Andre Agassi Talks Using Meth, Wearing a Wig
Tennis star dishes on drug past, love life with Brooke Shields in book
By CAITLIN MILLAT
Updated 9:02 AM CST, Sat, Oct 31, 2009
Tennis great Andre Agassi's crystal meth confession hit newsstands this week as the pro dished in excerpts of his new autobiography released Friday about his yearlong drug use, tumultuous relationship with actress Brooke Shields and his struggles with his own self-esteem -- including the hairpiece he often wore on the tennis court.
Agassi admits in his upcoming autobiography "Open" that he used crystal meth for "a year or so" in 1997, the same year the eight-time Grand Slam champion's career plummeted and and sank below No. 100 in the world rankings.
In book excerpts published in People magazine Friday, Agassi tells readers he wants to tell his story "honestly," writing that he failed a 1997 drug test after using meth and lied to cover his tracks by saying he "unwittingly" took the substance.
"If you're going to tell your story, you owe it to yourself to tell it honestly," Agassi told People. "Especially if you're going to call it 'Open.'"
Agassi also reveals in excerpts from the book that his relationship with actress Brooke Shields was plagued by jealousy and distrust between both parties.
Shields kept a picture of tennis player Steffi Graf -- who would later become Agassi's wife -- on the refrigerator, Agassi wrote, as an example of the "perfect woman with the perfect legs" who would inspire Shields to work out to please her husband. Agassi also wrote he stormed off of the set of hit sitcom "Friends" in 1993 when Shields guest-starred in a bit that required her to lick co-star Matt LeBlanc's hand, sending Agassi into a jealous rage.
"Have some more hand. I'm out of here," Agassi wrote he said on the set.
Another hot topic in the book is Agassi's hairpiece, which the notoriously bald tennis player admits he used to cover up a "self-conscious" side.
"Of course I could play without my hairpiece. But after months of derision, criticism, mockery, I'm too self-conscious," he wrote. "Win or lose, they wouldn't talk about my game. They'd only talk about my hair. I can close my eyes and almost hear it. And I know I can't take it."
The "Open" excerpts are on newsstands now inside People magazine.
First Published: Oct 31, 2009 5:37 AM CST
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