Andre Agassi Admits Using Drugs in New Book 'Open'
LOS ANGELES — Andre Agassi's upcoming memoir reveals that he was using drugs when his career went into a tailspin in the late '90s, Paul Bogaards, a spokesman for the book's publisher, confirmed to the New York Daily News on Tuesday.
Agassi writes in Open that he was regularly using crystal meth in 1997, the same year he married actress Brooke Shields and saw his career begin a nosedive that lasted for two years.
A Sports Illustrated employee first revealed the crystal meth reference in a message posted Tuesday on Twitter that has since been removed. Both SI and People are printing excerpts from the book this week.
Agassi said he "was worried for a moment, but not for long" when asked about his fans reacting to his past drug use.
"I wore my heart on my sleeve and my emotions were always written on my face," the eight-time Grand Slam champion told People. "I was actually excited about telling the world the whole story."
Agassi went on to win five Grand Slams after ending his slump, including the French Open title in 1999 that completed a Career Golden Slam.
"I can't speak to addiction, but a lot of people would say that if you're using anything as an escape, you have a problem," Agassi told People.
Agassi has been heavily involved in charity work since retiring from tennis in 2006. He and fellow tennis great, Steffi Graf, married in October 2001 and have two children together, son Jaden Gil, 8, and daughter Jaz Elle, 6.
