In an interview with CBS, Agassi justified himself and asked for understanding, saying that "It was a period in my life where I needed help.
ɪn ɐn ˈɪntɚvjˌuː wɪð sˌiːbˌiːˈɛs, ˈæɡæsi dʒˈʌstᵻfˌaɪd hɪmsˈɛlf ænd ˈæskt fɔːɹ ˌʌndɚstˈændɪŋ, sˈeɪɪŋ ðˈæt "ɪt wʌzɐ pˈiəɹɪəd ɪn maɪ lˈaɪf wˌɛɹ aɪ nˈiːdᵻd hˈɛlp.