Agassi pictured at the men's final of Wimbledon 1999. It was the French Open and Wimbledon months later that would ultimately bring them together. However, Graf was still with Bartels and Agassi's divorce from Shields hadn't yet been made public. RELATED: Love Stories: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's first date was crashed by the policeįrom there, an enamoured Agassi began 'plotting' to win Graf over, sending huge bouquets of roses and even practicing a conversation with his coach before calling to ask her out. 'I was talking to my coach and … it's like, 'Why does he want to practice with me?' He's like, 'What do you think?'' Graf recalls to ABC News. (WireImage)Īt his request, Agassi's coach coordinated with Graf's coach to line up a practice session for the pair during the Key Biscayne tournament in Florida. Agassi was married to actress Brooke Shields from 1997 to 1999.

The pair reconnected in 1999, not long after Agassi and Shields ended their marriage. In a curious coincidence, Shields stuck a photo of Graf to her fridge ahead of her wedding to Agassi in 1997, motivated by the sight of the athlete's 'perfect' legs. Graf was in a relationship with racing driver Michael Bartels from 1992 to 1999, while Agassi began dating actress Brooke Shields in 1993. It would be several years before the two champions struck up a romance.

She merely smiles, an enigmatic smile, and I can't tell if she's happy about what I've just said, or nervous,' Agassi recalls in his book. 'I say, 'I'd really love to talk with you some time'. RELATED: Love Stories: Joe and Jill Biden met in the 'wreckage of unthinkable loss'Īgassi was disappointed, but he and Graf were formally introduced at the event, posing for photos with their trophies in their tuxedo and white dress. I wasn't looking forward to it in that sense.' 'I've never learned how to dance the proper way. 'I worked them real hard to cancel it,' Graf joked during an interview with BBC's Inside Sports. He was promptly informed the champion's dance had been cancelled for the first time, as players had taken issue with it in previous years. (The Age)Īfter defeating Goran Ivanišević the next day, Agassi arrived at the ball, giddy for his turn about the dancefloor with Graf. Agassi was 'dazzled' by Graf, recalling he tried to contact her after the 1991 French Open. I tried to get a message to her after French Open, but she didn't respond,' he writes.

'I was thunderstruck, dazzled by her understated grace, her effortless beauty. He'd had a crush on the German athlete, already a Grand Slam winner, since he saw her doing an interview on French television. That year, the women's champion was Stefani Graf.

Andre agassi biography