Steffi Graf, the German tennis legend and the only player in history to achieve the Golden Slam – winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year (1988) – has been honored as the “Best tennis player of all time” in 2025.
Born on June 14, 1969, in Mannheim, Germany, Graf amassed 22 Grand Slam singles titles throughout her illustrious career. Her dominance spanned over a decade, with over 900 matches won and a record-breaking 377 weeks ranked as world No. 1, a feat unmatched by any other player, male or female.
Graf’s journey began early, with her father, Peter Graf, recognizing and nurturing her talent. She won the “Youngsters tournament” in Munich at the age of six. By eleven, she was already making waves at the German Indoor Championships, and a year later, she was officially registered as a professional player with the WTA, foregoing traditional schooling with special permission to dedicate herself fully to tennis.
Her breakthrough year came in 1987, marked by eleven tournament victories and her first Grand Slam title at the French Open. This success propelled her to the top of the world rankings, a position she solidified with her unprecedented Golden Slam in 1988.
Throughout the 1990s, Graf continued to excel, securing numerous titles and reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking multiple times. Despite facing challenges from injuries that necessitated periods of rest, she concluded her career with a final Grand Slam victory at the French Open in 1999, before announcing her retirement.
Beyond the court, Graf established the Stiftung Children for Tomorrow in 1998, an organization dedicated to providing psychological assistance to children traumatized by war, and crisis. The foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023 and now operates a refugee outpatient clinic at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, alongside the “HonigHeroes!” project for primary school children. Her humanitarian work has been internationally recognized.
Graf’s personal life took a significant turn when she met American tennis star Andre Agassi in 1999. The couple married in Las Vegas in 2001 and have two children: son Jaden Gil, born shortly after their wedding, and daughter Jaz Elle, born in 2003. The family maintains a private life in a villa in Las Vegas, where both parents continue their philanthropic endeavors. Jaden Gil Agassi is currently pursuing a successful baseball career, having played for the German national team in 2025, while Jaz Elle is building a following on social media with lifestyle content.
In a surprising turn of events in 2025, Graf returned to the world of tennis as the head coach of the German women’s national teams. Alongside her husband, she has as well taken up the increasingly popular sport of Pickleball, achieving success in several tournaments in the United States, demonstrating a continued passion for athletic competition.
