[Stevens Point]

Boris Becker writes in this German paper "Handelsblatt" that he thinks that Andre should retire now. The sentences in bold are translated into English by me after the quote.

To understand why exactly Becker thinks so, you should read the whole article, but unfortunately I don't have enough time to translate the whole thing. Someone might be kind enough to do it...

Warum Andre Agassi zurücktreten sollte

Andre, mach Schluss!

Von Boris Becker

Einen Penny für Deine Gedanken, heißt es doch so schön. Ich würde heute gerne die Gedanken von Andre Agassi lesen können. Der Bursche spielt mit 35 Jahren ein fantastisches Tennis, quält sich bei den US Open drei Mal gegen deutlich jüngere Spieler durch fünf Sätze und verliert am Ende nach großartigem Kampf gegen das Ausnahmetalent Roger Federer. Ich möchte fast wetten, dass Andre dieses eine Mal ein bisschen Bammel vorm Sieg hatte. Denn er wusste genau: Wenn er gewinnt, muss er das Tennis an den Nagel hängen, seine Karriere beenden – denn einen besseren Zeitpunkt, die Bühne zu verlassen hätte es nicht gegeben. Das ist ihm bestimmt während des Matches nicht aus dem Kopf gegangen. Denn er war doch ganz nah dran, Federer zu schlagen. Als Andre dem Schweizer im dritten Satz den Aufschlag abnahm, da hatte er ihn eigentlich schon in die Knie gezwungen.

Nun, vielleicht verrät Andre mir irgendwann einmal, ob er wirklich Angst vorm Aufhören hatte. Sicher bin ich mir allerdings, dass er sich so einen schönen Abgang wünscht, wie sein großer Rivale Pete Sampras ihn hatte. Sampras hatte Agassi im Finale von Flushing Meadows in New York 2002 besiegt und dann 14 Tage später seinen Rücktritt erklärt. Genau so – mit einem Sieg bei dem Grand-Slam-Turnier vor heimischen Publikum – will oder wollte Andre abtreten.

Nun hat es nicht geklappt mit dem Traum vom US-Open Sieg. Doch wenn ich Andre etwas raten darf, dann würde ich ihm empfehlen, trotz der Niederlage jetzt zurückzutreten. Er hat eine so unglaubliche Leistung in den vergangenen 14 Tagen gezeigt, dass es mehr als fraglich ist, ob er die in einem Jahr in New York noch einmal wiederholen kann. Er wäre dann 36 Jahre alt, zum 21. Mal in New York dabei und ob sein Körper die Strapazen dann noch einmal mitmacht, wage ich fast zu bezweifeln. Deshalb sollte er sich jetzt zurückziehen. Einen besseren Zeitpunkt wird es für ihn nicht mehr geben. Und ich bin mir sicher, dass ihm genau diese Gedanken gerade im Kopf herum gehen. Einen Penny ...

HANDELSBLATT, Dienstag, 13. September 2005, 07:01 Uhr

"If I was allowed to advise Andre, despite of the loss (in the final) I would recommend him to retire now. He showed such an incredible performance during the last 14 days, and it is more than doubtful if he can repeat like that in a year in New York again. He will be then 36 years old, and it is going to be his 21st appearance in New York. I am doubting that his body can produce such an exertion one more time. Therefore he should retire now. There won't be a better time for him anymore. And I am sure that these thoughts are also going through his mind now."

 

[gk_891]

He could be right. This might very well be the best way to go out. Steffi did that by winning the French getting to the finals of Wimbledon. But if Andre feels like he can produce more great tennis, that's his choice.

 

[Purple Rainbow]

Though I agree with Boris Becker, I also think it would be a sign of respect not to talk about other player's retirements publicly.

 

[Neely]

I don't think at all it's disrespectful to speculate about the retirement.
Becker is right what he says, but I guess it's too hard for Andre to retire because he feels he has still too much left? We will see...

 

[thrust]

I agree with Purple Rainbow.

 

[R.Federer]

Becker also has said this about Pete Sampras when Pete has lost to George Bastl, saying "He should retire now, it is sad sight to see 13 time Grand Slam champion on the side of the court reading encouragement notes from wife"
Then Pete wins USO and Becker shut up

 

[Carlita]

People have been asking Andre when he'll retire for 5-6 years now!! (they have now started with Carlos, who turned 29 )

It might be a good idea to stop when you still are successfull....then again, if Andre still likes it, his body is agreeing :lol: and he can still beat the younger guys...

There's no law/rule that says you have to stop at 30

LET HIM PLAY!!! Shut it Boris! If Andre wants to quit, he'll tell the world! I hate speculations....will he quit now...will he stay till the Masters... :ras: Maybe he wants to play till he's 50! If he's still happy and good at his "job" I hope he stays around!

Andre, you rule!

 

[Neely]

I think Becker himself would have wished a more succesful retirement (reaching a last Wimbledon final for him would have been a total dream I guess), but he also knows how hard it is to stop playing.

 

[joycomesmorning]

I just finished reading Becker's book, "The Player."

What an ego!

Now I don't dislike Becker...he was one of the "charisma giants" who could play the game as well as relate to the crowds....GREAT for tennis

But the man seems to have had trouble finding just what he should be doing ... and when.... He actually relates in his autobiography that on the night in Wimbledon (in 1999) after he lost to Rafter that after he spent some time with the "boys" he went home to his family, already half-tanked...got into a fight with his very pregnant wife....

She had labor pains...and a friend took her to the hospital (turned out to be a false labor...but she was in the hospital overnight)...and all the while, Becker went out "on the prowl" and met up with his infamous closet mistress for a quickie... Oh BTW, he did manage to make a telephone call to the hospital to check on his wife somewhere between the scotch and zipping up his pants.

Are you kidding me!!! This guy is giving other people ADVICE about their life decisions!!!!!

Becker also relates that he thought he thought he might "get off" on the tax issues (and even deserved to) because of how much he had done for the economy of his country just by being, well, Boris Becker!!! ENOUGH!!!

When Andre is ready to retire he will...I'm old enough to remember calls for Agassi to hang it up in 1991 (he was 21 years old)...1993 (after he lost first round in the US Open to Enqvist...BIG TIME in 1997 . . .again massive calls for his retirement in early 1999 after he lost to journeyman Spadea in the Australian Open (fourth round)...

He was "done" in 2000 when he flamed out in the US Open (when his mom and sister were ill)...when he went home without playing a round in the 2002 Australian (P-Mac prounounced that Andre would never play another match)...various points throughout 2004... and it's the first question he is asked at every interview in 2005!!

I think he GETS IT!!!!Check out Selena Roberts article (NY TIMES September 12)...she states clearly and emphatically that Agassi is not His Smugness Pete Sampras who was looking for a glorious exit...this is Everyman, lunchpail Agassi who is looking for a way to continue playing....

He told us, when he's ready, he will. He has surrounded himself with people in Reyes and Rogers and Cahill and of course Steffi) who not only care about his career...they care about him.

A retirement press conference may not be far off...the end of the year or certainly sometime next year...and I hope he agrees to a big goodbye party in New York...even if it's in the nosebleed section...or in Armstrong on closed circuit TV, I want to be there to hear the love!!!

jcm

 

[uNIVERSE mAN]

Becker was finished as a top player at 24. He's just jealous that his longevity/consistency was nowhere near Agassi's.

 

[mishar]

If Agassi doesn't want to stop, he shouldn't stop. Going off in a blaze of glory is not all that matters in life. If he enjoys the challenge still and the competition, why not? He's still capable obviously of winning smaller tournaments, making a lot of money. He's a huge draw for the game of tennis, whereever he goes, so it's good for the game that he stays. And he might look at this tournament and say what if Federer were to get injured or lose early at one GS next year? Andre would definitely be one of the favorites to win in his place (on hard courts especially.)

 

[Stevens Point]

And this is from Agassi's side.

from www.si.com

And what of Agassi's future? Will he keep playing? Is there a ninth major title to be won after coming so close before losing to Federer in four sets on Sunday?

Agassi, 35, said he will decide at year's end whether to play on, taking into consideration his fragile back, the sciatic pain he's dealt with, and the toll traveling takes on his family life with wife Steffi Graf, their son and daughter.

"If I felt it was compromising my family too much, that would be a factor," he said. "If I felt like, physically, I just couldn't come out here with the hope of making the best play the best, that would be a factor."

Agassi's trainer and good friend, Gil Reyes, knows that Agassi will have to find ways to keep playing other than taking more cortisone shots in the spine. He had four this year, one more than is usually advised by doctors. His last shot was just before the U.S. Open. Surgery or some less invasive procedure is a possibility to repair the herniated disc or correct a condition called stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column. Former football player Joe Montana had such surgery and returned to the field within months.

"We can't depend on the cortisone shots," Reyes said. "There was something transitional about that period that cortisone was appropriate. We had to pull him off a career ending state of mind. It's too fragile an option and certainly a risky option."

Reyes said Agassi considered ending his career when the sciatica flared up in the first round of the French Open.

"Yes, it sure seemed that way," Reyes said. "The sad fact of the matter is that, at 35, we don't really have the luxury of healing time."

 

[Denaon]

I think the only one that should advice Andre to retire is Steffi

 

[vogus]

Becker was finished as a top player at 24. He's just jealous that his longevity/consistency was nowhere near Agassi's.

exactly, Becker won his last Wimbledon at age 21, he is a jealous whining bitch, and he hates Andre for all the success he has had and is still having, 10 years after Becker played his last GS final. This is the last person Andre needs to listen to. I'm looking forward to seeing Aggy at least one more time at the USO.

 

[irma]

Boris B is really a great advisor of retirement. I mean he handled the last day of his career so incredible well

 

[Margy]

I think the only one that should advice Andre to retire is Steffi

I agree. At this point in his life, i'm sure that family means more to him than playing to any indefinite point in time or winning any random tournament. As long as he can pick and choose which events he is physically up to playing level for and sit out the rest, then he as the physical ability to keep going for some time. What may force a decision is when his kids reach the age where Steffi will have commitments involving them with their school and activities which will keep her from accompanying him as he travels. At that point, I bet he'll look more seriously at calling it quits. And that will be a family decision that they will make together.

 

[irma]

I guess Jaden will go to school next year? (not sure when American children go to school, but here it's when you are 4)

 

[niko]

I guess Jaden will go to school next year? (not sure when American children go to school, but here it's when you are 4)

Where?

 

[irma]

In the Netherlands. When you are 4 you are going to group 1

 

[Lee]

Becker also has said this about Pete Sampras when Pete has lost to George Bastl, saying "He should retire now, it is sad sight to see 13 time Grand Slam champion on the side of the court reading encouragement notes from wife"

Not surprising from someone who knows nothing about relationship, married life or family life.

Then Pete wins USO and Becker shut up

I believed one of the reasons that Pete was so determined to win one more Slam was to shut up all the critics on his wife.