Few athletes have walked away from the spotlight as gracefully as Steffi Graf. After dominating tennis with 22 Grand Slam titles and a historic Golden Slam in 1988, she quietly built a life centered on family and philanthropy in Las Vegas. Today, alongside husband Andre Agassi, her focus is on raising two teenagers and running the Children for Tomorrow foundation — a mission that has helped thousands of young refugees.
Grand Slam singles titles: 22 ·
Weeks ranked world No. 1: 377 ·
Year-end No. 1 finishes: 8 ·
Spouse: Andre Agassi (m. 2001) ·
Children: 2 (son Jaden, daughter Jaz) ·
Philanthropy focus: Children for Tomorrow foundation
Quick snapshot
- Steffi Graf is alive and well (WTA (official tour body))
- She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles (Wikipedia (verified sports encyclopedia))
- She achieved the Golden Slam in 1988 (International Tennis Hall of Fame (official))
- Married Andre Agassi in 2001 (People magazine (established media))
- Exact financial motivation behind leaving the Catholic Church (The Scottish Sun (tabloid, secondary))
- Severity of Andre Agassi’s ongoing back condition (The California Courier (community outlet))
- Whether Graf has adopted a new religion (The California Courier (community outlet)) (The Scottish Sun (tabloid, secondary))
- 1999: Retired after French Open; 2001: Married Agassi; 2000–present: Runs Children for Tomorrow (Children for Tomorrow (official foundation site))
- Continued low‑key philanthropy; occasional public appearances at tennis events (Inside Tennis (specialist tennis media))
Seven key facts about Steffi Graf’s life and career, one pattern: her numbers on court are matched only by her privacy off it.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Stefanie Maria Graf |
| Date of birth | 14 June 1969 |
| Nationality | German |
| Grand Slam singles titles | 22 (Wikipedia (tennis records)) |
| Spouse | Andre Agassi (m. 2001) (People magazine (established media)) |
| Children | 2 (Jaden Gil, Jaz Elle) (Hello! Magazine (celebrity media, tier 2)) |
| Retired | 1999 after French Open final (International Tennis Hall of Fame (official)) |
What has happened to Steffi Graf?
Is Steffi Graf still alive?
- Yes, Steffi Graf is alive and well. She lives in Las Vegas with Andre Agassi and their two children (WTA (official tour body)).
- She occasionally appears at tennis charity events and has been seen at the United Tennis Showdown in 2025 (Inside Tennis (specialist tennis media)).
What do Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi do now?
- Graf runs the Children for Tomorrow foundation, which supports children affected by war and persecution. The foundation funds an outpatient center for refugees at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany (Children for Tomorrow (official foundation site)).
- Agassi leads the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, which has raised over $180 million for underserved communities and operates Agassi Prep, a charter school in West Las Vegas (Andre Agassi Foundation for Education (official site)).
Both champions channeled their fame into institutional philanthropy — Graf in mental health for refugee children, Agassi in education access. Together they represent the rare athlete couple that leveraged celebrity into lasting social infrastructure.
How many children does Steffi Graf have?
- Two: son Jaden Gil (born 2001) and daughter Jaz Elle (born 2003) (Hello! Magazine (celebrity media, tier 2)).
- The family lives a very private life in a Las Vegas enclave, keeping the children out of the public eye (The California Courier (community outlet, tier 3)).
The pattern: Graf deliberately stepped away from the media circus. Her post‑tennis identity is built around family stability and quiet charity — a stark contrast to the pressure‑cooker of professional tennis.
Who asked Steffi Graf to marry him?
A spectator shouted at Wimbledon: ‘Steffi, will you marry me?’
- During a match at Wimbledon in 1994, a male spectator shouted out: “Steffi, will you marry me?” The moment was widely reported by the press (BBC Sport (news archive, tier 1)).
How did Steffi Graf meet Andre Agassi?
- They met through the professional tennis tour in the early 1990s, but their relationship reportedly began after both had retired. Agassi later proposed privately (People magazine (established media)).
- They married in a private ceremony on October 22, 2001 in Las Vegas (International Tennis Hall of Fame (official)).
The implication: Despite the famous spectator proposal, it was Agassi who made the real one — and the couple has kept the details quiet ever since.
Why did Steffi Graf leave the Catholic Church?
What is the church tax in Germany?
- Germany imposes a church tax (Kirchensteuer) of 8–9% of income tax for registered members of major religious groups (Federal Ministry of the Interior, Germany (government)).
- Graf reportedly left the Catholic Church around 1991, and most media reports link the decision to the church tax (The Scottish Sun (tabloid, secondary)).
Did Steffi Graf cite financial reasons?
- She has never publicly elaborated on personal beliefs, but the timing coincides with her peak earnings period. Avoidance of the tax is widely inferred (The Scottish Sun (tabloid, secondary)).
While tax savings are the most commonly cited explanation, the exact calculus remains private. What is certain: Graf has not publicly affiliated with any other organized religion since.
The pattern: The church tax explanation fits the known timeline, but Graf’s silence leaves room for personal reasons she has chosen not to share.
What illness does Andre Agassi have?
Why did Brooke Shields leave Andre Agassi?
- Agassi’s marriage to Brooke Shields ended in 1999. Shields later cited emotional distance and Agassi’s struggles with his identity and crystal meth use as factors (The New York Times (major newspaper, tier 1)).
Did Barbra Streisand have a relationship with Andre Agassi?
- Rumors of a relationship between an older Barbra Streisand and Agassi circulated in the early 1990s. Neither party has confirmed or denied, and the story remains unverified (Today.com (established media, citing speculation)).
What is Andre Agassi’s back condition?
- Agassi has described a spinal condition as “a volcano in my spine” in his autobiography Open. He suffers from sciatica and chronic back pain (Penguin Random House (publisher, primary source)).
- He has undergone multiple treatments but avoided surgery. The exact current severity is not publicly known (The California Courier (community outlet, tier 3)).
The trade-off: Agassi’s legacy as one of tennis’s greatest showmen coexists with a body that paid a steep price. His back remains a limiting factor in his public appearances.
How many Grand Slams did Steffi Graf win?
What was Steffi Graf’s young career like?
- Graf turned professional at age 13 (1982) and won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open in 1987 (International Tennis Hall of Fame (official)).
What is the Golden Slam?
- In 1988, Graf won all four majors (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) plus the Olympic gold medal in Seoul — a feat never achieved by any other singles player (Wikipedia (tennis records)).
- She finished her career with 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second only to Margaret Court (24) in women’s tennis (Wikipedia (tennis records)).
What this means: The 1988 Golden Slam remains arguably the greatest single-season achievement in tennis history — a standard against which every dominant season is measured.
Confirmed facts
- Steffi Graf is alive and well
- She and Andre Agassi are married with two children
- She won the Golden Slam in 1988
- She left the Catholic Church around 1991
What’s unclear
- Exact financial impact of church tax on her decision
- Whether she has adopted a new religion
- Severity of Andre Agassi’s ongoing back condition
- Validity of rumored relationship with Barbra Streisand
Quotes from key figures
“Helping children in need is my life’s mission.”
“A volcano in my spine.”
“Steffi, will you marry me?”
— BBC Sport (news archive, tier 1)
The final chapter on Steffi Graf is still being written — but by her own terms. For the tennis world that watched her dominate, the lesson is clear: the greatest champion of her era chose family and quiet impact over the glare of the spotlight. For anyone wondering what happened to Steffi Graf, the answer is she built something more lasting than a trophy case.
For more athlete profiles, see Russell Westbrook: Kings Role, Stats & Legacy and Josh Giddey Stats: Career, Recent Games & Averages.
itennisfoundation.com, facebook.com, youtube.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, steffi-graf.net, en.wikipedia.org, gettyimages.com
For a deeper look at Steffi Graf’s church exit and family life, Steffi Grafs church exit and family life offers a comprehensive update.
Frequently asked questions
Is Steffi Graf still involved in tennis?
She makes rare appearances at charity exhibitions, but she is not actively involved in coaching or tournaments. Her focus remains on philanthropy.
What is Steffi Graf’s net worth?
Estimates vary around $145 million from career earnings and endorsements. Reliable figures are private (Celebrity Net Worth (aggregator, tier 3)).
Does Steffi Graf have any siblings?
She has a younger brother, Michael Graf, who worked as her manager and later as a sports executive.
Where does Steffi Graf live?
She resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Andre Agassi and their children.
What is Steffi Graf’s height?
She is 5 feet 9 inches (1.76 m).
Did Steffi Graf ever coach anyone?
No, she has not taken a formal coaching role since retiring.
Does Steffi Graf speak English fluently?
Yes, she speaks fluent English with a slight German accent; she was raised bilingual.
What is the Steffi Graf Foundation?
The “Children for Tomorrow” foundation supports children traumatized by war and persecution. It is based in Germany and operates a clinic at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (Children for Tomorrow (official)).
For fans and followers, the choice is clear: Steffi Graf defined an era on the court, and her life off it continues to inspire through quiet action. Whether you admire her Golden Slam or her philanthropy, the legacy is remarkably consistent — excellence, whether in tennis or in life.
Andrew Ellis leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Oz Reviewly.