ESPN Tennis

Andre Agassi's decision to step away from tennis meant the end of the career of one of the game's must recognizable players. However, he isn't the only competitor we won't be seeing again in 2007. Here's a look at those who said goodbye to the tennis world in 2006.

Andre Agassi, 36
He was a brash, free-swinging prodigy in the early 1980s, and his image, personality and swagger captivated fans. Now, after more than two decades on the court, Agassi will begin the next phase of his life, one that includes his charity and spending time with his wife, Steffi Graf, and their two children.

Agassi racked up 60 titles during his career, including eight Grand Slam wins. He also captured Olympic gold in 1996 in Atlanta, becoming the only male player to achieve the "Golden Slam."

For all his accomplishments, Agassi will be remembered most for his sudden transformation into a relentless workhorse just two years after dropping to a career-low ranking of No. 141 in 1997.

At Roland Garros in 1999, a rededicated and rejuvenated Agassi stood in tears on Centre Court after winning the French Open and completing the career Grand Slam. Agassi finished that season ranked No. 1 in the world for the first and only time.

From that point forward, his priorities were evident. He became the elder statesman of the game, someone who was respected for his professionalism as much as his on-court success.

If there is any doubt about what he meant to the game, just look back at the 10-minute standing ovation following his final match at the U.S. Open this year. And if there is any doubt as to what his legacy will be, you need to go no further than the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, which has raised more that $60 million.

Alex Corretja, 32
He hasn't played in two years, but Corretja officially announced his retirement in 2006. He won 17 career titles, including the year-end ATP Championships in 1998, but the Spaniard might be remembered most for the one he didn't win.

In an epic 1996 U.S Open quarterfinal match, Corretja succumbed to a visibly sick Pete Sampras in the fifth-set tiebreaker. As the match was reaching its climax, Sampras hunched over, and for a lack of a better term, lost his lunch. Clearly shaken, Corretja double faulted on match point, handing Sampras the match.

Corretja came close a few times, but never was able to win the big one. He twice reached the French Open final, losing on both occasions in 1998 and 2001.

Albert Costa, 31
Heading into the 2002 French Open, Costa had not won a single title in three years. The Spaniard wasn't considered a journeyman, but clearly he was not a favorite to contend for a major title.

However, that year at Roland Garros, Costa shocked two-time defending champion Gustavo Kuerten in the fourth round and then dismantled countryman and heavy favorite Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final for the lone Grand Slam title of his career. To top it off, Costa married his longtime girlfriend five days later. Corretja, who lost to Costa in the semifinals of the French Open, was Costa's best man.

Costa won 12 titles in 13 years on tour, but his career was slowed considerably after undergoing knee surgery in 2005. In 2006, Costa played only four matches before calling it quits.

Lindsay Davenport, 30
Often overshadowed and clearly underappreciated, Davenport quietly will trade in her racket for motherhood. Although she has not used the word "retired," all indications are that the three-time Grand Slam winner has played her final match.

Often criticized for her lack of speed, Davenport compensated with a powerful serve and some of the cleanest groundstrokes the game has ever seen. She won 51 career titles, good for ninth in the Open era. She finished as the top-ranked player in the world four times, including back-to-back seasons in 2004-05.

Davenport's breakthrough came in 1998 when she captured the U.S. Open crown against top-seeded Martina Hingis. She became the first American-born woman to win at Flushing Meadows since Chris Evert in 1982.

Thomas Enqvist, 32
Upon his arrival to the ATP Tour in 1991, many touted Enqvist as the next great Swede. Although he never lived up to those expectations -- difficult shoes to fill when you're predecessors are Bjorn Borg and Stefan Edberg -- Enqvist had some success.

He finished ranked in the top 10 on four different occasions, including a personal-best No. 4 in 1999 when he reached the Australian Open final. In that match, though, Enqvist was overmatched by a craftier Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Enqvist finished his career with 19 titles, including three Masters Series events.

Conchita Martinez, 30
Perhaps her career slid under the radar. Martinez had the unfortunate luck of playing in an era with Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles: a trio that combined to win 49 Grand Slam titles. However, Martinez's career was fulfilled in 1994 when she became the first Spaniard to win Wimbledon, and in doing so, prevented Navratilova from her 10th title at the All England Club.

In her 18-year career she won 33 titles, tied with Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters for 11th in the Open era. Martinez was also runner-up at two other Grand Slams: the 1998 Australian Open and 2000 French Open.

Martina Navratilova, 50
Arguably the greatest female athlete of all time, Navratilova picked up a racket for the final time at the 2006 U.S. Open. She went out in style, combining with Bob Bryan to win the mixed doubles title.

To put in perspective how remarkable her career has been, current No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne was four years away from being born when Navratilova won her first Grand Slam title, in 1978.

Navratilova raised the women's game to new heights with her serve-and-volley tactics. It was this style that helped her capture a record nine Wimbledon titles. She finished her career with 18 major singles titles and 41 Grand Slam doubles championships (including mixed doubles.)

In 1986, Navratilova went 86-1, the highest single-season win percentage in the Open era. She was ranked No. 1 for a total of 331 weeks on nine different occasions, and her 167 titles are also an Open-era record.

From her first career title in 1974, to her final winner's trophy this season, Navratilova leaves behind one of the most accomplished careers in sports history.