Andre Agassi displays satisfaction after his comeback victory over James Blake at the U.S. Open in this photo from Sept. 7, 2005. Photo by The Associated Press. Andre Agassi blows a kiss to the crowd after defeating France's Nicolas Escude in their quarterfinal match at Wimbledon on July 4, 2001. Agassi announced Saturday that this year's Wimbledon will be his last and that he will retire after this year's U.S. Open. Photo by The Associated Press.

One of the most flamboyant and successful eras of men's tennis will end this summer as Andre Agassi announced Saturday that he will retire after the U.S. Open.

Two days before what will be his final appearance at Wimbledon, which begins Monday, Agassi, 36, said it's time to move on.

"It's been a long road this year for me," the Las Vegas native told The Associated Press in England. "And for a lot of reasons. It's great to be here. This Wimbledon will be my last, and the U.S. Open will be my last tournament."

One of only five men to win all four Grand Slam events and a winner of 60 singles titles, Agassi will play a limited schedule between Wimbledon, where he is seeded No. 25, and Flushing Meadow, which begins Aug. 28. He has four hardcourt tournaments in mind, but according to his business manager, Perry Rogers, and his longtime personal trainer, Gil Reyes, Agassi's participation will depend on his health.

"The plan is for Andre to play Los Angeles, Washington, Toronto and Cincinnati," Rogers said. "Obviously, we'll see how he's feeling as we approach each tournament. But right now, that's what he has in mind before the Open."

Beset the past two years by physical problems, particularly a sciatic nerve condition in his lower back, Agassi has not been able to go forward since his dramatic U.S. Open run in September, when he lost to top-ranked Roger Federer in four sets in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Agassi has maintained that as long as his health wasn't an issue and he thought he was playing well enough to win, he would continue to compete. But he has had a rougher 2006 season than even he expected.

He withdrew from the Australian Open in January with a sprained ankle that he originally hurt in October while playing racquetball. His stay at the Dubai Duty Free Championships was brief as he bypassed competing in the inaugural Tennis Channel Open at the Darling Memorial Tennis Center to fulfill a contractual obligation in the United Arab Emirates.

He returned to the United States and was an early casualty at the Pacific Life Classic at Indian Wells, Calif. His back was giving him problems, so he quit playing for three months, passing on the clay-court circuit and not playing in the French Open, which he won in 1999 to complete his career Grand Slam.

"Sadly and honestly, he ran head-first into that reality," Reyes said of Agassi's inability to turn back the clock physically. "The odometer has a lot of miles on it."

In the past, Agassi has relied on cortisone treatments for his balky back. This time, he decided against the medication and used exercise and rest to get ready for Wimbledon and beyond.

Two weeks ago, an admittedly rusty Agassi returned to competition in the Stella Artois grass-court tournament in England as a tuneup for Wimbledon. He lasted 50 minutes, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Tim Henman. It was a sure sign of trouble, and Agassi knew it.

"I wanted to go out there and start average and end good," he said after the match. "I feel like I started more uncomfortable than I wanted to and ended pretty ordinary. So that's not good."

Agassi obviously did some soul-searching at that point. He always has said his body and his heart would tell him when it was time to go, and Saturday was the day.

As he prepares for his final run, Agassi's accomplishments in the sport in which he turned pro at age 16, in 1986, are remarkable. He has $31,039,525 in career earnings. Among his 60 career titles, he has won eight Grand Slam events: Wimbledon (1992), the U.S. Open (1994, 1999), the Australian Open (1995, 2000, 2001, 2003) and the French Open (1999). In early 2003, at age 32, he was ranked No. 1 in the world.

Agassi also has represented his country with honor. He was a driving force behind the United States' 1992 Davis Cup title, and he won the gold medal in men's singles at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Off the court, Agassi's philanthropic efforts have had a major impact on his hometown. His annual Grand Slam For Children benefit has raised hundreds of millions of dollars, and he is one of the top athletes in raising money for charity.

Yet for all he has accomplished, it hasn't always been a rosy picture. Agassi had a tough run in 1997 when his world ranking dropped to 141, and he was playing in a Challenger event at UNLV, a tournament usually reserved for players trying to gain a foothold on the ATP Tour. His marriage to actress Brooke Shields was on the rocks, and there was talk that he was finished at age 27.

But Agassi regrouped and went from 122 to No. 6 in the ATP rankings. He won five titles that year and regained his stature in the sport.

It wouldn't be the last time Agassi would bounce back. However, at 36 and as the game's elder statesman, he has concluded that the time has come to focus on his family -- wife Steffi Graf and son Jaden, 4, and daughter Jaz, 2.

"There's been a lot of challenges," he told the AP. "But it's been 20, 21 years of incredible memories."

AGASSI PROFILE

BORN: April 29, 1970, in Las Vegas

TURNED PRO: 1986

CAREER SINGLES TITLES: 60

GRAND SLAM SINGLES TITLES: Eight (Wimbledon in 1992, U.S. Open in 1994 and 1999, French Open in 1999, Australian Open in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003). One of only five men in tennis history to win all four Grand Slam tournaments.

CAREER RECORD: 864-270

CAREER PRIZE MONEY: $31,043,450

HIGHEST ATP TOUR RANKING: No. 1; first reached top in April 1995, most recently in May 2003.

FAMILY: Married former tennis star Steffi Graf in 2001; son Jaden Gil born in 2001; daughter Jaz Elle born in 2003.

QUOTE: "It's been a lot of sacrifices the last few months trying to get myself right to come back here and enjoy this tournament for the last time. It's something that has meant a lot to me over the years. ... This Wimbledon will be my last, and the U.S. Open will be my last tournament." -- Agassi on Saturday at the All England Club, announcing his retirement