Famed tennis coach Nick Bollettieri shares a laugh with one of his most successful proteges, Andre Agassi.

East Hampton - For more than three decades, from before he could even walk up to his swan song in Flushing, Andre Agassi's right hand clenched a tennis racquet. Two years ago, he turned that racquet in, retiring from the sport he was born and bred to play. Even now Agassi's world-class grin makes him look like a teenager. His physique makes it seem as though he could sign up this morning for the U.S. Open and go toe-to-toe with the game's greats.

Could he play again? Agassi loves New York and New York loves Agassi. They'd find a place for him in the draw today. But would he? His homemade DADDY ROCKS necklace, which he wears over his tee-shirt on this day, and his well-documented involvement in several charities suggest otherwise. Hamptons.com sat down with Agassi during Sunday's extravaganza at The Ross School to discuss retired life, parenthood and the growing culture of tennis at the East Hampton institution.

Hamptons.com: This facility opened to great praise in the spring. What do you see brewing here as far as developing talent goes?

AA: First of all, they have this facility at a great school. It's a double threat in a child's life and gives them double the opportunity to be successful, not necessarily on the tennis court but I think tennis teaches you a lot of life skills that go along with educating and growing up and with the right focus. It's great to see this facility here. I love what [Founder] Courtney [Sale Ross] has done with the school, and I think tennis is a great thing in a child's life if done right to really add to their set of skills.

Andre Agassi took 10 questions from the kids at Ross and addressed them as well as the 200-plus crowd at the Ross Tennis Center.

Hamptons.com: How did the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy further your tennis career?

AA: I was sort of pushed to the game at an early age. When I went away to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, all you did all day was play tennis. If you're going to compete against the best in the world in anything, you have to give more time to it than anybody else is giving it, and that's what I did. I put more time into it than most kids. Along with another handful that I grew up with, that's all we did all day.

One of Agassi's points to the youngsters on hand was to never be judged as a finished product but rather to strive to grow continually throughout their lives as well as their tennis careers.

Hamptons.com: I'm sure that people view a child of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf as this tennis star in the making. How important is it to you for your kids to grow up playing the game?

AA: We prefer them not to play tennis because the truth is we know the road so intimately. One of the joys of children is experiencing life with them and not always being ahead of their experiences. To be so intimately aware of the challenges that exist, I think would limit our abilities and enjoyment as parents. There's a lot of pressure for them to do that but there are a lot of ways to express yourself. Tennis is one canvas but life is pretty full.

Hamptons.com: How is retirement sitting with you?

AA: I was worried about it going into retirement because it obviously feels like an unknowable void, but at the end of the day, it was very seamless to me. When I stopped playing, I realized that I wasn't a moody person but rather that tennis was moody. I miss the people, my peers, New York, I miss some of those things, but not the competition.

Hamptons.com: How many days will you spend at this year's Open?

AA: A couple days. They're honoring me Monday night. It's a nice opportunity to go back and see everybody.

Agassi is one of three players in the Open era to win the career Grand Slam, capturing the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.

Hamptons.com: When you watch a match, do you have the urge to come back and play?

AA: No.

Hamptons.com: No urge at all?

AA: First of all, I'm glad I don't play anymore when I see the standard now. Secondly, even at my best, tennis has come a long way. Guys are bigger, guys are faster, guys are better. Anybody that doesn't acknowledge any sport improving after every five or 10 years is in denial.

Hamptons.com: I guess retirement has allowed you to really be a dad. What's that like?

AA: It's one of the great joys in life. I learn every day about my children, how to better guide my children, so it's a great joy.

Hamptons.com: You've won the U.S. Open twice and this year is the 10-year anniversary of your finals win over Todd Martin. What Grand Slam title do you treasure the most?

AA: The last that I won, the last of the four at the French Open. I was 29 years old and coming off [being ranked] 141 in the world. I was down to sets to love in the finals [against Andrei Medvedev] and I found a way to get over those fears, find my game and accomplish winning a tournament I never thought I'd have a chance to win again.