Tennis is a team sport

One of the things that struck me on reading Andre Agassi's autobiography, "Open", was the obvious importance to him of his support team - both as a player and as an individual. Although it was Andre playing the matches and collecting the trophies, he freely acknowledges that he could not have done it without his brother and encourager Philly; his advisor and manager Perry Rogers; his coaches Nick Bollettieri, Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill; his trainer, friend and sometimes-bodyguard, Gil Reyes; and even his father who pushed him to become the best tennis player in the world.

Team sports also have a support team behind the scenes whose role it is to coach, organise and look after the players' interests. Often it is the quality of the support team that makes the difference between winning and losing when there is not much to choose between the players on each side. The same principle applies in business, the military, and probably any other human organisation you care to think of.

This concept can even extend beyond the direct involvement of colleagues and employees, to family and dependants. Andre Agassi has made no secret of his ambivalent feelings towards tennis. Yet he seems to have discovered his purpose in it all through his family and charitable foundation which, amongst other projects, funds inner-city education. Indeed, this seems to be the factor that motivated him to continue playing at the highest level until the age of 36, despite enduring agonising back pain towards the end of his career. When things were tough he would consciously remind himself that he was playing not for his own benefit, but for all those who depended on him. So these too became part of his extended team, and every time he stepped out on the court he was representing them.

Perhaps it's by chance that Andre's enlightenment coincides with his transformation from bad-boy rebel to elder statesman of the game - but I don't think so. I believe we all have an inner need to feel that our work has a purpose and impact beyond ourselves; ultimately this is what gives meaning to our existence. It's worth each one of us asking ourselves the same question, regardless of our role and station in life: "Who am I playing for?"