Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are not just legends in the world of tennis they’re also one of the most iconic power couples in sports history. Married since 2001, this dynamic duo has transitioned from dominating Grand Slam tournaments to building a life together off the court. As of March 30, 2025, their 23-year marriage remains a testament to love, mutual respect, and a shared passion for sports. But what’s the secret behind their enduring relationship? It turns out, they have a unique rule in their marriage one that’s tied to their latest obsession pickleball.
In this article, we’ll dive into the latest insights about Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf marriage, explore their famous rule, and uncover how their shared history and evolving interests keep their bond strong. Whether you’re a tennis fan, a pickleball enthusiast, or simply curious about celebrity relationships, this piece has everything you need to know about the couple’s journey together.
Who Are Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf?
Before we get into their marriage rule, let’s take a quick look at who these two are. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are tennis royalty. Agassi, an American tennis icon, won eight Grand Slam singles titles, including four Australian Opens, and was known for his powerful baseline game and charismatic personality. Graf, hailing from Germany, is widely regarded as one of the greatest female players of all time, with an astonishing 22 Grand Slam singles titles to her name. She’s the only player male or female to achieve a Golden Slam, winning all four majors and an Olympic gold medal in a single year (1988).
Their paths first crossed in the tennis world during the early 1990s, but it wasn’t until 1999 that their romance blossomed. After Agassi’s divorce from actress Brooke Shields and Graf’s retirement from professional tennis, the two found common ground. They tied the knot in a private ceremony at their Las Vegas home on October 22, 2001, with only their mothers as witnesses. Today, they’re parents to two children, Jaden Gil (born 2001) and Jaz Elle (born 2003), and continue to live a relatively low-key life in Summerlin, Nevada.
The Marriage Rule: No Competing in Pickleball
So, what’s this mysterious rule that keeps their marriage ticking? As revealed in an exclusive interview with People on March 28, 2025, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have one golden rule when it comes to their shared love of pickleball: they don’t play against each other. Instead, they prefer to team up on the same side of the court.
“We don’t play each other. We prefer to be on the same side of the court,” Graf told People during a “Grand Slam Weekend” event at The Breakers Palm Beach. This rule might seem simple, but it speaks volumes about their approach to maintaining harmony in their relationship. After decades of fierce competition on the tennis court, the couple has chosen collaboration over rivalry in their post-retirement years.
Agassi echoed this sentiment, explaining, “We like that pickleball is a community-driven sport.” For them, it’s less about winning against each other and more about enjoying the game together and with friends. This rule has become a cornerstone of their pickleball routine, which they play at least three times a week in their Las Vegas home.
Why Pickleball? A New Chapter for the Tennis Legends
Pickleball, a paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, has taken the U.S. by storm in recent years and Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are all in. Their interest in the sport began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were looking for a new way to stay active. Graf, who largely stepped away from tennis after retiring in 1999, noted, “Andre still plays tennis, but I don’t much anymore. We really liked learning a new sport during the pandemic and meeting new friends through pickleball.”
Unlike tennis, which can be physically demanding and injury-prone, pickleball offers a gentler alternative. “It’s a game where players use paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net, with fewer chances for injury than tennis,” Graf explained. For two athletes whose bodies endured years of high-intensity competition, this shift makes perfect sense.
Their love for pickleball isn’t just a hobby it’s a competitive outlet too. In February 2025, the couple won the Pickleball Slam, a premier event broadcast on ESPN, proving they’ve still got the winning touch. Now, they’re taking their passion global, with plans to promote the sport in Vietnam and China from March 26-29, 2025, as part of the JOOLA 2025 Pickleball Legends Tour.
How Their Marriage Rule Reflects Their Relationship
The “no competing” rule in pickleball isn’t just about avoiding a friendly rivalry it’s a reflection of the mutual respect and teamwork that define Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf marriage. Over the years, they’ve spoken candidly about what makes their relationship work. In a 2024 interview with WSJ. Magazine, Agassi emphasized the importance of self-awareness in a partnership “You can’t come to a relationship needing the other to feel complete, or else you’re fighting multiple battles.”
This philosophy shines through in their pickleball rule. Rather than pitting their competitive spirits against each other, they channel that energy into supporting one another. It’s a dynamic that’s served them well for over two decades. As Agassi told E! News in 2024, “We love cooking together. We love hiking together. We even love grocery shopping together, dividing and conquering. So it’s real life. And we’re blessed.”
A Timeline of Their Love Story
To understand how this rule fits into their broader relationship, let’s take a look at the key milestones in Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf love story:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1992 | First meeting at Wimbledon, where both won singles titles |
| 1999 | Romance begins after Graf’s retirement and Agassi’s divorce from Shields |
| 2001 | Married in a private Las Vegas ceremony on October 22 |
| 2001 | Son Jaden Gil born on October 26 |
| 2003 | Daughter Jaz Elle born on October 3 |
| 2025 | Reveal their pickleball marriage rule in People interview |
Their journey from tennis champions to pickleball partners is a natural evolution of a relationship built on shared values and experiences.
What Keeps Their Marriage Strong?
Beyond their pickleball rule, Agassi and Graf attribute their lasting marriage to several key factors:
- Mutual Respect: Agassi has often praised Graf’s discipline and grace. In his 2004 speech at her Tennis Hall of Fame induction, he said, “She’s the greatest person I’ve ever known.”
- Shared Interests: From tennis to pickleball to philanthropy, they’ve found ways to connect through their passions.
- Privacy: Despite their fame, they’ve kept their personal life out of the spotlight, focusing on family and community in Las Vegas.
- Balance: Graf brings structure (Agassi calls it “German thoroughness”), while he adds spontaneity, creating a complementary dynamic.
Their children, Jaden and Jaz, also play a central role. While neither followed in their parents’ tennis footsteps Jaden is a baseball player at USC, and Jaz pursues her own interests the family remains tight-knit. “Raising our two kids is our biggest joy and our biggest worry,” Agassi told Independent.ie in 2023.
The Latest Updates: March 2025
As of March 30, 2025, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are as active as ever. Fresh off their People interview, they’re gearing up for their Asia tour to promote pickleball. They also recently participated in a Hall of Fame Exhibition tennis match at The Breakers, facing off against Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters (who beat them 10-7). Despite the loss, Graf raved about the “beautiful pristine grass court,” showing their love for racquet sports remains strong.
Their foundations Graf’s Children for Tomorrow and Agassi’s Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation continue to thrive, supporting traumatized children and underserved youth, respectively. Their legacy extends far beyond the court.
Conclusion: A Love Built on Teamwork
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf marriage rule “no competing in pickleball” is more than just a quirky detail it’s a window into a relationship defined by partnership, not rivalry. After years of individual triumphs in tennis, they’ve found joy in being on the same team, whether on the pickleball court or in life. As they approach their 24th wedding anniversary in October 2025, their story continues to inspire fans worldwide.
From Grand Slam glory to pickleball victories, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf prove that love, like a good game, is all about finding the right rhythm together. So, next time you’re wondering how to keep a relationship strong, take a page from their playbook team up, stay active, and never stop having fun.
