Widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi earned 60 men’s singles titles, including eight Grand Slams, over a 20-year career that was characterized by a talent, drive and passion that transcended the game. Since retiring from tennis in 2006, Agassi has increased his focus on the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, which has raised over $180 million for education reform since he founded it back in 1994.
A tennis prodigy who began playing the game at the age of three, Agassi enjoyed a meteoric rise up the rankings after turning professional at the age of 16. He overcame the disappointment of losing his first three Grand Slam finals to win at Wimbledon in 1992, and would go on to become the first male player in history to win all four of the Grand Slam titles, as well as the Olympic gold medal, in one year. Over the course of his career, Agassi was forced to overcome many hurdles as he battled with both the physical demands of the game and the intense psychological pressure that came with his fame and fortune.
In addition to his incredible achievements in tennis, Agassi has devoted much of his time to the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, which he founded in 1994. Since retiring in 2006, Andre Agassi has increased his focus on his foundation and on promoting education reform, raising $180 million dollars to date to benefit its mission. In 2009, he released his autobiography, Open, which reached the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list, and in 2011 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Andre Agassi spoke at the WOBI Forum NYC, and he covered the following Topics:
Talent is just the start: What it takes to become the best in the world and sustain success over the long term.
Developing the mental strength to give you the edge when the pressure is on.
Getting your team right: Identifying the skills and characteristics you need in those around you.
How to bounce back from the inevitable setbacks, failures and criticisms.
Setting goals and staying true to yourself: On authenticity and the importance of giving back.
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Billie Jean King (born November 22, 1943) is an American former professional tennis player. King won a total of 39 Grand Slam titles throughout her career; this includes 12 singles, 16 doubles and 11 mixed doubles titles. Additionally King won the first ever WTA Tour Championships and was a three time winner of the doubles event. King is an advocate for sexual equality and won The Battle of the Sexes tennis match against Bobby Riggs in 1973 and was the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association, World Team Tennis and the Women’s Sports Foundation.
King has been bestowed with several honours. She was inducted in to the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 and was awarded the Phillipe Chartrier Award in 2003. The Fed Cup Award of Excellence was bestowed on King in 2010. In 1972 King was the joint winner with John Wooden of the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award and was one of the Time Persons of the year in 1975. King has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was given the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the year lifetime achievement award. King was inducted into the National Women’s hall of fame in 1990 and in 2006 the USTA National Tennis Center was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center after her.
World Liberty TV had the pleasure to speak to Ms. King, as she was being honored with the ‘Spirit of Active Lifestyle’ Award at The Orthopedic Foundation’s annual gala.
