"Steffi Graf is in better shape than I am... But it comes with a lot of stress" - When Andre Agassi ruled out his wife coming out of tennis retirement

Andre Agassi retired from tennis in 2006, ending his career with eight Grand Slam titles and making a name for himself as one of the greatest tennis players to come out of the United States. His wife, Steffi Graf, meanwhile, retired in 1999, amassing 22 Grand Slam titles and writing herself into the record books as one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time.

Years after his retirement, in 2009, Agassi returned to play tennis at the World TeamTennis, a mixed-gender group-based tennis league in the United States.

Speaking at his press conference there, Agassi, who represented Philadelphia Freedom, was asked if Graf would also consider appearing in the tournament some time. However, the former World No. 1 quickly ruled it out, even though he admitted that his wife was in better shape than he was.

As for why, Agassi explained that Graf would get more mentally stressed about returning to the sport in a public setting once again, joking that he did not want that stress to affect his otherwise well-maintained family life.

At the same time, Agassi revealed that Steffi Graf would occasionally enjoy playing tennis with him in private whenever the opportunity presented itself.

"She's in better shape than I'm in. I don't know if you saw her play at the Wimbledon thing, the Wimbledon celebration for the roof that we did. She still moves great and does her thing, but I have to say, it comes with a lot of stress for her getting ready. She takes a lot of pride in being ready, and she's always on the verge of feeling like her body is not going to hold up," Andre Agassi said.

"So I'm glad that I can live without her getting ready to do this because she's a great mother, and I sort of enjoy the way our family is a well-oiled machine when she's not thinking about tennis. But she loves hitting the ball and every now and then, she would take advantage out of getting out there if the opportunity presented," he added.

"Just whatever you do, just always ask yourself for that little bit extra" - Andre Agassi's advice to youngsters looking for a career in sports

ISPO Munich 2024 - Source: Getty

At the press conference, Andre Agassi also offered some advice to youngsters looking to have a career in sports, stating that it was important to improve oneself by a little at least every day.

The American urged the youth to expect a little bit more from themselves in everything they did, not just in sports but in all areas of their lives.

"You know, my advice is just to try to make yourself a day better, every day, and build on that momentum and allow that to exist, and not just in sport, but allow that to exist in your life as a son, as a brother, as a student. Just whatever you do, just always ask yourself for that little bit extra, because that's where you really get to know who you are," Agassi said.

World TeamTennis' final season took place in 2021. In addition to Agassi, legends like Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Serena Williams and Venus Williams have also participated in the tournament in the past.