Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf’s 25-year bond transcends 30 Grand Slams as tennis icons rewrite the playbook on family healing and raising grounded children

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have built a family life that goes beyond their success on the tennis court. The couple, who have won 30 Grand Slam singles titles between them, married on October 22, 2001, and have two children, Jaden and Jaz. As Agassi recently shared in an interview with HELLO!, their children have grown up with their own interests, away from the expectation of following their parents into tennis. Their approach to family life offers a glimpse into how two sporting champions balance fame, marriage and parenthood.How did Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf understand each otherAndre Agassi and Steffi Graf both reached the top of tennis after starting the sport at a young age. Agassi won eight Grand Slam singles titles, while Graf won 22. They also each won an Olympic singles gold medal, making them the only two players in tennis history to complete a Career Golden Slam.Their careers brought years of competition, public attention and demanding schedules. Agassi has spoken openly about his complicated relationship with tennis in his autobiography, Open. His experiences included intense training under his father, Mike Agassi, and leaving home as a teenager to train at Nick Bollettieri’s tennis academy in Florida.Graf also began playing tennis as a young child and went on to become one of the sport’s most successful players. Her 22 Grand Slam singles titles included four Australian Open titles, six French Open titles, seven Wimbledon titles and five US Open titles.The pair married in Las Vegas in 2001, after both had established themselves as tennis greats. Their son, Jaden, was born four days after their wedding, and their daughter, Jaz, arrived in October 2003.Why did Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf let their children choose their own pathsAgassi and Graf have not expected their children to follow them into professional tennis. Their son, Jaden, chose baseball and developed his skills as a pitcher.Jaden attended the University of Southern California, where he played for the USC Trojans baseball team. In February 2025, Major League Baseball reported that he would represent Germany in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers. The decision gave him an opportunity to pursue a sport different from the one that made his parents famous.His choice also reflects the freedom to develop an identity outside his family’s tennis history. Rather than competing on the same courts as his parents, Jaden has worked towards his own goals in baseball.Their daughter, Jaz, has pursued interests that include dance and equestrian activities. Both children have grown up with parents who understand the demands of professional sport, but their careers have taken different directions.Agassi discussed their upbringing in his September 2026 interview with HELLO! during the Laver Cup in London. He explained how their children had learned by watching their parents’ everyday behaviour and seeing how other people treated them.“They see us, they learn from what we do, not from what we say,” Agassi said.He also described their outlook on life in simple terms: “They’re shockingly balanced,” he added proudly. Yahoo SportsHow do Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf balance marriage and ambitionAgassi returned to the tennis spotlight in September 2026 as captain of Team World at the Laver Cup in London. The tournament, held at The O2 from September 25 to 27, brought him back into a team environment after his playing career.Speaking to HELLO! during the event, Agassi explained that Graf understands why tennis remains important to him, even after retirement.“She likes seeing me happy, just like I like seeing her happy,” he said.He added that she understands the value he places on the tournament and the opportunity to connect with the sport again.“She knows this is a week in Laver Cup that I value, that I bond with, that I connect to. It’s a lot of work, but she’s never been scared of me in work mode.”Agassi also joked about the need to balance his professional commitments with time away from work.“I always promised her I wouldn’t be too busy or too bored - because I’m kind of dangerous in both! She appreciates my connection to it, so she’ll smile for a week.”His comments offer a glimpse into how the couple support each other’s interests. Both know what it takes to compete at the highest level, which gives them a shared understanding of the demands that come with professional tennis.How do Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf support children beyond their familyAgassi and Graf have also supported causes focused on children’s futures, with education and mental health among their areas of work.Agassi established the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education in 1994. One of its major projects was the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a public charter school that opened in Las Vegas in 2001. The school aimed to provide children in Historic West Las Vegas with a strong education and prepare them for college. Its operations were later transferred to Democracy Prep in 2017.Graf founded Children for Tomorrow in Hamburg, Germany, in 1998. The organisation supports children and young people who have experienced war, persecution and other forms of organised violence.According to the foundation’s official website, it provides medical and psychological care to affected children and supports their healthy development. The organisation is based at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf and works with children who need help dealing with traumatic experiences.The two initiatives focus on different needs, but both work to give children access to support and opportunities. Agassi’s project centres on education, while Graf’s foundation provides care for children affected by violence and displacement.Their work outside tennis adds another part to their public lives. Alongside their sporting records, they have supported efforts to improve children’s access to education and mental health services.After 25 years of marriage, Agassi and Graf continue to share a life shaped by their experiences in professional sport. Their children have followed different interests, and both parents have spoken about the importance of leading by example. Their family life and charitable work show how their interests now extend well beyond their achievements on the tennis court.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.