Agassi says an emotional goodbye

NEW YORK – With blown kisses, a torrent of tears and heartfelt words, Andre Agassi bade tennis and its fans a classy goodbye on Sunday at the U.S. Open – and New Yorkers thanked him for two decades of majesty with cheers that echoed far beyond the Queens court.

Wincing from the chronic back pain he overcame with iron-willed determination during his first two matches, Agassi, 36, could only stand and watch as Benjamin Becker’s winning serve whizzed by.

Then Agassi bowed and blew kisses to the fans, who rose as their retiring champion, struggling with a flood of emotions, limped back to his seat.

As the cheering fans continued standing almost 10 minutes more in tribute to the 21 years of remarkable tennis he’d given them, Agassi buried his face in his hands and wept.

With his wife, former tennis great Steffi Graf, looking on with their two young children, Agassi rose to address the capacity crowd.

“The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn’t say is what I found,” Agassi said, trying to hold back the tears.

“Over the last 21 years I have found loyalty, inspiration. You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments.

“You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams … for the last 21 years have found you. I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life.

“Thank you.”

Becker, 25, who is ranked 112th and had to win three qualifying matches to make it to the Open, joined in the crowd’s ovation.

“He was my idol growing up. He’s definitely one of a kind. He’s such a gentleman. For me it’s a great honor to play him and it was a great moment for him,” he said.

That moment came after the back pain that plagued Agassi during his first two gut-wrenching wins finally seemed to take its toll on the champion.

Even as his body betrayed him, the passion that made Agassi one of the the most popular players of his generation continued to win the hearts of fans who poured into the stadium early Sunday to witness the history-making moment.

“I admire the fact that he doesn’t give up. Even in the last match. He had a great career but that’s what you admire - not someone winning but never giving up,” said Stephanie Sater, 19, a student at American University.

“I think it’s a classy way to go. He went out and fought until the end,” said Francisco Vivas, 36, an investor from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

But his friend Rocio Rivera, 34, a San Juan public relations executive, was sorry her champion couldn’t hang in there a little longer.

“We are bummed out. He gave so much to the sport,” she said.

Lina Maralit, 68, a pediatrician from Woodbury, L.I., also was one of many fans who weren’t quite ready to say goodbye.

“I wanted him to go through the semifinals at least so people can enjoy his game more. It’s terrible. Everybody wanted to see him. It’s just sad to see him go, but at least he played very well,” Maralit said.

“It would have been nice to see him go deeper into the draw,” said Mike O’Keefe, 37, an accountant from Nova Scotia.

But O’Keefe, offering a different perspective on Agassi’s retirement, added that Agassi and Graf, who have a 4-year-old son, Jaden, and a 2-year-old daughter, Jaz, “will be producing world-class players soon.”

Meanwhile, the Agassi kids will see more of their dad – and will finally get the puppy Dad promised them when he retires.

Asked by reporters what his plans were, Agassi laughed.

“I don’t know,” he said.

“Who cares what I do, right? Doesn’t matter.”