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-Jennifer Capriati!
-In the 90s,
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professional tennis gets
a shot of adrenaline
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from a new generation
of players.
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Skill and style goes up
while the on-court etiquette
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goes down.
-Oh, shut up.
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-And endorsement deals
go through the roof.
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-Cha-ching. Cha-ching.
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-That helped grow the game
of tennis.
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-But as their
celebrity increases...
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-Ladies and gentlemen,
the hunkiest tennis player ever.
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[ Cheers and applause ]
Andre Agassi! Andre!
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-...and their emotional
well-being decreases...
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-There's a lot of pressure.
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-Jennifer Capriati's career
is on a downward spiral.
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-And none of them
will say they're 100% stable.
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-...the game will nearly cost
some players everything.
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[ Shouting ]
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-The stabbing of Monica
was one of the most
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alarming episodes in tennis.
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[ Theme music plays ]
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♪
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♪
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♪
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♪
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-For decades, tennis was
a stodgy country club sport
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where the color of the clothes
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and the players
were the same --
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White.
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-You can say that tennis
started incredibly elitist
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or exclusionary, depending on
what term you want to use.
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And then, the '90s gave us
an explosion
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in so many different realms of
the sport all at the same time.
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-[ Grunts ]
-Prodigies like Andre Agassi,
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Jennifer Capriati,
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Monica Seles,
and the Williams sisters
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inject new life into the game,
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attracting bigger audiences
than ever before.
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They'll emerge as
the rock stars of tennis.
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But just like rock stars,
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some players will burn out
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before they have a chance
to fade away.
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-It's all different.
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Everyone's
got a different story.
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And the controversial stories,
the horror stories are really
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about the prodigies.
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My name is Pete Bodo,
and in the 1990s,
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I was a tennis journalist
out there
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traveling the world
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and getting to know a lot
of professional tennis players.
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[ Camera shutter clicks ]
-Well, tennis in the '80s
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had its rivalries
and its bad boys.
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-Bullshit!
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That's a...load
of bull crap!
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-Players reach new levels
of celebrity in the '90s
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as TV begins focusing
as much on their personalities
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as they do on their matches.
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-In a sport like tennis,
one of the things
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that is important
is the way that we see them.
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We can see the temper tantrums
and hear them differently.
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-I didn't say anything!
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You son of a bitch!
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-My name is Courtney Cox.
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I'm a former ESPN employee
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and current scholar
looking at all things sport
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as it relates
to tech and culture.
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We can understand these athletes
as personalities differently.
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And then, this building
of superstars,
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the up and coming,
the Cinderellas.
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[ Cheers and applause ]
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-And who better
to be labeled as Cinderella
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than a player with long,
flowing hair named Andre Agassi?
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-Andre Agassi is probably
the most interesting
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personality study in tennis.
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-Born in Las Vegas,
Andre is forced into tennis
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as a toddler
by his father, Mike,
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a one-time Iranian
Olympic boxer turned
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casino ambassador
for the Tropicana Hotel.
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-Andre. How do you like tennis?
-Fine.
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-Do you want to be a
tennis player when you get big?
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-Yes.
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-According to Andre,
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his dad is so determined
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for his 12-year-old son
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to become a star player
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that he administers amphetamines
to make Andre more focused
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00:04:02,445 --> 00:04:05,217
during junior matches.
-[Gulping]
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00:04:06,719 --> 00:04:09,258
-Very few of the really
successful players are people
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who were really forced to play.
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Andre Agassi is a pretty good
exception to that rule.
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00:04:14,870 --> 00:04:18,476
-Yeah. Andre Agassi.
He's a phenomenon, right?
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00:04:18,509 --> 00:04:20,447
Jeff Tarango here.
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00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,286
Top 100 in the world
for 13 straight years.
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Can you call the supervisor,
please?
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I have a big beef.
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Enjoying my life in tennis,
after tennis,
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00:04:29,031 --> 00:04:31,302
during tennis,
tennis for a lifetime.
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-Tarango recalls playing
against a pre-amphetamine Agassi
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on the junior circuit,
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including one match
that Agassi writes about
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in his autobiography, "Open."
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-Andre Agassi versus Tarango
in the 10 and unders
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00:04:45,932 --> 00:04:48,637
in San Diego question.
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-Agassi accuses Tarango
of cheating
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over whether a ball
was in or out.
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-There was a USTA umpire
sitting right there
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in the chair,
so, there's no way
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00:04:58,824 --> 00:05:00,627
he can say I cheated him
out of the match,
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00:05:00,661 --> 00:05:02,865
but his dad's in the RV
banging on it,
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00:05:02,899 --> 00:05:05,237
like, getting all upset
and everything,
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00:05:05,269 --> 00:05:06,839
and Andre's crying.
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And so, he leaves and he thinks
I cheated him out of the match,
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but it actually had nothing
to do with me.
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-At 13, Andre's shipped off
to a tennis academy in Florida
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run by Nick Bollettieri.
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-Nick Bollettieri came into
tennis literally out of the sky.
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He was a former paratrooper,
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who ended up then becoming
kind of a tennis teacher,
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and he had a string
of little camps and gigs
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that he ultimately turned into
a coaching profession,
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because he was
unrelentingly optimistic,
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unrelentingly promotional,
including self-promotional,
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which rubbed people
in the wrong way.
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-Andre would not be
who he was today without Nick.
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-To me, Nick Bollettieri was
the epitome of motivation.
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-You want to hit.
Then, 1, 2, 3.
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And then, go. Boom.
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-When he walked onto the court,
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you just felt like
you were a better tennis player.
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You felt
like you could run faster.
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00:06:02,886 --> 00:06:06,425
You felt like you could do
everything better.
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-Bollettieri will also coach
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00:06:07,896 --> 00:06:10,033
Grand Slam champion
Boris Becker,
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as well as Jim Courier
and Monica Seles.
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Every single player that went
to Bollettieri Tennis Academy
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told me, "When he's not
on my court,
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I don't play half as well."
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Even me, who he'd never coached.
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When he would come
to watch the match,
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I would play
at a different level.
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[ Rock music plays ]
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00:06:30,742 --> 00:06:33,045
-But when Agassi begins
working with Bollettieri,
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00:06:33,079 --> 00:06:35,918
he's in complete rebellion
against tennis,
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00:06:35,951 --> 00:06:39,057
sporting a Mohawk,
experimenting with booze,
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and refusing to wear
tennis clothes to his matches.
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Agassi pays the price
for his defiance
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00:06:46,605 --> 00:06:48,610
when he's forced
to clean the Academy's
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00:06:48,644 --> 00:06:51,716
communal toilets as punishment.
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But according to Jeff Tarango,
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Bollettieri has to go
one step further
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to set the prodigy straight.
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00:06:58,028 --> 00:07:02,004
-Andre showed up to a tennis
tournament with Levi jeans on,
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00:07:02,036 --> 00:07:04,942
and they got into a bit
of a spatter.
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00:07:06,947 --> 00:07:09,350
And he said,
I need to discipline this kid.
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And Nick locked him in a bus
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00:07:13,492 --> 00:07:14,930
for a whole weekend.
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00:07:14,963 --> 00:07:17,836
100-degree weather.
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00:07:17,869 --> 00:07:21,074
I guess, that was okay
in -- in the early '90s.
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You're not going to get away
with it now.
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00:07:23,112 --> 00:07:25,651
But he had, like,
an epiphany in this bus.
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00:07:25,685 --> 00:07:27,855
And when Andre
came out of that bus,
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he was a different human being.
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He went from the rebel to be...
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00:07:32,899 --> 00:07:35,737
"I'm going to do
whatever you say.
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I get it now."
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00:07:37,875 --> 00:07:41,550
I think, Nick Bollettieri
did it right with Andre.
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00:07:41,581 --> 00:07:45,055
I mean, he tortured the guy,
and he showed him that,
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00:07:45,089 --> 00:07:48,596
you know, you're not a talent
until you're actually a talent.
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00:07:48,630 --> 00:07:52,204
-In 1986,
16-year-old Agassi turned pro.
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00:07:52,237 --> 00:07:54,776
Nike quickly signs
the tennis rebel
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00:07:54,809 --> 00:07:57,581
and starts changing
the culture of the sport
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by featuring Andre
in some of their biggest ads.
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00:08:01,889 --> 00:08:04,394
-Andre Agassi was
their poster child,
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00:08:04,427 --> 00:08:06,165
literally challenging the style.
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00:08:06,197 --> 00:08:08,036
-That ought
to wake up the country club.
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00:08:08,069 --> 00:08:10,406
-...of the all-white
country club look
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00:08:10,439 --> 00:08:13,814
that was a part of tennis
for decades and decades,
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00:08:13,846 --> 00:08:18,122
with bright neon colors, whether
it's on apparel or on shoes.
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00:08:19,725 --> 00:08:22,029
I'm Tim Newcomb,
and I'm a freelance journalist
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00:08:22,064 --> 00:08:24,000
covering tennis gear
and business.
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Any time that an athlete
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00:08:25,870 --> 00:08:27,540
wants to push the envelope,
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Nike's there to do it.
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-Just like they did
back in 1984
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00:08:31,716 --> 00:08:34,455
with Andre's precursor,
John McEnroe.
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00:08:34,488 --> 00:08:36,792
-[ Screams ]
-John McEnroe had
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00:08:36,826 --> 00:08:38,764
the Mac Attack shoe
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00:08:38,796 --> 00:08:41,636
that he wore in the mid '80s.
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00:08:41,668 --> 00:08:43,706
-Nike releases
the Mac Attack a year
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00:08:43,740 --> 00:08:45,777
before it launches
the Air Jordan.
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00:08:45,811 --> 00:08:48,649
But then, tennis players
have had shoes named after them
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00:08:48,683 --> 00:08:52,224
long before Michael Jordan
is even born.
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00:08:52,256 --> 00:08:55,096
-That's where it all began.
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00:08:55,129 --> 00:08:58,035
I think Jordan jumped
on our bandwagon as far as,
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00:08:58,068 --> 00:09:00,005
like, how to sell things,
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00:09:00,039 --> 00:09:01,676
and then, all of a sudden,
he's doing it
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00:09:01,708 --> 00:09:03,880
in basketball.
-Using Agassi,
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00:09:03,913 --> 00:09:06,184
Nike transforms their
business model,
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00:09:06,217 --> 00:09:07,688
selling not just sports gear,
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00:09:07,721 --> 00:09:09,224
but the players who wear it.
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00:09:09,258 --> 00:09:11,461
-It wasn't just
about tennis anymore.
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00:09:11,495 --> 00:09:14,234
It was like about Nike.
It was about Adidas.
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00:09:14,268 --> 00:09:18,875
It was about everybody building
a brand all of a sudden.
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00:09:18,910 --> 00:09:21,682
But the players were the brand.
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00:09:21,716 --> 00:09:23,953
-Everything's for sale
on a player's body.
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00:09:23,986 --> 00:09:26,558
So, I'm waiting for the day
when somebody gets a tattoo,
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00:09:26,591 --> 00:09:28,596
a sponsor tattoo on his forehead
207
00:09:28,629 --> 00:09:31,134
to buy a certain brand
of ice cream or something.
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00:09:31,168 --> 00:09:33,038
[ Cheers and applause ]
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00:09:33,072 --> 00:09:36,010
-Agassi's endorsement
deals help him attract admirers
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00:09:36,044 --> 00:09:39,283
who once had little interest
in professional tennis.
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00:09:39,317 --> 00:09:40,955
-Did you get what you came for?
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00:09:40,988 --> 00:09:42,691
-Definitely.
-What did you come for?
213
00:09:42,725 --> 00:09:45,629
-A look of Agassi. [Laughs]
214
00:09:45,663 --> 00:09:47,768
-We like his tennis,
but we also like to look at him.
215
00:09:47,801 --> 00:09:49,905
[ Chuckles ]
-So, what's the attraction?
216
00:09:49,938 --> 00:09:51,909
[ Indistinct conversations ]
-His hair.
217
00:09:51,942 --> 00:09:53,745
I don't know. I like hair.
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00:09:53,779 --> 00:09:55,616
-What is the image of a rebel?
219
00:09:55,650 --> 00:09:58,322
-But the marketing of Agassi
also sparks outrage
220
00:09:58,355 --> 00:10:02,062
among the tennis media and
more traditional tennis fans.
221
00:10:02,096 --> 00:10:04,301
-Image is everything.
222
00:10:04,333 --> 00:10:07,875
-Andre Agassi had critics.
Is it style over substance?
223
00:10:07,908 --> 00:10:11,081
And really in sports,
generally, the only way
224
00:10:11,115 --> 00:10:14,654
that you're able to quiet
those critics is by winning.
225
00:10:14,688 --> 00:10:16,258
[ Indistinct conversations ]
226
00:10:16,292 --> 00:10:18,361
-And not just
any tennis tournament,
227
00:10:18,395 --> 00:10:22,037
but one of the four
prestigious Grand Slam titles.
228
00:10:22,070 --> 00:10:23,773
Until he wins one of those,
229
00:10:23,807 --> 00:10:26,245
he remains an easy target.
230
00:10:26,278 --> 00:10:29,619
-To me, that whole
"Image is Everything" campaign
231
00:10:29,650 --> 00:10:31,956
was so misinterpreted
232
00:10:31,990 --> 00:10:35,096
and so misused
and abused against Andre
233
00:10:35,129 --> 00:10:37,835
that it really, really wasn't
anywhere near fair.
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00:10:37,868 --> 00:10:40,373
[ Racket chops ball ]
-He went against everything
235
00:10:40,405 --> 00:10:43,178
that tennis represented,
the dyeing of the hair,
236
00:10:43,211 --> 00:10:46,018
the earring,
like George Michael.
237
00:10:46,051 --> 00:10:49,224
It made it interesting.
I kind of enjoyed it.
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00:10:49,258 --> 00:10:50,894
It was something different.
239
00:10:50,927 --> 00:10:52,864
People hated it,
but I-I could appreciate it.
240
00:10:52,898 --> 00:10:54,801
I'm Lori McNeil,
241
00:10:54,836 --> 00:10:57,340
Former WTA number 8
in the world in singles
242
00:10:57,374 --> 00:10:59,144
and number 3 in doubles.
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00:10:59,177 --> 00:11:01,914
I think, Agassi brought
that entertainment value
244
00:11:01,950 --> 00:11:03,986
that people were looking for.
[ Cheering ]
245
00:11:04,020 --> 00:11:06,993
He was kind of bucking
the tennis establishment.
246
00:11:07,027 --> 00:11:10,066
Agassi really was the only one
that was really being
247
00:11:10,099 --> 00:11:12,772
different in that way.
248
00:11:12,803 --> 00:11:16,745
-But in the '90s,
Lori's focus isn't on Agassi.
249
00:11:16,778 --> 00:11:21,721
It's on Steffi Graf, the player
to beat on the women's tour.
250
00:11:21,755 --> 00:11:27,200
-The 1990s in women's tennis
was dominated by Steffi Graf.
251
00:11:27,232 --> 00:11:32,210
She was the player
of the decade.
252
00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,919
-Lori upset Steffi twice
during the decade.
253
00:11:36,951 --> 00:11:39,323
[ Cheers and applause ]
Once in the first round
254
00:11:39,357 --> 00:11:40,927
of Wimbledon.
255
00:11:40,961 --> 00:11:43,063
-Unfortunately, I did --
I lost in the semis,
256
00:11:43,099 --> 00:11:45,102
and I didn't win the whole
tournament in Wimbledon,
257
00:11:45,135 --> 00:11:49,076
but it was a good run,
as they say.
258
00:11:49,110 --> 00:11:51,381
-And Lori isn't
the only player gunning
259
00:11:51,414 --> 00:11:54,221
for Graf's number 1 spot.
260
00:11:54,254 --> 00:11:56,325
-And Monica Seles,
261
00:11:56,357 --> 00:12:01,235
age 16, is one point from
becoming the youngest champion
262
00:12:01,268 --> 00:12:03,004
in French Open history.
263
00:12:03,038 --> 00:12:05,743
[ Cheering ]
-In 1990,
264
00:12:05,778 --> 00:12:07,880
the teenager does just that.
265
00:12:07,914 --> 00:12:09,851
-[ Grunts ]
[ Cheering ]
266
00:12:09,885 --> 00:12:12,057
Winning her first
Grand Slam event.
267
00:12:12,090 --> 00:12:13,859
Well, I just want
to thank my dad
268
00:12:13,894 --> 00:12:15,898
who prepared me
so well for this tournament.
269
00:12:15,929 --> 00:12:19,336
-On the women's side,
I would say it was Seles,
270
00:12:19,370 --> 00:12:22,844
was the most impactful player
back then.
271
00:12:22,878 --> 00:12:25,850
She was changing the game.
[ Cheers and applause ]
272
00:12:25,884 --> 00:12:27,486
-Monica Seles was, I think,
273
00:12:27,519 --> 00:12:31,294
much more of a -- of a player
who threw darts, uh-huh, lasers,
274
00:12:31,327 --> 00:12:34,400
just devilishly accurate.
275
00:12:34,433 --> 00:12:36,238
-At the end of 1991,
276
00:12:36,270 --> 00:12:39,744
after winning three of the
four Grand Slam women's titles.
277
00:12:39,778 --> 00:12:42,250
Seles bumps Graf
from the number 1 spot.
278
00:12:42,283 --> 00:12:44,321
[ Clock ticking ]
279
00:12:44,354 --> 00:12:45,889
But there's one tennis fan
280
00:12:45,923 --> 00:12:48,895
who's willing to bump Seles
off for good.
281
00:12:48,929 --> 00:12:52,437
[ Shouting ]
-Her cry of pain and terror
282
00:12:52,470 --> 00:12:53,938
cut through the stadium.
283
00:12:53,974 --> 00:12:55,842
-Her attacker
was quickly subdued
284
00:12:55,876 --> 00:12:57,580
by other spectators.
-[ Screams ]
285
00:13:01,923 --> 00:13:03,893
-In the early '90s,
Agassi begins
286
00:13:03,927 --> 00:13:05,495
his decade long competition
287
00:13:05,529 --> 00:13:07,533
with fellow American
Pete Sampras.
288
00:13:08,903 --> 00:13:13,412
-The Agassi-Sampras rivalry
was a major rivalry on court.
289
00:13:13,445 --> 00:13:16,049
You had two Americans
going at it
290
00:13:16,083 --> 00:13:18,322
with completely different
styles and games,
291
00:13:18,355 --> 00:13:20,393
completely different
personalities.
292
00:13:20,426 --> 00:13:22,996
-Sampras is cast
as the boy next door
293
00:13:23,032 --> 00:13:25,802
opposite Agassi's
flamboyant rebel.
294
00:13:27,072 --> 00:13:30,446
They confront each other in
the finals of the 1990 US Open.
295
00:13:30,479 --> 00:13:33,052
[ Cheers and applause ]
296
00:13:33,085 --> 00:13:37,059
Agassi ranked, fourth in the
world, is the favorite to win.
297
00:13:37,091 --> 00:13:40,566
But number 12 Sampras
beats Agassi in straight sets.
298
00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,004
-[ Grunts ]
[ Cheering ]
299
00:13:43,037 --> 00:13:46,544
♪
300
00:13:46,577 --> 00:13:50,052
Nike endorses both players and
plays up their different styles.
301
00:13:50,085 --> 00:13:51,388
-Stop right here.
302
00:13:51,421 --> 00:13:54,394
This'll wrinkle someone's
tennis spikes.
303
00:13:54,427 --> 00:13:57,000
[ Horns honking, cars passing ]
304
00:13:57,033 --> 00:13:59,104
-Putting them
in this commercial
305
00:13:59,135 --> 00:14:02,009
to reach fans on both sides
of the net.
306
00:14:02,043 --> 00:14:04,214
[ Rock music plays ]
307
00:14:06,551 --> 00:14:10,426
-Nike was able to position them
both how they wanted to,
308
00:14:10,458 --> 00:14:15,903
to sell differing lines and
styles of footwear and apparel.
309
00:14:15,936 --> 00:14:18,142
-And she'll get a second serve.
-Sponsors like Nike
310
00:14:18,174 --> 00:14:20,278
also compete
over a young prodigy
311
00:14:20,312 --> 00:14:22,115
who's moving up
in the women's ranks
312
00:14:22,149 --> 00:14:24,386
and seems destined
to become number 1.
313
00:14:24,421 --> 00:14:26,825
-Return and Jennifer Capriati.
314
00:14:26,857 --> 00:14:28,461
[ Cheers and applause ]
315
00:14:28,495 --> 00:14:29,898
-I believe someday she will be
316
00:14:29,931 --> 00:14:31,301
the number 1 player
in the world.
317
00:14:31,335 --> 00:14:34,073
-Jennifer Capriati was perhaps
318
00:14:34,105 --> 00:14:36,610
the most gifted ball striker
of all time.
319
00:14:36,644 --> 00:14:38,881
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
-Like Agassi,
320
00:14:38,916 --> 00:14:41,288
it's Capriati father
who pushes her into tennis
321
00:14:41,321 --> 00:14:44,092
with his dreams of her
becoming a world class player.
322
00:14:44,126 --> 00:14:45,897
And it works.
323
00:14:45,929 --> 00:14:49,571
-At the age of 11 and 12,
was just beating up on people.
324
00:14:49,604 --> 00:14:51,575
She won big titles
at a young age.
325
00:14:51,607 --> 00:14:53,144
I think, she was only 13
326
00:14:53,177 --> 00:14:55,048
when she won her
first Virginia Slims title.
327
00:14:55,081 --> 00:14:57,986
She became, you know,
a kind of a -- a household name
328
00:14:58,019 --> 00:14:59,591
overnight.
-Just 6 months
329
00:14:59,624 --> 00:15:01,193
after turning pro,
330
00:15:01,227 --> 00:15:03,365
Jennifer Capriati is
now the 13th ranked
331
00:15:03,398 --> 00:15:06,104
women's tennis player,
and America's sweetheart.
332
00:15:06,136 --> 00:15:08,408
[ Cheering,
camera shutter clicks ]
333
00:15:08,442 --> 00:15:12,081
-Even before her professional
debut in March of 1990,
334
00:15:12,115 --> 00:15:14,287
Capriati's father
has the 13 year old
335
00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:18,261
signed to $5.5 million in
sponsorship deals with brands,
336
00:15:18,294 --> 00:15:22,169
like, Diadora, Prince rackets,
and Oil of Olay,
337
00:15:22,202 --> 00:15:24,941
making her the family's
main breadwinner.
338
00:15:24,974 --> 00:15:28,581
-Capriati was the face of brands
339
00:15:28,615 --> 00:15:31,955
as an incredibly young teenager.
340
00:15:31,988 --> 00:15:35,895
-She even gets a Sega Genesis
video game named after her,
341
00:15:35,929 --> 00:15:37,600
all while reassuring the press
342
00:15:37,633 --> 00:15:40,306
she's enjoying
every minute of it.
343
00:15:40,339 --> 00:15:43,644
-Are you having fun?
-Yeah, I'm having a lot of fun.
344
00:15:43,678 --> 00:15:46,350
It was great.
God, worth it all.
345
00:15:46,384 --> 00:15:48,187
[ Racket chops ball,
camera shutter clicking ]
346
00:15:48,221 --> 00:15:50,458
-But the huge commercial
success of young male
347
00:15:50,493 --> 00:15:54,099
and female tennis prodigies,
like Agassi and Capriati
348
00:15:54,133 --> 00:15:57,240
masked the reality that not
all successful young players
349
00:15:57,273 --> 00:16:00,011
are treated equally.
350
00:16:00,043 --> 00:16:02,416
When Zina Garrison becomes
number 4 in the world,
351
00:16:02,450 --> 00:16:06,524
one of her biggest challenges
is securing an endorsement deal,
352
00:16:06,557 --> 00:16:09,464
something she still
doesn't have in 1990,
353
00:16:09,496 --> 00:16:11,368
when she becomes
the first black woman
354
00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:15,576
to reach the Wimbledon finals
in 32 years.
355
00:16:15,609 --> 00:16:17,580
-Some agents were saying
she wasn't marketable.
356
00:16:17,613 --> 00:16:19,350
I don't know
how you're not marketable.
357
00:16:19,384 --> 00:16:22,255
Everybody's marketable, I think.
358
00:16:22,289 --> 00:16:25,996
It was kind of
unbelievable, but...
359
00:16:26,029 --> 00:16:27,700
But it happened.
360
00:16:29,169 --> 00:16:32,409
-On her way to that final
against Martina Navratilova.
361
00:16:32,442 --> 00:16:36,116
Garrison has already beaten
Monica Seles and Steffi Graf,
362
00:16:36,150 --> 00:16:38,990
who both have multi-million
dollar sponsorships
363
00:16:39,022 --> 00:16:42,195
covering all their
training and travel expenses.
364
00:16:42,229 --> 00:16:44,500
-And the night
before you play Martina,
365
00:16:44,533 --> 00:16:46,437
you're thinking of the fact
that you're the one
366
00:16:46,471 --> 00:16:48,041
that doesn't have
an endorsement.
367
00:16:48,073 --> 00:16:49,744
But there's this
demoralizing feeling
368
00:16:49,777 --> 00:16:52,549
you have to experience
when you're dominant.
369
00:16:52,582 --> 00:16:53,985
You're at the top of your game.
370
00:16:54,019 --> 00:16:55,621
You've done everything
you can do,
371
00:16:55,655 --> 00:16:58,595
and they still say that's
not enough, because you're you.
372
00:17:01,201 --> 00:17:03,104
-It will take
until the end of the decade
373
00:17:03,138 --> 00:17:05,173
for that to change
with the arrival
374
00:17:05,209 --> 00:17:07,480
of Venus and Serena Williams.
375
00:17:07,512 --> 00:17:09,048
[ Indistinct conversations ]
376
00:17:09,083 --> 00:17:11,453
Until then,
the marketing stays focused
377
00:17:11,488 --> 00:17:13,424
on young white tennis players,
378
00:17:13,458 --> 00:17:17,298
helping boost their fame
while attracting the paparazzi.
379
00:17:17,333 --> 00:17:19,436
[ Camera shutters clicking ]
380
00:17:19,470 --> 00:17:22,143
Who in the '90s are becoming
increasingly aggressive
381
00:17:22,175 --> 00:17:24,078
in their coverage
of all celebrities,
382
00:17:24,112 --> 00:17:27,152
including their personal lives.
383
00:17:27,184 --> 00:17:30,090
[ Camera shutters clicking ]
384
00:17:30,125 --> 00:17:33,065
German star Steffi Graf
is hounded after her father
385
00:17:33,096 --> 00:17:36,471
is accused of having an
illegitimate baby with a model.
386
00:17:38,508 --> 00:17:42,415
As for the player once labeled
tennis's "Long-haired rebel."
387
00:17:42,450 --> 00:17:45,355
Agassi is now dealing
with allegations he's actually
388
00:17:45,388 --> 00:17:48,126
a "No-haired rebel,"
which he denies.
389
00:17:48,161 --> 00:17:50,097
-Well, you talked about
the London tabloids being,
390
00:17:50,131 --> 00:17:51,468
at times, vicious.
391
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:53,270
Did they have you, like,
rooming with an alien?
392
00:17:53,304 --> 00:17:55,476
How bad did it get over there?
-No, they -- they --
393
00:17:55,509 --> 00:17:57,278
they just --
they were funny, you know,
394
00:17:57,311 --> 00:18:00,117
I mean, the whole week started,
the whole week started with them
395
00:18:00,152 --> 00:18:03,089
saying I wear my white cap,
because I had lost all my hair.
396
00:18:03,124 --> 00:18:04,559
-30 years ago,
it would've been, "Oh, yeah.
397
00:18:04,594 --> 00:18:06,330
He's a tennis player.
He's a movie star."
398
00:18:06,363 --> 00:18:08,299
Now, it's a little like,
we're all stars, you know?
399
00:18:08,335 --> 00:18:10,070
We're both stars.
You know, I'm a star in tennis.
400
00:18:10,105 --> 00:18:12,609
You're a star in Hollywood.
Let's get together.
401
00:18:12,643 --> 00:18:17,153
-And that's just what Agassi
and Barbra Streisand do in 1992.
402
00:18:17,184 --> 00:18:19,723
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
Their May-December romance
403
00:18:19,757 --> 00:18:22,262
with Babs being 28 years
his senior,
404
00:18:22,295 --> 00:18:25,201
makes headlines.
[ Cheering ]
405
00:18:25,233 --> 00:18:28,073
But it also overshadows
Andre finally winning
406
00:18:28,106 --> 00:18:30,612
his first Grand Slam title
at Wimbledon.
407
00:18:30,645 --> 00:18:32,817
[ Cheers and applause ]
408
00:18:32,849 --> 00:18:34,753
Beyond court behavior
of some players
409
00:18:34,787 --> 00:18:36,624
also draws negative attention
410
00:18:36,657 --> 00:18:39,329
from both the press
and spectators.
411
00:18:39,363 --> 00:18:42,268
-[ Grunts ]
-For Monica Seles,
412
00:18:42,303 --> 00:18:44,740
it's her trademark grunting
with every ball she hits.
413
00:18:44,773 --> 00:18:48,682
-[ Grunting ]
414
00:18:48,714 --> 00:18:51,653
[ Cheers and applause ]
-She's not doing it on purpose.
415
00:18:51,688 --> 00:18:54,660
But, uh, she can stop it
on purpose, you know?
416
00:18:54,693 --> 00:18:56,364
I've been practicing
next to her,
417
00:18:56,396 --> 00:18:58,835
and she does not make any noises
when she's practicing.
418
00:18:58,868 --> 00:19:01,473
[ Grunting ]
419
00:19:01,507 --> 00:19:03,345
-In some parts of the match,
I was successful.
420
00:19:03,376 --> 00:19:05,449
In some parts, I was not.
421
00:19:05,481 --> 00:19:07,385
But I do hope that next year
when I come back here,
422
00:19:07,419 --> 00:19:09,256
I won't be grunting.
423
00:19:09,289 --> 00:19:11,594
[ Knife scraping,
ominous music plays ]
424
00:19:11,627 --> 00:19:14,599
♪
425
00:19:14,634 --> 00:19:17,806
-But one unhinged spectator
becomes fixated on Seles
426
00:19:17,839 --> 00:19:19,710
after she replaces Steffi Graf
427
00:19:19,743 --> 00:19:22,248
as the number 1 player
in the world.
428
00:19:22,282 --> 00:19:27,326
♪
429
00:19:27,357 --> 00:19:29,529
And on April 30th, 1993,
430
00:19:29,563 --> 00:19:32,101
his obsession will become
global news
431
00:19:32,134 --> 00:19:34,272
and forever change the sport.
432
00:19:36,210 --> 00:19:38,180
-What's considered
the darkest day in tennis...
433
00:19:38,213 --> 00:19:39,849
[ Shouting ]
434
00:19:39,884 --> 00:19:41,887
-...is when Monica Seles
was stabbed
435
00:19:41,921 --> 00:19:43,758
during a match in Hamburg.
436
00:19:43,791 --> 00:19:45,595
[ Crowd shouting ]
437
00:19:45,628 --> 00:19:48,634
-She stood frozen for a moment,
feeling her back,
438
00:19:48,667 --> 00:19:50,605
not believing what had happened.
439
00:19:50,638 --> 00:19:52,442
Then, medical personnel
rushed to help her.
440
00:19:52,476 --> 00:19:56,884
-A deranged fan, uh, Gunter
Parche, a-a fan of Steffi Graf,
441
00:19:56,917 --> 00:19:59,824
jumped out of the stands,
ran up on a changeover
442
00:19:59,856 --> 00:20:01,928
when --
when Monica was sitting down
443
00:20:01,961 --> 00:20:06,403
and stabbed her in the back
with a serrated knife.
444
00:20:06,436 --> 00:20:09,477
-Her opponent, Magdalena
Maleeva, watched helplessly.
445
00:20:09,509 --> 00:20:12,648
Finally, officials wheeled
Ms. Seles off to the hospital.
446
00:20:12,682 --> 00:20:16,323
Doctors are keeping her
there overnight for observation.
447
00:20:16,356 --> 00:20:21,768
-When Monica Seles was
stabbed, it was unbelievable.
448
00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,474
I think, everybody
felt vulnerable.
449
00:20:25,509 --> 00:20:27,578
Everybody realized that,
450
00:20:27,613 --> 00:20:30,919
"Oh, my God,
this could happen to any of us."
451
00:20:30,951 --> 00:20:33,525
-Despite making
a complete physical recovery,
452
00:20:33,557 --> 00:20:35,561
Seles sinks into depression
453
00:20:35,595 --> 00:20:38,401
and develops an eating disorder
that takes her off the circuit
454
00:20:38,434 --> 00:20:41,740
for 2 years,
costing her the number 1 spot.
455
00:20:43,278 --> 00:20:45,981
[ Indistinct conversations ]
And her attacker.
456
00:20:46,016 --> 00:20:47,853
He receives a suspended sentence
457
00:20:47,885 --> 00:20:50,759
and never spends a day
in prison.
458
00:20:50,791 --> 00:20:54,531
-It was one of the
most alarming and unpleasant
459
00:20:54,567 --> 00:20:56,671
and -- and kind of
sad episodes in tennis,
460
00:20:56,703 --> 00:20:59,809
because it really had
a career-transforming effect
461
00:20:59,844 --> 00:21:02,715
on Monica Seles, and therefore,
on everybody else,
462
00:21:02,749 --> 00:21:05,622
because, of course, everybody
else is the people she played.
463
00:21:05,654 --> 00:21:07,358
So, suddenly a lot of people
winning tournaments
464
00:21:07,392 --> 00:21:08,994
or getting far in tournaments,
465
00:21:09,028 --> 00:21:11,232
because Monica Seles was
not on board.
466
00:21:11,266 --> 00:21:13,569
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
-The assault on Monica Seles
467
00:21:13,605 --> 00:21:17,479
happens just 10 days after
an equally disturbing attack
468
00:21:17,511 --> 00:21:19,884
on another female
tennis prodigy.
469
00:21:19,916 --> 00:21:21,385
-While the Seles incident
470
00:21:21,420 --> 00:21:22,788
created shock waves
around the world,
471
00:21:22,823 --> 00:21:24,727
it wasn't really
the first incident of violence
472
00:21:24,759 --> 00:21:28,601
against women, just a week
before Seles was stabbed,
473
00:21:28,634 --> 00:21:30,436
you had Jennifer Rhodes,
a young girl,
474
00:21:30,471 --> 00:21:33,042
promising young tennis player,
you know, not on a pro tour yet,
475
00:21:33,076 --> 00:21:35,047
but, you know, I believe,
she was a college player,
476
00:21:35,079 --> 00:21:38,319
and she had --
she had a promising career.
477
00:21:38,354 --> 00:21:40,558
-Jennifer had just finished
taking private lessons
478
00:21:40,592 --> 00:21:43,329
at an elite tennis academy
in New York City
479
00:21:43,363 --> 00:21:46,036
when her coach becomes
sexually obsessed with her.
480
00:21:47,739 --> 00:21:49,409
-A fellow named Gary Wilensky,
481
00:21:49,442 --> 00:21:51,747
who essentially people remember,
482
00:21:51,780 --> 00:21:53,750
and I frankly remember him,
483
00:21:53,785 --> 00:21:55,788
because I used to play
at those tennis courts.
484
00:21:55,821 --> 00:21:57,893
He'd be going around
on his roller skates,
485
00:21:57,925 --> 00:22:00,632
and he -- he was coaching
Jennifer Rhodes,
486
00:22:00,664 --> 00:22:03,971
and, um, his intention was
to steer her off to a cabin
487
00:22:04,005 --> 00:22:05,976
he had somewhere
upstate New York
488
00:22:06,009 --> 00:22:07,846
that was filled with all kinds
489
00:22:07,878 --> 00:22:10,951
of sex toys and bondage
implements and things like that.
490
00:22:10,986 --> 00:22:13,625
[ Taser buzzing ]
Yeah.
491
00:22:13,657 --> 00:22:17,464
So, he had planned presumably
to lock her up in that cabin
492
00:22:17,499 --> 00:22:19,603
and do whatever
he was gonna do.
493
00:22:19,636 --> 00:22:21,941
-And this pornographic video
found inside
494
00:22:21,973 --> 00:22:24,680
may have been the blueprint
for the obsessed man's desire.
495
00:22:24,712 --> 00:22:26,851
Its title bears the name
of his victim --
496
00:22:26,884 --> 00:22:28,855
Jennifer.
497
00:22:28,887 --> 00:22:31,826
-Heroically, Jennifer manages
to call for help,
498
00:22:31,861 --> 00:22:35,334
forcing her former coach
to flee the scene.
499
00:22:35,367 --> 00:22:37,372
-And he ended up driving
off in a rental car
500
00:22:37,404 --> 00:22:38,941
and putting a bullet
through his head.
501
00:22:38,974 --> 00:22:41,346
[ Gunshot ]
-The attempted abduction
502
00:22:41,378 --> 00:22:44,384
of Jennifer Rhodes
and the stabbing of Monica Seles
503
00:22:44,420 --> 00:22:46,556
may seem like
two unrelated events
504
00:22:46,589 --> 00:22:49,797
chronicled by the news media,
but Pete Bodo thinks they both
505
00:22:49,829 --> 00:22:52,402
point to an unsettling,
'90s reality.
506
00:22:52,434 --> 00:22:54,573
-What it did underscore
was that, you know,
507
00:22:54,605 --> 00:22:57,545
in some ways, it -- it was open
season on women tennis players
508
00:22:57,578 --> 00:22:59,382
in that era.
[ Insects chirping ]
509
00:22:59,414 --> 00:23:02,588
Women athletes were much more
easily manipulated at that time,
510
00:23:02,622 --> 00:23:04,759
and they were much more
511
00:23:04,792 --> 00:23:07,833
at the mercy of,
A, either parents,
512
00:23:07,865 --> 00:23:10,505
B, coaches,
there were any number of stories
513
00:23:10,537 --> 00:23:12,509
and still are, unfortunately,
514
00:23:12,540 --> 00:23:14,010
about inappropriate
relationships
515
00:23:14,045 --> 00:23:16,884
between coaches and students.
516
00:23:16,916 --> 00:23:19,087
-The mistreatment
of female tennis players
517
00:23:19,122 --> 00:23:22,762
in the '90s remains one of
tennis's dirty little secrets,
518
00:23:22,796 --> 00:23:26,804
one that still plagues
women's tennis to this day.
519
00:23:26,836 --> 00:23:28,807
But one story
that doesn't go unnoticed
520
00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,747
is the downward spiral
of America's sweetheart --
521
00:23:31,780 --> 00:23:33,415
Jennifer Capriati.
522
00:23:33,450 --> 00:23:35,788
-Well, Jennifer Capriati's
arrest on drug charges
523
00:23:35,821 --> 00:23:37,925
has brought a dark side
of her life to light.
524
00:23:37,959 --> 00:23:40,096
The former tennis champ
was arrested yesterday
525
00:23:40,130 --> 00:23:42,167
at a Coral Gables motel.
526
00:23:42,201 --> 00:23:44,605
-She couldn't stop
527
00:23:44,638 --> 00:23:47,443
being Jennifer Capriati.
528
00:23:52,622 --> 00:23:55,059
[ Cheers and applause ]
-At the 1992 Olympics
529
00:23:55,093 --> 00:23:57,965
in Barcelona,
Jennifer Capriati upset
530
00:23:57,999 --> 00:23:59,536
Steffi Graf in the finals
531
00:23:59,568 --> 00:24:02,007
to win gold for the US.
532
00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:03,810
[ Cheering ]
-There it is.
533
00:24:03,845 --> 00:24:07,116
Jennifer Capriati!
-Still only 15.
534
00:24:07,151 --> 00:24:08,887
She's already called one
535
00:24:08,921 --> 00:24:11,558
of the hardest working players
on the circuit.
536
00:24:11,594 --> 00:24:14,664
-She was, uh,
the epitome of someone
537
00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:16,603
who could push herself farther
than anybody else
538
00:24:16,636 --> 00:24:18,138
could push herself.
539
00:24:18,173 --> 00:24:21,144
[ Cheers and applause ]
She didn't have an off switch.
540
00:24:21,179 --> 00:24:23,917
She couldn't stop.
541
00:24:23,951 --> 00:24:27,090
-She had parental pressure.
She had contractual pressure.
542
00:24:27,124 --> 00:24:29,194
If she wanted to, say,
take a month off,
543
00:24:29,228 --> 00:24:31,132
there was somebody to say,
"Look, you can't do that.
544
00:24:31,164 --> 00:24:33,202
You're committed to play here,
there, and everywhere.
545
00:24:33,236 --> 00:24:35,508
And you've also got your
sponsor deal."
546
00:24:35,540 --> 00:24:38,547
-But like Andre Agassi
early in his career,
547
00:24:38,579 --> 00:24:41,586
Capriati has yet
to win a Grand Slam title
548
00:24:41,619 --> 00:24:44,692
despite being ranked
6 in the world.
549
00:24:44,726 --> 00:24:46,695
So, when she's knocked
out of the first round
550
00:24:46,730 --> 00:24:51,172
at the 1993 US Open by
37th-ranked Leila Meskhi,
551
00:24:51,204 --> 00:24:53,042
the media starts questioning
552
00:24:53,076 --> 00:24:56,182
whether she has what
it takes to be a true champion.
553
00:24:56,214 --> 00:24:58,820
-While Jennifer rolls
over lower-ranked players,
554
00:24:58,854 --> 00:25:01,660
she has yet to beat any
of the top 5 women.
555
00:25:01,692 --> 00:25:04,632
-You're 14, 15,
you're facing media.
556
00:25:04,665 --> 00:25:07,939
I mean, adults can't
sometimes handle the media.
557
00:25:07,972 --> 00:25:11,646
-And Jennifer came here
with a teenager's mix of awe
558
00:25:11,679 --> 00:25:14,786
and utter confidence.
-She was getting to the semis,
559
00:25:14,819 --> 00:25:16,656
but I wanted to know
when she was going to win.
560
00:25:16,689 --> 00:25:19,730
And I guess, in some way, she
internalized that as pressure.
561
00:25:21,199 --> 00:25:24,137
And maybe everyone around her
not having the patience,
562
00:25:24,171 --> 00:25:27,076
and everyone wanted it so soon.
563
00:25:27,111 --> 00:25:31,019
So, eventually,
she just took a break.
564
00:25:31,051 --> 00:25:32,655
She stopped playing.
565
00:25:32,689 --> 00:25:34,692
-What does it mean
to play here at Wimbledon?
566
00:25:34,726 --> 00:25:36,930
-It's always been
in my dream to play here
567
00:25:36,963 --> 00:25:38,634
-And then, unfortunately,
568
00:25:38,665 --> 00:25:40,069
you know, things began
to catch up with her.
569
00:25:40,103 --> 00:25:42,575
She started
to get into her teenage years,
570
00:25:42,607 --> 00:25:44,813
and suddenly,
she seemed to really get
571
00:25:44,846 --> 00:25:46,583
a little bit rebellious.
572
00:25:48,153 --> 00:25:49,955
-In May of 1994,
573
00:25:49,990 --> 00:25:52,294
8 months after taking
a break from tennis,
574
00:25:52,326 --> 00:25:54,832
Capriati is arrested
for drug possession
575
00:25:54,865 --> 00:25:57,171
at a motel
just outside of Miami.
576
00:25:59,208 --> 00:26:01,779
-One-time tennis prodigy
Jennifer Capriati's career
577
00:26:01,814 --> 00:26:03,784
is on a downward spiral.
578
00:26:03,817 --> 00:26:05,887
First, she was arrested
on drug charges.
579
00:26:05,922 --> 00:26:07,959
Now, she's lost
a key endorsement
580
00:26:07,991 --> 00:26:11,098
and has reportedly entered
a drug treatment clinic.
581
00:26:11,132 --> 00:26:13,269
-Despite the drug
being marijuana,
582
00:26:13,303 --> 00:26:16,777
the media breathlessly
reports on Capriati's downfall.
583
00:26:16,808 --> 00:26:19,515
[ Eerie music plays ]
-At the age of 13,
584
00:26:19,548 --> 00:26:22,253
Jennifer Capriati exploded
onto the world stage
585
00:26:22,287 --> 00:26:25,192
with her booming smile
and charming ground strokes.
586
00:26:25,227 --> 00:26:27,932
But somewhere,
something went wrong.
587
00:26:27,965 --> 00:26:30,872
-And start looking for someone
to blame for what they see
588
00:26:30,904 --> 00:26:32,808
as a good girl gone bad.
589
00:26:32,842 --> 00:26:34,813
-And there is plenty
of finger pointing over
590
00:26:34,846 --> 00:26:36,682
whether she was forced
into big-time tennis
591
00:26:36,717 --> 00:26:39,221
too early by her father.
-As, uh, any father
592
00:26:39,255 --> 00:26:41,791
and, uh, any mother,
they teach their children
593
00:26:41,826 --> 00:26:44,731
the best -- the best
that they -- they can be.
594
00:26:44,766 --> 00:26:49,141
-I did not see anything
abusive other than just yelling
595
00:26:49,174 --> 00:26:52,780
and screaming,
and like, "Move your derriere,"
596
00:26:52,816 --> 00:26:54,117
and all that stuff.
597
00:26:54,151 --> 00:26:57,156
She never told me
about any kind of abuse,
598
00:26:57,191 --> 00:27:00,230
but she was pushed harder
599
00:27:00,262 --> 00:27:02,601
than almost any human being
could be pushed.
600
00:27:02,634 --> 00:27:04,837
That's for sure.
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
601
00:27:06,342 --> 00:27:10,917
-Capriati becomes
a case study in burnout...
602
00:27:10,951 --> 00:27:14,124
and her story will provide
the backdrop for judging
603
00:27:14,157 --> 00:27:17,330
how all tennis dads treat
their aspiring children.
604
00:27:17,364 --> 00:27:21,137
-What do you feel inside
when you're on the court?
605
00:27:21,172 --> 00:27:23,242
-I feel good.
-I feel good.
606
00:27:23,276 --> 00:27:24,778
-But Richard Williams
is teaching
607
00:27:24,811 --> 00:27:26,616
his daughters, Venus and Serena,
608
00:27:26,648 --> 00:27:28,318
a different approach to tennis,
609
00:27:28,353 --> 00:27:31,057
far from any
private country club courts.
610
00:27:31,092 --> 00:27:32,861
-Nice.
-As Venus and Serena
611
00:27:32,895 --> 00:27:34,597
are coming up in the '90s,
612
00:27:34,632 --> 00:27:36,269
all the media coverage
around them
613
00:27:36,301 --> 00:27:39,741
starts by talking about them
being from Compton.
614
00:27:39,776 --> 00:27:41,846
[ Sirens wailing,
alarms sounding ]
615
00:27:43,348 --> 00:27:45,319
-For most of America
in the '90s,
616
00:27:45,353 --> 00:27:48,226
Compton conjures images
of the L.A. Riots
617
00:27:48,259 --> 00:27:50,230
and movies like
"Boyz N The Hood."
618
00:27:50,262 --> 00:27:52,934
♪
619
00:27:52,969 --> 00:27:55,740
-We have Venus and Serena
coming up in this space
620
00:27:55,775 --> 00:27:58,179
that there aren't a lot of
resources or public support...
621
00:27:58,211 --> 00:28:00,083
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
...for them, and despite that,
622
00:28:00,115 --> 00:28:03,155
their father, their family
support them in a way
623
00:28:03,189 --> 00:28:04,625
that get them to a point
624
00:28:04,657 --> 00:28:06,194
where they can compete
on a national
625
00:28:06,228 --> 00:28:07,932
and international scale.
626
00:28:07,964 --> 00:28:10,170
[ Rock music plays ]
627
00:28:10,202 --> 00:28:15,012
-Their background being
so anti-tennis establishment
628
00:28:15,046 --> 00:28:18,385
and having come from
the Compton public courts
629
00:28:18,419 --> 00:28:22,193
into two of the best
tennis players to ever live,
630
00:28:22,227 --> 00:28:28,105
is a story that resonates
with people outside of tennis.
631
00:28:28,138 --> 00:28:30,643
-Initially coached by their dad,
632
00:28:30,678 --> 00:28:33,383
the Williams sisters
steamroll the junior circuit.
633
00:28:34,684 --> 00:28:37,124
-Serena is number 1
in the under 10.
634
00:28:37,156 --> 00:28:40,195
And then, we have Venus, who
hadn't even lost a single match.
635
00:28:40,230 --> 00:28:44,203
And she is number 1,
um, as an 11 year old.
636
00:28:44,238 --> 00:28:47,344
-Richard does enroll them
in a Florida tennis academy,
637
00:28:47,376 --> 00:28:49,748
but then forbids them
from continuing
638
00:28:49,782 --> 00:28:51,684
on the junior circuit.
639
00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:53,088
-He pulls them out and says,
640
00:28:53,122 --> 00:28:55,093
"I want them
to have an education."
641
00:28:56,429 --> 00:28:58,199
Before they go professional,
he says,
642
00:28:58,231 --> 00:29:01,672
"I don't want you to think
that sports are your way out."
643
00:29:01,704 --> 00:29:03,675
-Richard holds them back
from turning pro
644
00:29:03,710 --> 00:29:07,183
until he thinks they're mentally
ready to handle the pressure.
645
00:29:07,217 --> 00:29:09,188
For Venus, the older sister,
646
00:29:09,221 --> 00:29:12,828
that moment comes
in October of 1994
647
00:29:12,861 --> 00:29:16,669
when she debuts her talent
at the Bank of the West Classic.
648
00:29:16,702 --> 00:29:18,739
-Returning to her
native California tonight
649
00:29:18,772 --> 00:29:21,377
to play her first ever
professional match --
650
00:29:21,412 --> 00:29:23,915
Venus Williams.
[ Applause ]
651
00:29:23,951 --> 00:29:25,887
-The first time
I met Venus and Serena,
652
00:29:25,921 --> 00:29:29,260
they were 10 and 12 years old.
653
00:29:29,294 --> 00:29:31,298
I hit with Venus and Serena.
654
00:29:31,332 --> 00:29:32,969
You knew they were
something special.
655
00:29:33,001 --> 00:29:34,203
You can see it young.
656
00:29:34,238 --> 00:29:36,241
They have that
from the beginning.
657
00:29:38,045 --> 00:29:39,347
-As for the media,
658
00:29:39,381 --> 00:29:41,151
they seem to fear
that Venus and Serena
659
00:29:41,184 --> 00:29:43,823
will each become
the next Jennifer Capriati.
660
00:29:43,856 --> 00:29:45,994
And in interviews,
they start fishing
661
00:29:46,028 --> 00:29:47,964
for signs of future distress.
662
00:29:47,998 --> 00:29:49,736
-Did you think
you could beat her?
663
00:29:49,768 --> 00:29:52,140
-I know I can beat her.
664
00:29:52,173 --> 00:29:55,847
-You know you can beat her.
Very confident.
665
00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:57,450
-But when journalist
John McKenzie...
666
00:29:57,483 --> 00:29:58,787
-I'm very confident.
667
00:29:58,818 --> 00:30:00,190
-You say it so easily.
668
00:30:00,222 --> 00:30:02,359
-...presses young Venus
for being confident.
669
00:30:02,394 --> 00:30:04,131
-Why?-
Her father, Richard
670
00:30:04,163 --> 00:30:05,901
comes to her defense.
-Because I believe it.
671
00:30:05,933 --> 00:30:07,470
-Alright, cut right there
if you don't mind.
672
00:30:07,503 --> 00:30:09,473
And let me tell you why.
673
00:30:09,508 --> 00:30:11,278
What she said...
674
00:30:11,311 --> 00:30:14,351
She said it with so much
confidence the first time.
675
00:30:14,384 --> 00:30:16,154
But you keep going on and on...
676
00:30:16,188 --> 00:30:17,557
-Listen, we can't
keep interrupting.
677
00:30:17,590 --> 00:30:19,394
I mean, if you want --
-You got to understand
678
00:30:19,428 --> 00:30:21,932
that you're dealing with an
image of a 14-year-old child.
679
00:30:21,965 --> 00:30:24,503
-There's this interesting way
that he's seen as a tyrant.
680
00:30:24,538 --> 00:30:27,443
He's interrupting.
He's unprofessional.
681
00:30:27,477 --> 00:30:29,114
He doesn't understand
the decorum.
682
00:30:29,146 --> 00:30:30,884
-She done answered it
with a lot of confidence.
683
00:30:30,916 --> 00:30:32,287
Leave that alone!
684
00:30:32,319 --> 00:30:34,124
-His idea of protecting
685
00:30:34,156 --> 00:30:35,827
his daughter in that moment
686
00:30:35,859 --> 00:30:38,365
is what I remember the most.
687
00:30:38,398 --> 00:30:41,271
-Those protective instincts
of Richard Williams is something
688
00:30:41,305 --> 00:30:44,411
Andre may have missed
out on as a child.
689
00:30:44,443 --> 00:30:46,115
But now 25,
690
00:30:46,147 --> 00:30:47,884
Agassi appears to be
self-possessed
691
00:30:47,917 --> 00:30:50,522
and handling
the media spotlight just fine.
692
00:30:50,556 --> 00:30:52,928
[ Camera shutter clicks,
rock music plays ]
693
00:30:54,230 --> 00:30:56,402
He's now dating
actress Brooke Shields,
694
00:30:56,434 --> 00:30:58,538
and after winning his
second Grand Slam title
695
00:30:58,571 --> 00:31:00,978
at the 1994 US open,
696
00:31:01,009 --> 00:31:04,217
Agassi is treated the same
as any show business celebrity.
697
00:31:04,250 --> 00:31:06,320
-Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome back
698
00:31:06,355 --> 00:31:08,358
the hunkiest tennis player ever.
699
00:31:08,392 --> 00:31:11,265
[ Cheers and applause ]
Andre Agassi! Andre!
700
00:31:11,298 --> 00:31:13,169
[ Rock music plays ]
701
00:31:13,201 --> 00:31:15,005
-But under the media spotlight,
702
00:31:15,038 --> 00:31:17,109
it's harder to hide
from those tabloid rumors
703
00:31:17,143 --> 00:31:18,913
that he's losing his hair,
704
00:31:18,945 --> 00:31:21,085
especially, when they're true.
705
00:31:21,117 --> 00:31:23,288
[ Hip-hop music plays ]
706
00:31:23,321 --> 00:31:27,630
His signature mane of
fleecy hair is partly a weave.
707
00:31:27,663 --> 00:31:30,502
Agassi's been going bald
since he was a teenager,
708
00:31:30,536 --> 00:31:32,173
and it's Brooke Shields
709
00:31:32,207 --> 00:31:35,948
who finally convinces him
to embrace it...
710
00:31:35,980 --> 00:31:38,285
by buzzing off what he has left.
711
00:31:38,318 --> 00:31:44,397
♪
712
00:31:44,431 --> 00:31:47,938
[ Cheers and applause,
camera shutters clicking ]
713
00:31:47,971 --> 00:31:51,577
To the public, Agassi
is living a sparkling life.
714
00:31:51,612 --> 00:31:53,548
Going into 1995...
715
00:31:53,582 --> 00:31:55,452
he's got a glossy girlfriend,
716
00:31:55,486 --> 00:31:58,491
a polished scalp,
and a shiny number 2
717
00:31:58,526 --> 00:32:00,262
in the world tennis rankings.
718
00:32:01,698 --> 00:32:03,402
But in the shadows,
719
00:32:03,434 --> 00:32:05,373
Andre is hiding a secret
much darker
720
00:32:05,405 --> 00:32:07,509
than a synthetic hairpiece.
721
00:32:07,544 --> 00:32:10,215
And it's about to come to light.
722
00:32:10,249 --> 00:32:12,452
-I think he was always trying
to stay ahead of the game
723
00:32:12,487 --> 00:32:14,089
and ahead of the curve.
724
00:32:14,123 --> 00:32:15,593
I think, he just went too far.
725
00:32:15,625 --> 00:32:17,497
-[ Snorting ]
726
00:32:21,637 --> 00:32:23,375
-It looks like this is all
coming back to her.
727
00:32:23,409 --> 00:32:26,347
-In 1995,
2 years after her stabbing,
728
00:32:26,381 --> 00:32:29,320
Monica Seles makes
a courageous return to tennis,
729
00:32:29,354 --> 00:32:31,123
winning the Canadian Open.
730
00:32:31,157 --> 00:32:34,263
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Game, set, match, Seles.
731
00:32:34,297 --> 00:32:36,468
-Months later,
she proves it's no fluke
732
00:32:36,500 --> 00:32:39,006
by capturing her fourth
Australian Open.
733
00:32:39,038 --> 00:32:43,015
♪
734
00:32:43,047 --> 00:32:46,153
Jeff Tarango is also making
headlines during this time,
735
00:32:46,188 --> 00:32:48,291
but for a
less celebratory reason.
736
00:32:50,028 --> 00:32:51,597
-Uh, 1995 at Wimbledon,
737
00:32:51,632 --> 00:32:54,538
there was an interesting
incident involving Jeff Tarango.
738
00:32:54,570 --> 00:32:57,343
-Tennis player Jeff Tarango
stormed off the court
739
00:32:57,376 --> 00:32:58,679
at Wimbledon.
740
00:32:58,711 --> 00:33:00,750
The American is upset
with what he calls
741
00:33:00,782 --> 00:33:02,386
corrupt officiating.
-That's it!
742
00:33:02,420 --> 00:33:03,923
-Yesterday, Tarango became,
743
00:33:03,955 --> 00:33:06,662
in his fouling,
the first player in the Open era
744
00:33:06,694 --> 00:33:08,566
to default himself
from a Grand Slam,
745
00:33:08,598 --> 00:33:11,505
storming off the court
after accusing the chair umpire
746
00:33:11,538 --> 00:33:13,174
of being corrupt.
747
00:33:13,207 --> 00:33:15,445
[ Cheers and applause ]
748
00:33:15,479 --> 00:33:19,721
-1995, I'm playing
against Steffi Graf's boyfriend.
749
00:33:19,753 --> 00:33:22,559
You know, Alexander Mronz's
in the third round.
750
00:33:22,594 --> 00:33:25,967
♪
751
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,972
I keep acing the guy out wide,
and they keep calling it out.
752
00:33:29,006 --> 00:33:30,343
Can you call the supervisor,
please?
753
00:33:30,375 --> 00:33:32,113
I have a big beef.
754
00:33:32,145 --> 00:33:35,184
-When Jeff argues the call
with umpire Bruno Rebeuh,
755
00:33:35,219 --> 00:33:36,622
the crowd at Wimbledon
756
00:33:36,654 --> 00:33:39,326
turns against him.
[ Shouting ]
757
00:33:39,361 --> 00:33:41,163
-They were screaming so loud
that I literally
758
00:33:41,198 --> 00:33:43,035
couldn't hit the serve.
759
00:33:43,067 --> 00:33:44,436
So, I turned around to them
and I said...
760
00:33:44,471 --> 00:33:48,311
Oh, shut up!
[ Cheers and applause ]
761
00:33:48,345 --> 00:33:51,417
-Code violation, audible
obscenity warning, Mr. Tom.
762
00:33:51,451 --> 00:33:53,321
-And he got a code violation
for that.
763
00:33:53,355 --> 00:33:55,192
-I'm not -- No.
I'm not playing! No way!
764
00:33:55,226 --> 00:33:58,132
-But then Jeff takes it
one step further.
765
00:33:58,163 --> 00:34:00,269
-You are the most
corrupt official in the game,
766
00:34:00,301 --> 00:34:02,038
and you can't do that!
767
00:34:02,073 --> 00:34:04,711
And I'm just like, "You know
you're the most corrupt official
768
00:34:04,743 --> 00:34:07,083
on the planet."
-For calling him corrupt,
769
00:34:07,115 --> 00:34:10,121
the umpire deducts one game
from Jeff's score.
770
00:34:10,155 --> 00:34:13,094
-This is very serious.
-And he doesn't take it well.
771
00:34:13,128 --> 00:34:15,065
-Code violation,
verbal abuse, point --
772
00:34:15,097 --> 00:34:17,170
-No way! That's it!
773
00:34:17,202 --> 00:34:19,340
[ Cheers and applause ]
-[ Speaks indistinctly ]
774
00:34:20,809 --> 00:34:24,583
-I can do two things,
I can grab him by his tie
775
00:34:24,617 --> 00:34:27,123
and smash him down
onto the net post.
776
00:34:27,155 --> 00:34:29,293
Or I could just take
the better side of life
777
00:34:29,327 --> 00:34:31,498
and just walk off the court
right now.
778
00:34:31,530 --> 00:34:33,367
-As he exits, his wife,
779
00:34:33,402 --> 00:34:35,338
who had been watching
from the stands,
780
00:34:35,371 --> 00:34:38,811
decides it's time for her to
come to her husband's defense.
781
00:34:38,846 --> 00:34:42,253
-Meanwhile, Madam Tarango,
782
00:34:42,286 --> 00:34:43,755
lovely French woman, you know,
783
00:34:43,789 --> 00:34:45,525
gets up out
of her place court side,
784
00:34:45,559 --> 00:34:47,597
walks over, and Bo comes
down from the chair.
785
00:34:47,630 --> 00:34:48,798
She just gives him a --
786
00:34:48,831 --> 00:34:50,469
whacks him across
the face with a,
787
00:34:50,503 --> 00:34:52,773
you know, classic,
like, French slap.
788
00:34:52,806 --> 00:34:55,146
[ Cheers and applause,
crowd jeering ]
789
00:34:55,179 --> 00:34:58,117
♪
790
00:34:58,152 --> 00:35:00,655
-The slap at Wimbledon.
791
00:35:00,688 --> 00:35:02,159
I heard that it happened,
792
00:35:02,193 --> 00:35:05,666
and I know that my wife
said it happened.
793
00:35:05,699 --> 00:35:08,639
And the chair umpire, I don't
think he ever said it happened.
794
00:35:08,672 --> 00:35:11,644
[ Crowd jeering ]
795
00:35:11,677 --> 00:35:13,382
It's a gray area to me,
796
00:35:13,414 --> 00:35:16,655
so, I'm not going to go on
the record about the slap.
797
00:35:16,688 --> 00:35:18,391
-For his behavior at Wimbledon,
798
00:35:18,425 --> 00:35:22,400
Tarango gets fined $20,000
by the Tennis Association.
799
00:35:22,432 --> 00:35:24,603
-Cha-ching. Cha-ching.
800
00:35:24,637 --> 00:35:26,708
-2 years later, in 1997,
801
00:35:26,740 --> 00:35:30,280
Andre Agassi will face
significantly less repercussions
802
00:35:30,315 --> 00:35:33,121
when a routine drug
test comes back positive
803
00:35:33,153 --> 00:35:37,161
for a drug not normally ingested
by professional athletes.
804
00:35:37,195 --> 00:35:39,300
Crystal meth.
805
00:35:40,869 --> 00:35:43,273
Agassi denies knowingly
taking the drug
806
00:35:43,307 --> 00:35:46,815
and blames his assistant
for spiking his energy drink
807
00:35:46,847 --> 00:35:48,552
until a decade later,
808
00:35:48,585 --> 00:35:51,557
when he finally tells
the truth in his memoir.
809
00:35:51,590 --> 00:35:53,728
-Going through Agassi's book,
then, you come to the point
810
00:35:53,762 --> 00:35:56,367
where he actually experiments
with meth
811
00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:58,271
while he's basically a player.
812
00:35:58,304 --> 00:36:01,744
♪
813
00:36:01,777 --> 00:36:05,251
-I think, in that time,
when he says he was on meth,
814
00:36:05,286 --> 00:36:07,623
I think, he was always trying
to stay ahead of the game
815
00:36:07,657 --> 00:36:09,159
and ahead of the curve.
816
00:36:09,192 --> 00:36:11,563
I think, he just went too far.
817
00:36:11,597 --> 00:36:14,170
But not everyone thinks
he was taking crystal meth
818
00:36:14,202 --> 00:36:16,407
as a performance enhancer.
-[ Snorting ]
819
00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:18,311
-Andre's use of meth,
in a sense,
820
00:36:18,344 --> 00:36:19,746
it's not shocking
or surprising,
821
00:36:19,780 --> 00:36:22,152
because, look,
he was obviously, you know,
822
00:36:22,184 --> 00:36:25,159
in rebellion against the sport
for much of the time.
823
00:36:25,190 --> 00:36:27,161
-[ Snorting continues ]
824
00:36:27,195 --> 00:36:29,766
♪
825
00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:31,304
When do people turn to drugs?
826
00:36:31,338 --> 00:36:32,539
Well, when they're
confused or unhappy
827
00:36:32,572 --> 00:36:33,909
or depressed, whatever.
828
00:36:33,942 --> 00:36:35,878
I think, that probably had
a fair amount
829
00:36:35,913 --> 00:36:38,351
to do with Andre.
-These hands.
830
00:36:38,385 --> 00:36:41,523
These miracle, magical,
life-giving hands.
831
00:36:41,557 --> 00:36:43,829
-The drug seemed
to make him erratic.
832
00:36:43,862 --> 00:36:46,601
-Maybe even lick one.
[ Laughter ]
833
00:36:46,634 --> 00:36:48,538
-On the set
of the sitcom, "Friends,"
834
00:36:48,572 --> 00:36:51,510
where his girlfriend Brooke
Shields is guest starring...
835
00:36:51,543 --> 00:36:54,416
-Yeah.
[ Laughter ]
836
00:36:55,985 --> 00:36:59,559
-He gets irate watching a scene
that he thinks is too sexual.
837
00:36:59,594 --> 00:37:01,731
[ Laughter continues ]
838
00:37:01,764 --> 00:37:03,534
♪
839
00:37:03,568 --> 00:37:07,275
He storms off and drives back to
his home in Las Vegas alone...
840
00:37:07,307 --> 00:37:12,519
♪
841
00:37:12,552 --> 00:37:15,192
...where he destroys most
of his tennis trophies.
842
00:37:15,224 --> 00:37:22,572
♪
843
00:37:22,606 --> 00:37:24,175
Despite incidents like this,
844
00:37:24,210 --> 00:37:27,483
Andre hides his addiction
from Brooke,
845
00:37:27,516 --> 00:37:32,224
and they tie the knot in a small
ceremony in April of '97.
846
00:37:32,257 --> 00:37:34,831
-I don't think it's like
he was running down the street
847
00:37:34,864 --> 00:37:37,769
looking for meth, because,
you know, he had an issue.
848
00:37:37,802 --> 00:37:40,240
I think, he was, like,
trying to make himself
849
00:37:40,275 --> 00:37:41,376
a better tennis player.
850
00:37:41,411 --> 00:37:43,246
And it wasn't happening.
851
00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:45,418
And -- And he was looking
for something.
852
00:37:45,452 --> 00:37:47,922
He made a mistake.
He made a few mistakes.
853
00:37:47,956 --> 00:37:50,394
♪
854
00:37:50,429 --> 00:37:52,465
-If he took the drug
to improve his game,
855
00:37:52,500 --> 00:37:53,934
it clearly doesn't work.
856
00:37:53,969 --> 00:37:55,639
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
Within a year,
857
00:37:55,672 --> 00:37:57,342
Agassi falls from the top 5
858
00:37:57,376 --> 00:37:59,780
to 141st in the world rankings.
859
00:37:59,813 --> 00:38:03,655
♪
860
00:38:03,688 --> 00:38:06,226
Like the struggles
of Capriati and Seles,
861
00:38:06,260 --> 00:38:08,864
Agassi's downward spiral
highlights the pressures
862
00:38:08,898 --> 00:38:10,402
facing star players
863
00:38:10,434 --> 00:38:12,239
in a decade
when little attention
864
00:38:12,271 --> 00:38:13,807
is being paid to mental health.
865
00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:18,217
-I think, in the '90s,
mental health,
866
00:38:18,251 --> 00:38:20,422
it was kind of like a taboo
to really say
867
00:38:20,454 --> 00:38:24,764
that you were having
any kind of problems.
868
00:38:24,797 --> 00:38:26,534
Well, people just
didn't talk about it,
869
00:38:26,568 --> 00:38:28,737
because they, maybe
thought it was, uh,
870
00:38:28,771 --> 00:38:30,943
a sign of weakness.
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
871
00:38:32,545 --> 00:38:34,248
-I think, sports psychology
872
00:38:34,282 --> 00:38:36,018
started becoming big
in the '90s,
873
00:38:36,054 --> 00:38:37,755
but nobody was
thinking about it
874
00:38:37,789 --> 00:38:39,760
as mental health,
they were thinking about it as,
875
00:38:39,793 --> 00:38:42,333
"How can I be better
than that other person?"
876
00:38:42,364 --> 00:38:44,570
-While both Agassi
and Capriati's troubles
877
00:38:44,603 --> 00:38:47,307
take them down,
neither is taken out.
878
00:38:47,342 --> 00:38:49,646
They're both about
to shock the world of tennis
879
00:38:49,679 --> 00:38:51,617
with what they do next.
-And we used to say,
880
00:38:51,650 --> 00:38:53,655
"It's not how you fall.
It's how you get back up."
881
00:38:57,829 --> 00:38:59,500
-As the '90s wind down,
882
00:38:59,532 --> 00:39:02,070
Andre Agassi surprises everyone
in his sport
883
00:39:02,105 --> 00:39:04,577
by doing the unexpected.
884
00:39:04,610 --> 00:39:06,780
He makes a comeback.
885
00:39:06,813 --> 00:39:08,652
-I think, Andre showed
a lot of character
886
00:39:08,684 --> 00:39:11,389
in how he rebounded
from this very confusing,
887
00:39:11,423 --> 00:39:12,960
I think, period in his life.
888
00:39:12,992 --> 00:39:14,896
-I think it made
an impact on a lot of people,
889
00:39:14,929 --> 00:39:16,701
and you realize we're
all vulnerable.
890
00:39:16,733 --> 00:39:18,605
Like if Andre is
the highest paid player
891
00:39:18,637 --> 00:39:20,641
and he's having
those kind of issues,
892
00:39:20,675 --> 00:39:24,317
then it's okay
for us to have some issues.
893
00:39:24,349 --> 00:39:28,556
-Over 12 months, Agassi battles
his way from 141st in the world
894
00:39:28,590 --> 00:39:32,666
back into the top 10.
895
00:39:32,699 --> 00:39:34,670
By summer of 1999,
896
00:39:34,704 --> 00:39:37,775
his two-year marriage
to Brooke Shields is over,
897
00:39:37,809 --> 00:39:41,516
but off the drugs
and on a new fitness routine,
898
00:39:41,550 --> 00:39:44,690
Agassi finishes the year
as the number one men's
899
00:39:44,724 --> 00:39:47,094
professional tennis player
in the world.
900
00:39:47,128 --> 00:39:49,632
[ Cheers and applause ]
901
00:39:49,666 --> 00:39:51,704
-I think he kind of came
to terms with tennis,
902
00:39:51,737 --> 00:39:54,375
and he came to value
and appreciate
903
00:39:54,409 --> 00:39:58,550
his profession
and his talent.
904
00:39:58,585 --> 00:40:00,655
-At the dawn
of Agassi's rebirth,
905
00:40:00,688 --> 00:40:03,360
Steffi Graf, just 30 years old,
906
00:40:03,393 --> 00:40:05,865
announces her retirement
mere months after winning
907
00:40:05,898 --> 00:40:11,409
her 22nd Grand Slam title
at the French Open.
908
00:40:11,443 --> 00:40:15,985
She and Agassi
start dating that year.
909
00:40:16,018 --> 00:40:19,391
-When she retires,
that leaves a void.
910
00:40:19,427 --> 00:40:22,030
That leaves an opening.
911
00:40:22,063 --> 00:40:25,972
-One Jennifer Capriati is
surprisingly ready to fill.
912
00:40:26,005 --> 00:40:29,880
In 2001, 11 years after
her promising debut,
913
00:40:29,914 --> 00:40:33,085
she enters the Australian Open
as the 12th seed,
914
00:40:33,119 --> 00:40:35,891
beats Monica Seles
to enter the semi-finals,
915
00:40:35,925 --> 00:40:38,030
and then defeats Martina Hingis
916
00:40:38,063 --> 00:40:40,534
to win her first
Grand Slam tournament.
917
00:40:40,568 --> 00:40:42,204
By the end of the year,
918
00:40:42,237 --> 00:40:46,947
Capriati is the number one
female player in the world.
919
00:40:46,981 --> 00:40:49,954
-She played a perfect match.
920
00:40:49,987 --> 00:40:51,590
-She'd won the Australian Open.
921
00:40:51,623 --> 00:40:53,527
That was a
very heartwarming story.
922
00:40:53,559 --> 00:40:54,797
And then, of course, you had
923
00:40:54,829 --> 00:40:56,498
the biggest story
of all, really,
924
00:40:56,534 --> 00:40:58,103
was the Williams sisters'
rapid development
925
00:40:58,135 --> 00:41:00,742
and emergence
as Grand Slam champions.
926
00:41:00,775 --> 00:41:03,882
-To see where we come from,
out of the worst ghetto,
927
00:41:03,914 --> 00:41:07,688
to be here at the finest club
in the world.
928
00:41:07,722 --> 00:41:09,425
-Starting in 1999,
929
00:41:09,460 --> 00:41:11,429
the Williams sisters
began dominating
930
00:41:11,463 --> 00:41:13,065
the sport's top events.
931
00:41:13,099 --> 00:41:17,074
-It will quickly become
Serena versus Venus
932
00:41:17,108 --> 00:41:20,514
in most of these
major tournaments.
933
00:41:20,547 --> 00:41:22,952
Those were the two
that were really
934
00:41:22,985 --> 00:41:26,726
just taking over
the sport of tennis.
935
00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:29,032
-Unlike Zina Garrison
back in 1990,
936
00:41:29,065 --> 00:41:32,773
the Williams sisters have
no trouble landing sponsors,
937
00:41:32,806 --> 00:41:34,710
including Venus's five-year,
938
00:41:34,742 --> 00:41:37,548
$40 million endorsement
deal with Reebok,
939
00:41:37,581 --> 00:41:42,925
the biggest for
any female athlete in history.
940
00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:47,068
-When Venus Williams signed
her deal with Reebok,
941
00:41:47,101 --> 00:41:51,978
it was huge in the landscape
of female sports.
942
00:41:52,010 --> 00:41:53,847
Still to this day,
943
00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:58,523
the highest-paid female athletes
in terms of endorsements
944
00:41:58,556 --> 00:42:01,831
are tennis players.
945
00:42:01,864 --> 00:42:04,670
-The Williams sisters profoundly
changed the demographic
946
00:42:04,702 --> 00:42:08,911
of who watches and plays tennis,
attracting people of color
947
00:42:08,945 --> 00:42:10,815
to a sport
historically dominated
948
00:42:10,847 --> 00:42:13,788
by affluent white people.
949
00:42:13,820 --> 00:42:15,759
-I feel so happy.
It's like a dream come true
950
00:42:15,791 --> 00:42:17,094
because I've been waiting
for this moment
951
00:42:17,128 --> 00:42:18,797
for a very long time.
952
00:42:18,831 --> 00:42:20,601
-People that never
would have watched tennis
953
00:42:20,635 --> 00:42:23,273
started watching tennis,
coming to tennis tournaments.
954
00:42:23,306 --> 00:42:27,081
[ Announcer speaks
indistinctly ]
955
00:42:27,114 --> 00:42:32,257
They reached an audience
that tennis hadn't reached.
956
00:42:32,291 --> 00:42:33,960
-Televised tennis now reaches
957
00:42:33,994 --> 00:42:36,534
more than a billion people
globally,
958
00:42:36,567 --> 00:42:38,971
and at the 2018 U.S. Open,
959
00:42:39,005 --> 00:42:41,744
Serena's final match
against Naomi Osaka
960
00:42:41,777 --> 00:42:45,650
drew in 50% more television
viewers than the men's final
961
00:42:45,684 --> 00:42:50,327
the following day.
962
00:42:50,360 --> 00:42:53,835
-You can't overestimate how
big an impact Venus and Serena
963
00:42:53,867 --> 00:42:58,175
and their story
had on changing things.
964
00:42:58,210 --> 00:43:01,048
-Much of the diversity of talent
on the tennis circuit today
965
00:43:01,081 --> 00:43:04,722
can be directly attributed
to the Williams sisters.
966
00:43:04,755 --> 00:43:07,260
But there's also
the trailblazers of the '90s --
967
00:43:07,293 --> 00:43:09,800
people like Zina Garrison,
968
00:43:09,833 --> 00:43:11,971
Capriati,
969
00:43:12,003 --> 00:43:13,940
Seles,
970
00:43:13,974 --> 00:43:16,981
and Agassi, who all left
their marks on the game.
971
00:43:17,014 --> 00:43:20,655
-It doesn't just begin
with Venus and Serena.
972
00:43:20,686 --> 00:43:22,958
We're all standing
on the shoulders of other people
973
00:43:22,992 --> 00:43:24,596
that have come before us.
974
00:43:24,628 --> 00:43:26,298
-I think that the stars
of the past,
975
00:43:26,331 --> 00:43:29,806
they have made a space to carve
out for the next generation.
976
00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:32,344
And so it's
not just Venus and Serena.
977
00:43:32,378 --> 00:43:36,954
Now we can have 5 of them,
hopefully 5, 15 of them.
978
00:43:36,987 --> 00:43:39,592
-Any time that you have
a player
979
00:43:39,625 --> 00:43:42,831
that can push back
against an establishment,
980
00:43:42,865 --> 00:43:44,601
then that creates more room
981
00:43:44,635 --> 00:43:46,139
for somebody to come in
behind them.
982
00:43:46,172 --> 00:43:47,876
-That's what's great
about tennis,
983
00:43:47,909 --> 00:43:51,048
that every era is going to show
something better.
984
00:43:51,081 --> 00:43:54,789
The '90s made tennis happen
for the future.