The reaction in Ashe was more of a celebration.

“It felt amazing. Nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I was overwhelmed with how they embraced me at the end,” Agassi said. “They saw me through my career. They’ve seen me through this, as well.”

He leaves the game as an elder statesman, not merely because he was the oldest man in the field, and not merely because of his wins on the court, but also because of his demeanor and extensive charity work off it. Through all the in-the-public-eye parts of his personal life (Barbra Streisand; Brooke Shields; Graf) and ups and downs of his professional life, he’s been one of tennis’ most dynamic and popular players.

He leaves with 60 singles titles, including a career Grand Slam, one of only five men to have won each of the sport’s premier events — something his great rival, Pete Sampras, never did, Roger Federer hasn’t managed, and players such as John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors didn’t accomplish, either.

Agassi’s been given credit for changing the way players return serve, and for showing how to dominate from the baseline by using quicker-than-a-blink reflexes to take the ball early. He gets praise, too, from his peers as an off-the-court role model. Federer, for one, talks about hurrying to start his own charitable foundation after learning about Agassi’s efforts to raise tens of millions of dollars for at-risk youths in his hometown of Las Vegas.

In return, tennis has given Agassi much, too: money, fame, influence, and, of course, Graf, herself a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion.

After Agassi shared a private moment with Graf and their children, he entered the locker room to another standing ovation, this one from his fellow players.

“Every person in the draw, with the exception of if you’re 33 years old, probably idolized Andre at some point,” Roddick said. “It’s got to be similar to what the NBA rookies were like playing (Michael) Jordan in his last year. I mean, he’s just revolutionized the sport. ... He’s irreplaceable.”

He chatted briefly with his coach, Darren Cahill, sitting side-by-side on a bench. When Cahill left, Agassi changed out of his on-court attire, dressed gingerly, then took a moment to stretch his back on a locker room bench.

“I’m going to wake up tomorrow and start with not caring how I feel. That’s going to feel great,” Agassi said. “And then I’m imagining for a long time, anytime somebody asks me to do something, I’m going to go, ’Sure. Why not?”’

With fans surrounding his car — several yelling, “Thank you, Andre!” — he climbed into the back, joining his brother, trainer and coach. As they pulled away, Agassi turned to wave goodbye, to his tournament, to his fans, to his career.

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