AGASSI ADMITS DRUG USAGE IN NEW BOOK

Andre Agassi, in his new book, reveals that he used the highly addictive drug crystal meth during his career.

His meth use occurred in 1997, "during the period when his game and life fell apart," a source told Vegas Confidential.

That was the year Agassi hit bottom. From his world No. 1 ranking in 1995, Agassi sank to No. 141 in November 1997. A wrist injury played a part in his crash, as did his marriage to actress Brooke Shields in April 1997. The marriage last two years and ended about the time Agassi launched his monumental comeback.

"It's not a walk-in-the-park sports bio," said the source. "It's a nitty gritty, jaw-dropping memoir."

The book, titled "Open: An Autobiography," comes out Nov. 9, timed around a Las Vegas book launch party and excerpts in Sports Illustrated and People, along an appearance on "60 Minutes."

"It's anything but a run-of-of-the-mill book about an athlete. It's extremely personal...not a sunshiney book. He holds nothing back," said the source, who has read the autobiography.

Paul Bogaards, director of media relations at Knopf, the book's publisher, confirmed earlier today that the excerpts "contain revelations about Andre's use of crystal meth when he was a tennis player."

-- NORM CLARKE, Vegas Confidential