Andre Agassi of the US cries as he blows a kiss to the crowd after losing to Benjamin Becker of Germany 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 in the third round of the US Open Tennis Championships, marking his retirement from tennis.  (Xinhua photo) [Gallery -- Agassi ended his tennis player's career]

The 25-year-old Becker, who entered the competition ranked 112th, won 7-5 6-7 6-4 7-5 over Agassi, who was ranked 39, in the match held in the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Forest Hills, Queens.

After it finished, Agassi then sat in his chair and put a towel to his familiar face. He was already starting to cry.

The crowd of over 23,000 stayed on their feet and cheered for several minutes applauding, while Becker was standing and clapping, too.

Agassi then rose and blew four more kisses to the crowd, and eventually took the microphone from the on-court reporter and gave a speech instead of an interview with his voice breaking.

"The scoreboard said I lost today," said Agassi, his voice breaking with emotion, "but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found."

"You have willed me to achieve even in my lowest moments," he added, "You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams that I could not have reached without you."

During the match, Agassi was unable to play his normal game. At change of ends, even there were moments when he barely seemed able to walk. He said that back pain flared, affected his game. "The pain came quickly; it can do that and it did, you immediately start cutting corners."

Agassi's two-decade career record includes 868 wins and 273 losses. He appeared 20 times in the U.S. Open, winning the event in 1994 and in 1999. He won a total of eight Grand Slam titles, covering the U.S., French and Australian Opens, and Wimbledon.

Editor: Donald