"Everything I wished I was; when I told Steffi Graf I hated tennis she said 'Don't we all'": When Andre Agassi spoke on 'gravitating' towards his wife
Andre Agassi once revealed why he had initially gravitated towards his wife, fellow tennis legend Steffi Graf. The American opened up about being inspired by Graf's graceful approach to handling the challenges of being a professional tennis player.
Even before the pair tied the knot in 2001 and became one of the sport's most beloved power couples, Agassi admitted that he "respected Graf from a distance and marveled at her." The American's admiration for Graf only grew when they began dating in 1999, especially as she had helped him deal with his "hatred" of tennis, which he disclosed in his autobiography 'Open.'
In a 2009 interview with Oprah.com, Andre Agassi opened up about "gravitating" towards Steffi Graf because she coped with the pressure of being a professional tennis player with "unspeakable grace," which was in stark contrast to his own struggles.
"It was something from the outside—I think it's one of the things people do. They gravitate toward people that have something they don't have. I've always gravitated toward people like that in my life," Andre Agassi said.
"I looked at Stefanie and saw someone who dealt with the same pressures that I did in many respects from the outside, and she did it with an unspeakable grace," he added.
The American was impressed by how much better Graf was at handling life, admitting that she embodied everything he aspired to be. Agassi revealed that when he complained to the German about hating tennis, she simply asserted that it was a common sentiment among players but still found the joy in competing.
"She was so understated and seemed to be a lot better at life than I was. She seemed to be everything I wished that I was. When I told her I hated tennis she basically said, "Don't we all?" Of course there are things to hate. Somehow that wasn't the point," he said.
"She found a way to push through, find the joy in it—things that it can give and to find ways to connect to it. It inspired me. And there was no push back on I shouldn't, it was just: "Of course. Now let's talk about what really matters,"" he added.
"Steffi Graf makes me feel like the devil with her generosity... I pale in comparison" - Andre Agassi
Following her retirement from tennis in 1999, Steffi Graf turned her attention to philanthropic efforts by founding the 'Children for Tomorrow' foundation. During a press conference in 2013, Andre Agassi gushed over his wife's "generosity" when it came to charity work.
"She makes me feel like the devil with her generosity. 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." Andre Agassi said.
"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.
Agassi admitted that while he tried to emulate his wife, he fell short of her standards.
"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," he said.
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have two children; their son, Jaden, plays baseball for the University of Southern California's Trojans, while their daughter, Jaz, is pursuing her interests in dance and fitness.