Steffi Graf Tips Serena Williams to Break Major Record ‘Soon’

Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi: The golden couple of tennis hold court on fashion, their charitable endeavours and being hands on parents.

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, in Melbourne. Photo: Julian Kingma


Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi: The golden couple of tennis hold court on fashion, their charitable endeavours and being hands-on parents.

It’s been 15 years since tennis champion and former world No. 1 Stefanie Graf was last in Melbourne, but she’s glad to be back with her husband Andre Agassi who is coaching Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open.

The power couple have won a combined 30 grand slam events between them – put simply, they ruled the world circuit at the tail end of the ’80s, ’90s and beyond.

“I have so many great memories of Melbourne. I even remember playing at Kooyong,” says Graf, who won her first Australian Open in 1988 against Chris Evert.

Steffi Graf holding the 1994 Australian Open tennis trophy. Photo: Supplied.

Agassi has fond memories of winning, too – taking out four Australian Open titles, his first in 1995 against Pete Sampras and his last in 2003 against Rainer Schuttler.

“Melbourne always had a great vibe. I was here a year ago with Longines and it’s so good to be in a city that really gets behind sport,” adds Agassi.

Graf and Agassi have also celebrated 10 years as ambassadors with the iconic Swiss watchmaker, which has just opened its first Melbourne boutique and released 10 luxury Conquest VHP models in their honour.

Globally, the 10 sets raised more than $US300,000 ($418,000) with proceeds going to their respective charities, the Andre Agassi Foundation and Graf’s Children for Tomorrow. Two were purchased by Australian buyers.

“I don’t know what ambassadorship looks like in context but, for us, if it doesn’t inspire us on a very personal level, then it doesn’t interest us,” Agassi says at our meeting at Crown Towers.

Putting their names to a watch matters when it’s about giving to those in need. Agassi’s Foundation alone has opened more than 90 schools to help educate underprivileged kids in Las Vegas. He says being a world champion matters little compared to giving a child an opportunity to study.

Andre Agassi during his match against Guillermo Coria at the Australian Open in 2003. Photo: Wayne Taylor.

“Looking back, it’s been daunting journey starting the foundation and certainly an unpredictable one,” says Agassi, who dropped out of school in eighth grade to focus on his tennis career under the heavy rule of his father.

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“Building schools and seeing the lives it impacts is mind-blowing.

“Despite what anyone thinks I have achieved, the process has done more for me than people might imagine. I get my daily motivations and inspiration from the kids. They give me hope that no amount of winning on the tennis circuit could give.”

Agassi says if he had his time again he wouldn’t play tennis at all but, since retiring from the sport in 2006, he has found a new passion as coach.

In 2017, he was asked to coach Novak Djokovic. He’s now helping the Bulgarian-born Dimitrov, 27, who holidayed with the Agassi-Graf clan in Atlanta and stayed at their home in Las Vegas, too.

“When you play the game it’s heavy stress and no pressure, whereas coaching is all pressure and no stress,” he says.

Graf, who is sitting beside him, adds: “Oh, it’s a little bit of stress.”

Graf has never been one for the spotlight, even when she was at the top of her game. The two-time Olympic champion and 22 grand slam event winner doesn’t boast about her wins but is grateful for the life it has given her.

Happily married for 17 years, the couple have two children – son Jaden, 17, and daughter Jaz Elle, 15.  You can add three dogs and two cats to the household as well.

“It was a relief to walk away from the game,” Graf says.

Andre Agassi proudly displays the winner’s trophy aloft after his men’s singles final victory Australian Open Tennis Championships in 2003. Photo: Rick Stevens.

“But, of course, I am thankful for the experiences, memories and what the sport gave me and I’m sitting here because of it,” she beams.

“Tennis is such an intense sport, physically and mentally. I was yearning for a more balanced life. I was ready for a new way of life when I retired.”

Agassi says the couple gave up their own childhood to be rewarded with the privilege of being hands-on parents.

“We are lucky to have been there every step of the way for our kids,” says Agassi.

Graf says: “It’s like everybody tells you, time flies and before you know it they’ve grown up. I cherish every moment. They’re great kids.”

The couple appears at ease with one anothe

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