Agassi serves in new capacity

This used to be one of Andre Agassi's busiest times of the year, when the tennis great would be competing on the red clay of Roland Garros.

The closest Agassi gets to the French Open these days is watching it on his high-definition TV.

It has been 20 months since the Las Vegan played a match of any consequence, losing to Benjamin Becker in the second round of the 2006 U.S. Open.

No comeback is forthcoming, the 38-year-old Agassi said, and he's fine with that.

"I don't miss playing, and I don't miss the training or the pressure that comes along with it," he said Thursday at a fundraiser for his Agassi College Preparatory Academy charter school.

The major events in Agassi's life now revolve around family, not tennis, although he still loves the sport.

"Nothing can make me happier than spending time with the kids," said Agassi, who has a 6-year-old son, Jaden, and a 4-year-old daughter, Jaz, with his wife, former tennis star Steffi Graf. "Being around to watch them grow every day is something very special to me."

It's also why Agassi probably won't do tennis TV commentary anytime soon, even though he drew positive reviews for his work as a surprise guest in the USA Network broadcast booth during last year's U.S. Open.

Agassi also is spending more time with his charitable foundation, which has raised more than $70 million since its inception in 1994.

"I'm probably spending 60 percent of my time doing things with the foundation," Agassi said. "We've gotten more exposure than I realized, and I'm very grateful for that."

Then there's his autobiography, which is expected out late this year. Agassi said as he goes through the process of writing his memoirs, he's becoming more comfortable baring his soul. He promised nothing will be left out.

"You can't tell only part of the story," Agassi said. "That wouldn't be right. I'll show where some of the skeletons are."

He wishes he could do something to salvage Las Vegas' ATP Tour stop. But with the Tennis Channel Open all but gone after a three-year run at the Darling Tennis Center, Agassi said there wasn't anything he could do to intervene.

"Someone smarter than me would have to come with the answer for that," he said. "But I understand they were having trouble lining up (corporate) sponsors. The city deserves an event of a high standard. But there's so many things to do in Las Vegas; there's so much competition for the entertainment dollar."

Perhaps Agassi could fill the void. Although the eight-time Grand Slam champion no longer plays competitively, he said he wouldn't dismiss the notion of playing a fundraiser match in Las Vegas to benefit his foundation.

Roger Federer and Pete Sampras played a three-match exhibition series, including a thrilling finale at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York on March 10.

"Actually, Roger had talked to me about playing at Madison Square Garden," Agassi said. "I was very honest with him. I told him, 'Roger, with all due respect, I've played you enough.'

"Somewhere, you've got to draw the line. I take so much pride in what I do. I'd have to put my body through a lot just to be able to go out there and compete. But if it would raise millions for the foundation and we could do it here before Roger went to Indian Wells (Calif.), I would consider it."

For now, however, Agassi will limit his connection with tennis to his TV set.

"I've got to keep up to speed on it," he said. "If I don't watch it, I feel like it's a bit of an amputation. I just can't quite cut the cord entirely."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.