"We’re professional babysitters; The best job in the world" - When Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf shared how kids Jaden & Jaz 'kept them on their toes'
Andre Agassi and his wife, fellow tennis legend Steffi Graf, once opened up about how their lives revolved around their children after retiring from the sport. The tennis power couple, who tied the knot in 2001 after two years together, welcomed their son Jaden that same year and their daughter Jaz in 2003.
Both Agassi and Graf achieved extraordinary success in their illustrious careers, winning a combined total of 30 Grand Slam titles. However, they have both maintained that clinching the Olympic singles gold has been their proudest accomplishment.
Steffi Graf triumphed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, becoming the only player in history to complete the calendar year Golden Slam by winning all four Majors and the gold medal in the same season. The German later revealed that her Olympic gold was "more special" than winning a Grand Slam.
Andre Agassi, who emerged victorious at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, has expressed a similar sentiment, asserting that winning a gold medal at the prestigious event was the "biggest" achievement in the sporting world.
In a 2012 interview with CNN, Agassi disclosed how he and Graf had observed the significance of their Olympic wins when visiting their children Jaden and Jaz's school on 'Professions Day.' The eight-time Grand Slam champion recounted that the students snubbed their other trophies and instead gravitated to their gold medals.
"We bring some trophies and all the children just want to take that gold medal, they want to hold it, they want to touch it. 'Is it real gold?' they ask," Agassi said.
Steffi Graf, meanwhile, shed light on how their children kept them on their toes with their active lifestyles, as their son Jaden developed a passion for baseball and their daughter Jaz took an interest in dance and horseback riding.
"A lot of different interests, very active. They keep us on our toes," Steffi Graf said.
Andre Agassi hilariously described them as "professional babysitters," which Graf acknowledged as the "best job" in the world.
"We’re professional babysitters," Agassi joked.
"The best job in the world," the German chimed in.
Steffi Graf on the importance of her family with Andre Agassi: "I'm very fortunate to have two healthy and beautiful children to whom I can give my time"
Steffi Graf has often spoken about how parenting her and Andre Agassi's children was the most meaningful role in her life. In a 2009 interview with the Daily Mail, the German emphasized that her Grand Slam record paled in comparison to the importance of providing Jaden and Jaz with a safe environment in which they could thrive.
"It's not even close. You cannot compare your athletic achievement to the importance of children and giving them a safe environment in which to grow up and enjoy life," Steffi Graf said.
Graf also shared that tennis gave her the "luxury" to devote her time entirely to her children, disclosing how her work ethic from her sporting career had carried over to her family life.
"I'm very fortunate to have two healthy and beautiful children to whom I can give my time, that is my luxury and what tennis gave me. I earned the time I now have with them but I still have this philosophy of working hard at everything I do, it just so happens it is not tennis," she added.
Steffi Graf further revealed that she found it "easy" to retire from professional tennis because she felt that she had given her career "everything," allowing her to focus on her family and raising her children.