But Agassi was not indestructable and a debilitating back injury has kept him sidelined for long periods of late. He announced shortly before Wimbledon that this season would be his last.

Beaten at SW19 by tennis' newest star Rafael Nadal, the 36-year-old, wearing a 'Daddy Rocks' necklace from his family, shed tears as he bowed to all four sides of an adoring Centre Court crowd.

"I'll look back at this as one of my most memorable experiences. To say goodbye means as much as winning," he said. "This is the place that first taught me to respect the sport, to really appreciate the opportunity and privilege it is to play a game for a living."