"Apart from the buzz of getting high," he says, "I get an undeniable satisfaction from harming myself and shortening my career," he writes. But the physical aftermath is hideous. After two days of being high, of not sleeping, I'm an alien. I have the audacity to wonder why I feel so rotten. I'm an athlete, my body should be able to handle this."

U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez, a former player who was a contemporary of Agassi's, described the drug revelations as disappointing and "a bit of a shock."

"It takes a lot of guts and courage to come out and say something that nobody would have really known about," Fernandez said. "I've always admired Andre. He was a huge part of inspiring my generation, and he did a lot of great things and continues to do a lot of great things. He's opening up now, and that's his choice. Maybe people can learn from it and not make the same mistakes."

Andre Agassi at the 1997 U.S. Open. (Jon Levy / Getty Images)

Agassi turned pro in 1986, reached his first major final at the French Open in 1990, quickly drew plenty of attention and kept drawing it — for his service returns, considered by many to be the best in the game; for his quick-as-could-be reflexes at the baseline; for his denim shorts, Day-Glo shirts, flowing hair and dangling earrings; for his two-year marriage to Brooke Shields and friendship with Barbra Streisand that provided fodder for the tabloids.

He won Wimbledon in 1992, was ranked No. 1 in 1995, won an Olympic gold medal in 1996 — and then it all unraveled. He dropped to 141st in the rankings and resorted to playing in tennis' minor leagues in 1997, the year he says he first tried crystal meth.

After he escaped punishment for the drug test, he writes, his thought was: "New life."

In addition to returning to No. 1 in the world, and completing a career Grand Slam, Agassi became an influential voice on the tennis tour. He also raised tens of millions of dollars for at-risk youths in his hometown of Las Vegas and opened a preparatory academy there.

He also got remarried, to tennis great Steffi Graf — he calls her "Stefanie" in the book — and they have two children.

Always evolving.

"It fits in with the story arc of his redemption," said Gene Grabowski, who guides high-profile figures — Roger Clemens is a client — through public relations crises.

"It's going to make Andre Agassi even richer. This is going to help him sell his book, which is why he wrote it," Grabowski said.

Agassi reportedly received at least $5 million for the book; the first printing is a half-million copies, a relatively high number in publishing.

"His book will probably sell. It seems very interesting, to say the least," seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams said Wednesday after playing at the WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar. "But what am I supposed to say about Andre's life? I can't really say anything."

Calling Agassi "an icon of his sport," IOC president Jacques Rogge said, "If his admission would go together with the message to young athletes that it should not be repeated, then that would be useful."

The International Tennis Federation said the reference to the 1997 drug test was surprising but noted that it did not oversee anti-doping efforts on the men's tour back then. The ATP, which did, issued a statement Wednesday about its rules, in general, noting an independent panel makes the final decision on a doping violation.

Jim Fahey, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, called on the ATP to "shed light on this allegation."

The tour declined repeated requests from The Associated Press to address the specifics of Agassi's account.