Andre Agassi is one of the most iconic tennis players of all time. However, the player had to battle with image issues because of his wig. He once confessed that he lost one French Open final because of his wig. The American player unfortunately had started balding when he was 19.
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At that age, he was conscious of it like any other teenager would have been. However, this continued in later stages too and he opened up about the problems it caused him both on and off the court.
Andre Agassi once lost the French Open final because of his wig
Agassi became one of the few men to win grand slam titles on all three surfaces. He achieved this feat in 1999. However, he could have achieved it back in 1990 but his wig caused a hindrance for the player. He opened up about the incident in his book, ‘Open’, later on. An evening before the match, Agassi was taking a shower and he must have used the wrong hair since his wig fell off. Consequently, he panicked and called his brother Philly. “It’s a total disaster!” he said to his brother.
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Andre Agassi watches Novak Djokovic as he practices on day two of the Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
However, his brother helped him pin it back with 20 clips and advised him to not move a lot. Next day, was the 1990 French Open finals which he eventually lost against Andres Gomez from Ecuador. He stated, “I imagine millions of spectators move closer to their TV sets, their eyes widening and, in dozens of dialects and languages, ask how Andre Agassi’s hair has fallen from his head.”
He confessed he was too nervous but not because of the finals but because he was worried that his wig would fall off.
So how did Agassi get the confidence to lose his hair?
Agassi stated in his book that his ex-wife Brooke Shields suggested that he should get done with his hairpiece. Obviously, this idea seemed preposterous for the player initially as he was very self-conscious at that point. However, he did it and never felt freer of himself. This then gave wings to his career as well. Eight-time grand slam champion won six grand slam finals and one Olympic gold medal after that.
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Though in the same book, he confessed his dislike for the sport. He also detailed how his father’s strict routine made him feel restrained and agitated. Agassi was known for his on-court outbursts and went with things according to his own specific way.
