to the task of finally bringing father and son together.
2. It's all right to be a punk when you're young, you'll grow into a well filled with wisdom anyway. Early on in his career, the flashy young Las Vegan captured many a tennis fan's fancy by his eccentric style in way of dressing in court and in play. He wasn't known to be the best athlete in the tour, but he stood out anyway. You would think that fame got into his head, with the foolhardy way he carried himself through matches, playing and having fits. Maybe he got bored with it, because years later, he started a foundation to educate the young. He didn't have so much formal education himself, as his life was built around the sport, but up until the end, he was one of the most eloquent ambassadors the game has ever had.
3. When everyone else is counting you out, run up mountains. After dropping low in the rankings, Andre realized that he needed to be fit to improve his chances of redeeming himself. He wanted to be stronger. So he hired a trainer, Gil Reyes, who had such an impact in his life that when he had a son, he named him after Gil (Jaden Gil, Andre's oldest child). Together with his coach, first Brad Gilbert, then later Darren Cahill, he developed his game as he pumped weights and run up mountains. Needless to say, he achieved his goals. At the end of his career, he goes down in history as one of the only five men who achieved a Career Grand Slam.
4. When you want someone so bad, it's OK to stalk. The door of the refrigerator that Andre shared with Brooke carried a picture of a woman whose legs Brooke admired. She apparently placed it there to inspire Andre to get fit. It seems funny now that not long after their marriage fell apart, Andre started to set his eyes on the woman on that picture – Steffi Graf. At a tournament, he hired a ferry operator to report her comings and goings. His coach then, Brad Gilbert, managed to track her practice sessions so they can schedule his after hers. During a tournament, he could see from his hotel room her balcony so that he saw when she came out carrying a bouquet of flowers that he sent. With the outcome, I dare say his method works.
5. With the love from the people who watched you grow (and those who grew up watching you), you become superhuman. With his bad back, it was not even a certainty that Andre will be able to play the last of his matches at his home court in New York , where it all started for him 21 years ago. But, lo and behold, with the crowd fully backing him up, he managed to leave us all one more magical match to add up to his arsenal of good tennis memories. He did the unexpected, just before the expected came. It's that kind of will power, determination, and dignity that everyone, even non-tennis fans, can draw inspiration from.

The Agassi show has closed. It's a good thing videos come in handy..

There was never a doubt that this was their house, and their master is Andre Agassi. He owns them. The “bad guy” for the night, Marcos Baghdatis, is a rising tennis star, likable with a sunny personality and a ready smile. In previous tournaments, he had shown the kind of talent he possesses and he is definitely one of the best players currently on tour. Earlier this year, he reached the finals in the Australian Open (lost to world no. 1 Roger Federer) and then the semifinals at Wimbledon (lost to world no. 2 Rafael Nadal).

Last year, Agassi reached the final of the U.S. Open, the last Grand Slam tournament (Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon are the other three) for a year, when nobody expected him to. He is, after all, 36. An age many a tennis player has long since retired. It was indeed a dream run. After that, because of persisting back problem, he missed much of the succeeding tournaments since the start of this year, announced his retirement at Wimbledon in June, and came to the U.S. Open unseeded (seeds are players expected to do good in the tournament). Many expected him to go out in the first round. He didn’t. Some didn’t want to get their hopes up high. He can’t beat Marcos, they say. It’ll be too much for him, with his ailing back.

The first two sets was a breeze for Andre. He was up two sets, and in his 21 years of successive U.S. Opens, he never lost a match when he is up two sets. He just needed one more, and that’s when all the drama really began. Just regaining his composure and rhythm, the raucous crowd was expectedly not showing him any mercy (they booed his winning shots and cheered on his errors till the end), Baghdatis took the third set. By the start of the fourth set, Agassi was ahead by four games, and the crowd was starting to feel that Andre may be finishing off the match. Marcos, for his part, has broken a racket in disgust (he was making plenty of errors) and had been visited by a trainer because he dropped on his wrist and was having leg cramps. But Marcos Baghdatis will not give up that easily. Just as fast Andre got to a 4-0 lead, his Cypriot opponent bounced back and leveled the set to 4-4, broke Andre’s serve and held his to take the set and go to a fifth, and last, one. Breaking Andre’s serve at the onset, the crowd fell silent. With Marcos playing beautifully, notwithstanding the fact that he is only 21 years old - - younger, fitter, and ranked much higher than Andre - - the tennis legend’s run at the Open looked to be heading to the finish line. But it was not to be. In what could be called the most dramatic turn of events that this tournament could ever hope for, Marcos was burdened by muscle cramps right after a masterfully executed shot, fell to the floor because he couldn’t stand on his legs, and got a time violation from the umpire. Limping hard to the court, he faced Andre’s serve. Amazingly, despite the obvious pain and discomfort, Marcos still managed to deliver some more winners. It was really tight at the end, but Agassi eventually became triumphant. The old guy still has game. He’s prolonging his goodbye just as the 23,000 people in attendance and millions of others glued to their TV sets was hoping for. It was as if the crowd is giving him the strength to relive all the glory he experienced in his illustrious career.

In the end, it would go down as a classic - - A match that will be talked about in many years to come. Both guys gave it their all. Marcos said in a post-match interview that he was willing to do everything to win. Andre, for his part, thanked the crowd for staying behind him so forcefully. Tearfully, he said that the support of all these people refreshed his faith in the human spirit. The same crowd that gave Marcos Baghdatis his due in the end. They applauded him for his great game, sportsmanship, and good heart. Someday, maybe, he will become a champion, too.

As for Andre, maybe his next match would be his last. But it wouldn’t matter. What Andre Agassi has given the first two rounds is enough for his farewell tour to end in a very high note. But, I dare say, don’t discount the old bald guy yet. He is Andre Agassi, after all. Yes, how about that?

As for the girls, I'm hoping Justine Henin-Hardenne will do well. After losing Wimbledon to Amelie Mauresmo, this one can be hers for the taking. This year's French Open champion (and last year's too) has battled plenty of injuries to come back to her form, and there's something about her demeanor that reminds me of Steffi Graf (who, for me, is the best tennis player ever). I believe Maria Sharapova is pretty, and talented to boot, but I her grunting bothers me. It's just too much. Well, that's just me. I'm sure a lot of the guys would disagree.

But the highlight of this year's U.S. Open, whether he does well or otherwise, will be Andre Agassi. He's hanging up his racket after this one, so there certainly would be lots of love for the veteran player. The whole Arthur Ashe stadium would be rooting for him, that's for sure. Maybe he'll manage to make some magic happen again. Like last year - when he reached the final. So what if Federer won the title? He's the best this guy has ever played with anyway. He's going to be missed. That pigeon-toed walk, those bright, "unbelievably cordial" eyes (according to his wife, he's perfect!), the kiss he blows every corner after a match, and a lot of other things about this legend. He brought much life to tennis. A sport a lot of people found too sad and boring. His accomplishments are unquestionable, he helps a lot of people with his charitable works, he’s married to Steffi Graf (who retired in 1999), and, boy, don’t they have adorable children! Normally, this stuff, I don’t mind much. Tennis is what matters. The game, the determination of the players, those sweeping volleys, punishing forehands, powerful backhands, and graceful footwork. But how many times in history has someone from the courts find a match that proved to be perfect beyond everything tennis has to offer? I became an avid tennis fan just recently, and browsing everything that’s been said about this couple, I’m suddenly a fan.

But for now, let’s focus on the present. Let the games begin. Soon.