Agassi ready for new challenges of life

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2006

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Nostalgia strikes Andre Agassi at the oddest moments these days, but the eight-time Grand Slam champion is finding his impending retirement from tennis easier to cope with than he expected.

"The last 20 years on the tennis court have always been a preparation for tomorrow," Agassi said on Monday. "I look forward to not 'having' to do things. It's going to be a lot more on my terms, what I want my life to be."

Free of regrets, Agassi will begin his 17th and final appearance at the ATP Washington Classic here on Tuesday confident that his best is yet to come as he prepares for new challenges as a businessman, philanthropist and father.

"Am I sad? Yeah, there's a lot of it I'm going to miss," Agassi said. "I'll miss the practices with people...