Andre Agassi once commended his wife Steffi Graf’s philanthropic efforts, remarking that her selflessness made him feel like the “devil.”
Agassi and Graf are widely recognized as one of the most iconic pairs in the history of tennis. While the American secured eight Grand Slams, the German achieved an impressive 22 Majors, including the highly coveted Golden Slam—a record that remains unmatched by any other player, regardless of gender, to this day.
Despite being surprised by Graf in the early 1990s, Agassi started a relationship with her in 1999 and they got married two years later. They are proud parents of two children: a 22-year-old son named Jaden, who is a standout baseball player for the University of Southern California’s Trojans, and a 20-year-old daughter named Jaz, who is known for her impressive dance skills.
Despite still being at the peak of their game, Steffi Graf retired from tennis in 1999. Following suit, Andre Agassi also retired in 2006 after being defeated by Benjamin Becker in the third round of the US Open. Both have since dedicated themselves to various charitable endeavors.
Graf, inspired by the work of child psychologist Pete Riedesser at the University of Hamburg, established the ‘Children for Tomorrow (CFT)’ foundation. This non-profit organization aims to aid children impacted by war, persecution, and other crises by offering essential aid and resources.
In a 2013 press conference, Agassi praised Graf for her dedication to serving others. He noted that she never desired recognition for her actions, instead quietly and diligently carrying out her work.
“She makes me feel like the devil with her generosity,”Agassi said. “I look at her and I think, ‘Why are you putting yourself through this?’ She puts herself through it and then comes home and writes the check to her foundation.”
“She doesn’t need fanfare with it. She doesn’t advertise it. Most of the time she’s not that thrilled to talk about it publicly because it brings her to tears in a hurry. She just chooses to live it,”he added.
The American proceeded:
“I’m amazed at what she does. I get to watch her live her values every day. I try to do the same. I pale in comparison. She beats me at everything.”
A closer look at the Grand Slam triumphs of Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi
Steffi Graf holds the unique distinction of being the sole player, regardless of gender, to have achieved at least four victories in each of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
The German has won a total of seven Wimbledon titles (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996), six French Open titles (1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999), five US Open titles (1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996), and four Australian Open titles (1988, 1989, 1990, 1994) throughout their career.
During this time, Andre Agassi achieved victories in four Melbourne Slams (1995, 2000, 2001, 2003) and two New York Majors (1994, 1999), as well as one title at Roland-Garros (1999) and another at SW19 (1992).
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