"It brings Steffi Graf to tears...I pale in comparison, she beats me at everything" - When Andre Agassi shared his admiration for wife's charity work
Andre Agassi once praised his wife Steffi Graf's charity work, stating that her "generosity" made him feel like the "devil."
Agassi and Graf are hailed as one of the greatest couples in tennis history. The American clinched eight Grand Slams, while the German won an astonishing 22 Majors, including the elusive Golden Slam—a feat unmatched by any player, male or female, to this day.
Agassi was admittedly "taken aback" by Graf during the early 1990s but began dating her in 1999 before tying the knot two years later. They have two children: a 22-year-old son named Jaden, who excels as a baseball player for the University of Southern California's Trojans, and a 20-year-old daughter named Jaz, who is a talented dancer.
Steffi Graf retired from tennis in 1999, despite still being at the peak of her game. Andre Agassi followed suit in 2006 after being defeated by Benjamin Becker in the third round of the US Open. Since then, they have dedicated themselves to various charitable endeavors.
Graf also founded the 'Children for Tomorrow (CFT)' foundation, drawing inspiration from the late Pete Riedesser, a child psychologist at the University of Hamburg. This non-profit organization is dedicated to supporting children affected by war, persecution, and other crises, providing them with crucial assistance and resources.
During a press conference in 2013, Agassi spoke glowingly about Graf's commitment to serving others. He added that she never sought recognition for her efforts, but quietly and diligently carried 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 continued:
"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 brief look into Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi's Grand Slam wins
Steffi Graf stands alone as the only player, male or female, to have won each of the four Grand Slams at least four times.
The German's resume includes seven Wimbledon (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996), six French Open (1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999), five US Open (1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996), and four Australian Open titles (1988, 1989, 1990, 1994).
Meanwhile, Andre Agassi won four Melbourne Slams (1995, 2000, 2001, 2003) and two New York Majors (1994, 1999) alongside one title each at Roland-Garros (1999) and SW19 (1992).