Worn down and wincing, Andre Agassi could only stand and watch the final shot whiz by.

A career for the ages came to a close Sunday when Agassi lost to the 112th-ranked player in the world, with Benjamin Becker serving an ace to finish off a 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5 third-round victory at the U.S. Open.

Playing with the spirit of a champion but a creaky body that needed three injections, the end came with Agassi looking like what he'd become _ a 36-year-old man with a bad back trying to play tennis.

Agassi teared up on the blue court as he addressed a crowd that showed up early at Arthur Ashe Stadium and tried to spur him all afternoon.

``The scoreboard shows that I lost today,'' he said. ``But what the scoreboard doesn't show is what I feel.''

Becker, who had to win three qualifying matches merely to make it into the Open, applauded as Agassi spoke. Agassi's wife, Steffi Graf, and their two young children looked on.

``He was my idol growing up,'' said Becker, who joined the crowd in a long, loud standing ovation for Agassi.

Agassi needed cortisone and anti-inflammatory shots to keep playing this week. Although he pushed himself to the limit, he was just plain shot.

Hobbling, grimacing and breathing hard, he frequently stood and could only watch to see whether Becker's shots landed good. Reduced to hoping rather than hitting, Agassi showed just flashes of the brilliant returns and pinpoint backhands that made him an eight-time Grand Slam winner.

The crowd clearly felt his pain, booing when the 25-year-old Becker hit drop shots that made Agassi run.