Agassi having 'more fun' coaching in tennis after saying he hated the sport

The Associated Press• ·
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Alex de Minaur of Team World celebrates with Team World Captain Andre Agassi after he wins his match against Alexander Zverev of Team Europe on day two of the 2026 Laver Cup between Team Europe and Team World at The O2 on September 26, 2026 in London, England.
Shaun Brooks - CameraSport / CameraSport / Getty

LONDON (AP) — Andre Agassi, who famously wrote in his book “Open” that he always hated tennis, is finally enjoying the sport.

Agassi is in his second year as captain of Team World for the Laver Cup and he’s been a source of positive energy on the squad’s bench.

Agassi said he appreciates the way he can help players think through matches.

“I always used to call that stress, not fun,” Agassi said Saturday. “Now it feels like a little bit more fun than stress. … I have the luxury of hindsight. I enjoy the idea of being in a hopefully contributive (role), an environment where I get to enjoy the game more than stress it. I’ve spent a lot of years not enjoying it as much as I should have.”

In his 2009 autobiography, Agassi said he disliked the sport “with a dark and secret passion” because of his overbearing father.

The 56-year-old Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1, helped Team World win the Laver Cup last year.

This year’s event is currently underway in London.

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