Fans celebrate Agassi the gentleman showman

LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) For Wimbledon fans both young and old, Andre Agassi was the ultimate showman, the perfect champion.

''I have seen him every year at Wimbledon. He's lovely. I could really mother him,'' confessed 76-year-old Joyce Hocking who swapped court tickets to get a last glimpse of her hero this week. ''I would always put myself out for him.'' Katherine Comer, fifty years her junior, was just as excited as she reflected courtside on the charismatic American who bowed out of Wimbledon on Saturday at the ripe old age of 36.

On her first trip to Wimbledon from Virginia in the United States, Comer said ''I can't believe it, I have just taken his photograph. I used to watch him on the TV as a kid. This is the first time I have seen him live.'' For the Las Vegas showman, it was the perfect way to bring the curtain down on Centre Court.

With his third-round 7-6 6-2 6-4 defeat he handed the baton to the success story of a new generation, 20-year-old Rafael Nadal, the fist-pumping Spaniard with the dashing toreador trousers.

Agassi paid tribute on Saturday to the supporters who have lived every Wimbledon moment with him. ''You guys have been awesome,'' he said before leaving Centre Court for the last time.

Ask anyone in the queue lining up for a final glimpse of Agassi this week and they all had an opinion delivered with genuine affection.

REAL GENTLEMAN ''He is a real gentleman,'' said Sylvia Onyekwelu. ''But I must confess when I came along to Wimbledon I was surprised. I didn't know he was still playing.'' Her friend Joanne Harding, 34, said ''I like his style and his sense of humour. He has that lovely sparkle in his eye and always accepts defeat with dignity.'' Joan Pierre had no doubt: ''Wimbledon will be a sadder place without him. He would just never gave up.'' In his rebellious youth, Agassi felt stifled by all the pomp and circumstance of Wimbledon. Not any more.

Taking his final bow, the Las Vegas showman revelled in the adulation, blowing kisses to every corner of the court.

''I embrace the future'' was his own upbeat epitaph, reflecting on his career as one of only five men to win all four Grand Slams, starting with Wimbledon in 1992.

The most common comment he got from fans when signing autographs was ''Don't retire.'' He retorted ''Talk to my family about that, talk to my body.'' Hollering and whooping in very un-British fashion, the crowd kept giving him standing ovations. When he missed a shot, they groaned. Winning passes were greeted with adulation. They even cheered when he changed ends.

''Viva Las Vegas!'' they shouted as he bowed for the last time.

At the age of 70, Valerie Allam neatly summed up their love affair with Agassi.

''He has become an extremely nice person and he is a great player. He was a real showman and now he is a real ambassador for the game of tennis.'' Reuters PM VV2110