Tennis traditionalist Andre Agassi is working behind the scenes in an effort to keep Bjorn Borg's five Wimbledon trophies from going on the auction block.
Multi-millionaire Agassi hinted that "his people" are working on a project to keep the tennis treasure from falling into the hands of the highest bidder.
"It's not me. It's the sport," the 1992 champion said at the All England Club. "Wimbledon is the greatest tournament in the world. It's the Master's of tennis, right?"
Agassi, while not revealing details, said that his salvage effort is progressing, a week after after Borg announced that he's auctioning the trophies to assure his financial future.
"I've discussed it with my own, with my own people to find out a way of gathering the right people together to do right by those trophies, you know, and do right by the game to try to purchase them," Agassi said.
"I think there's a lot of people that, who could step up to help, for sure -- Wimbledon being one, myself being another," he said.
The 49-year-old Borg, who won five straight Wimbledon titles from 1976 to 1980, has had costly business and personal setbacks over the years, but his precise financial state and reason for selling remain a mystery.
"The thought of those trophies not being with the rightful owner or in a museum would be a crime. I just don't think you should have one unless you win it," Agassi said.
Agassi, a noted philanthropist who bankrolls a school in his Las Vegas, Nevada hometown, said that he is concerned for Borg.
"My first reaction was just to hope that the situation isn't as desperate as it sounds. The one way you should only have a Wimbledon trophy is if you win it, not if you buy it," Agassi said.
"I can't make any judgments on Bjorn. I can just say that the thought of a Wimbledon trophy being in the hands of somebody who has a lot of money is upsetting," he said.
As for his own trophy from 14 years ago, it's safe and sound: in a place of honor in Agassi's personal gym.
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