I tell the players: You'll hear a lot of applause in your life, fellas, but none will mean more to you than that applause-from your peers. I hope each of you hears that at the end.

Agassi contrasts the fleeting thrill of public acclaim with the deeper validation that comes from being respected by those who truly understand the craft—fellow competitors. In sport, peers are uniquely qualified judges: they know the sacrifices, the pressure, the injuries, and the fine margins that outsiders may miss. The quote frames a career as something measured not only by trophies or crowd noise, but by the esteem earned within the professional community. His closing hope—“at the end”—casts peer applause as a kind of ultimate benediction, suggesting that integrity, effort, and sportsmanship can matter as much as winning in determining one’s lasting reputation.