Andre Agassi has pleaded for compassion from critics over his taking of crystal methamphetamine, saying he “needed help” to fight depression in 1997.

CBS released excerpts from Agassi’s interview in their 60 Minutes programme on Thursday regarding his admission of taking methamphetamine in an upcoming memoir as well as other aspects of his life and career.

Agassi became emotional when interviewer Katie Couric read him the words of Martina Navratilova, who compared Agassi to Roger Clemens, a star baseball pitcher who has denied wrongdoing despite links to performance-enhancing drugs. “It’s what you don’t want to hear,” Agassi said. “I hope with that comes some compassion that maybe this person doesn’t need condemnation. Maybe this person could stand a little help.

“Because that was at a time in my life when I needed help. I had a problem, and there might be many other athletes out there that test positive for recreational drugs that have a problem. So I would ask for some compassion.”