Memoirs of Agassi to be published by Alfred A Knopf

New York:

The memoirs of tennis sensation, gossip column favourite and philanthropist Andre Agassi, a
book strongly desired by numerous publishers, has been acquired by Alfred A Knopf.

Financial terms were not disclosed, although bidding reportedly topped $ 5 million as publishers flew out to see Agassi in his hometown of Las Vegas, touring his Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a charter school for at-risk youth, and then meeting with him at his office.

David Hirshey, senior vice president and executive editor at HarperCollins, one of the publishers that competed for the book, said the deal was more in line with what a former US president would get.

"This is White House money," Hirshey said. "I can't remember the last time a sports figure got more than $2 million."

Greatest player

The 36-year-old Agassi, one of the greatest players of his generation, retired after last fall's US Open. His book is not yet titled and no release date has been set.

"I recently had the privilege of meeting with top executives and editors from eight publishing houses," Agassi said in a statement released yesterday by Knopf.

"Everyone was very impressive, but in the end, I felt the strongest connection with (Knopf head) Sonny Mehta and his colleagues at Knopf."

"Andre Agassi is one of the world's most popular and admired figures," Mehta said in a statement.

"He has lived an extraordinary life, and he has a great story to tell - an inspiring story of determination, competition, and what it takes to become one of the greatest athletes of our time."