2006年VOA标准英语-Andre Agassi Set to Retire after US Open

By Ernest Leong
Washington, DC
29 August 2006
 
watch Agassi Retirement¹ report

American tennis star Andre Agassi will retire from professional tennis after playing in this year's U.S. Open. VOA's Ernest Leong has more on an athlete who began his career as the 1980's "bad boy" of tennis, and matured into one of the game's greatest players.

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Andre Agassi 
  
Andre Agassi, warming up on the tennis court -- shirtless, of course.  For the last 20 years, a common sight on the pro² tennis circuit.

Years of grueling competition against the world's best players have taken their toll³ on the 36-year-old veteran, leading to Agassi's decision to retire from the game after his record 21st consecutive⁴ U.S. Open.

"It is hard to stay healthy out here year after year with the trials and tribulations⁵ of competition on [different] surfaces."

 
Young Agassi
  
Agassi was 16 when he turned professional in 1986.  With his long hair, colorful clothes and rebellious⁶ attitude, he won the hearts of many fans.

VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer⁷ recalls when Agassi first came on the scene.

"He was almost like a rock star.  He was the one the girls would go screaming for.  This long-haired, sort-of rock star type persona."

Agassi changed his look and attitude later in his career, but his strategy for winning remained the same.  He employed a solid serve with a strong baseline return to become one of the most successful players in tennis history. 

He won eight major titles, and is one of just five men to win all four Grand Slam titles [Australian, French and U.S. Opens, and Wimbledon].

As recently as 2005, Agassi was seeded in the top twenty by the ATP, the Association of Tennis Professionals.

But time has caught up with Agassi. He has fallen sharply in the rankings this year.  A chronic⁸ back injury has stolen some of his speed and flexibility⁹, and cortisone shots are now a necessity.

Agassi has expressed mixed feelings about leaving the game he's been playing since he was three, when he began training with his father -- who had been a boxer¹⁰ on the Iranian olympic team.

Andre Agassi kisses the crowd goodbye at Wimbledon  
  
"I'll miss doing this in front of the fans of this game.  I'll miss the practices out there, with people lining¹¹ up on the fence.  But I don't know if I can say I'm sad, because I really believe it's going to grow into something better than this."

Brewer recalls Agassi's tremendous comeback at an age when most players are thinking about retirement. He adds, "We'll also remember how he was at the top of his game as a youngster, fell all the way to 141st in the world rankings, and then got back to the top in his 30's.  Something that really was an amazing achievement."

After 20 years in professional tennis, Agassi's presence in the 2006 U.S. Open is also an "amazing achievement".

1 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

2 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

5 tribulations   

n.苦难( tribulation的名词复数 )；艰难；苦难的缘由；痛苦

参考例句：

• the tribulations of modern life 现代生活的苦恼
• The film is about the trials and tribulations of adolescence. 这部电影讲述了青春期的麻烦和苦恼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 rebellious   

adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的

参考例句：

• They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。
• Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

7 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

8 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

9 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

10 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

11 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。