Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf - peace after the glory

Celebrating his 24th wedding anniversary, Andre Agassi wrote a short wish to his wife, whom he still affectionately calls "Stefanie ".

For many fans, it was just a simple post on social networks. But behind it is a rare love story in the sports industry - a love affair that begins with first sight on television and ends with a simple life after glory.

When Agassi first saw Steffi Graf giving an interview on French radio, she was at the peak of her career with the "Golden Slam" - winning all four Grand Slams and the 1988 Olympics. Agassi was still a rebellious tennis player at that time, without a major title.

They only really met many years later, when both had experienced noisy relationships: Agassi was married to actress Brooke Shields, and Graf had a long-term relationship with racing driver Michael Bartels.

The marriage in 2001 was as quiet as their personalities. No extravagance, no flash, just two mothers as witnesses, barefoot, wearing jeans and exchanging vows amid the sound of lawnmowers from the gardening crew. Not long after, Graf gave birth to her first son, Jaden.

When Agassi retired in 2006, the two decided to completely withdraw from public life. "I've never liked fame, and I really want to stay away from it, " Graf once shared.

Agassi and Graf both had childhoods associated with harsh parents - people who turned their children into "sports projects ". Agassi once wrote in his memoir Open that he hated tennis because he was forced to practice since childhood. That's why they agreed not to let their two children repeat that path.

Jaden, 24 years old, did not follow tennis but chose baseball. He played for the University of Southern California, was selected to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers team in the MLB Draft League and played for Germany in the 2024 World Baseball Classic qualifiers. "The name Agassi is associated with tennis, but I want to turn it into a baseball name, " Jaden said.

The youngest daughter Jaz Elle, 22 years old, also did not follow in her parents' footsteps but pursued her passion for bodybuilding and dancing. She once posted photos with her parents at the American Tennis Federation's gala and shared her love with young tennis players like Emma Navarro.

"In our house there are no tennis Cups, only Jaden's baseball Cup and Jaz's hip-hop dance cup ", Graf said happily in a 2021 interview.

Unlike many colleagues who choose to live in Los Angeles or Europe, the Agassi - Graf couple settled in Las Vegas, where Agassi was born and raised. They initially lived in the Spanish Hills area, then moved to a larger villa in the Summerlin area - where their neighbors were female singer Celine Dion and male rock singer Carlos Santana.

Las Vegas gave them the most precious thing: normalcy. "Here we can live like normal people. I go to the market, see friends, visit my mother every week. No one bothers, " Graf said.

Outside of the spotlight, Agassi spends most of his time doing community activities. The charity fund named after him - Andre Agassi Foundation for Education - has raised more than 180 million USD, built schools and supported disadvantaged children in Nevada. Meanwhile, Graf runs the Children for Tomorrow organization, which supports children who are victims of war and violence in Germany.

"My career has made me famous, but the true meaning of life lies in helping others have opportunities that I never had, " Agassi shared when receiving the USTA award in 2024.

Although they rarely appear on the tennis court, the couple is passionate about a new sport: pickleball - a gentler variation of tennis. They not only have fun but also invest in the DUPR global ranking system and become the brand face of Joola racket company. Agassi also founded Agassi Sports Entertainment company to develop pickleball and padel - two booming sports in the US.

After nearly two decades away from the field, Agassi is gradually re-appearing. He appeared on TNT Sports to comment on Roland Garros 2024, then guested on the BBC at Wimbledon. Recently, Agassi accepted the position of captain of the World team at the Laver Cup, helping young players defeat the European team.

In addition, he cooperated with Amazon MGM and Universal Television to produce the series Rally, about young players in the tennis academy - a way to tell their life stories through a new lens.

The two legends once captivated the world with their talent and personality. But now, they are happiest when walking together in a deserted neighborhood, watching their son throw a ball or cheering their daughter on to dance. No stage, no title, just family and peace.

As Agassi once said: "All my life I ran away from tennis, but thanks to Stefanie and the children, I finally found the place I really wanted to stop ".

Agassi has been competing in professional tennis since 1986. Through 20 years of playing professionally, he won 8 Grand Slams, an ATP Finals championship and an Olympic gold medal in 1996. Agassi also had a long time at the top of the men's tennis rankings (ATP Ranking). After hanging up his racket in 2006, Agassi took a break and worked as a coach and coached the most successful tennis player of all time, Novak Djokovic.

Graf, German, played professionally from 1982-1999, is the third most successful tennis player in the Grand Slam with 22 titles, including an all-time record of winning at least four times in each Grand Slam. Graf also holds the record of 377 weeks at world number one and has finished the year at this position 8 times.