Growing up with two of the greatest tennis players in history could easily make professional sports feel like a family tradition. But Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi had a different vision for their children. Despite building legendary careers and collecting some of tennis’ biggest honours, the couple never expected their son, Jaden, and daughter, Jaz, to follow in their footsteps. Instead, they allowed both children to discover their own interests, build separate identities and enjoy childhood without the pressure of living up to their famous surname.
Meet Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi’s children, Jaden and Jaz
Graf and Agassi married in October 2001, shortly before welcoming their first child. Their son, Jaden Gil Agassi, was born on October 26, 2001. Two years later, on October 3, 2003, they welcomed their daughter, Jaz Elle Agassi.Although their parents spent decades competing at the highest level, the children grew up largely away from public attention.Agassi’s own childhood played an important role in shaping his parenting approach. In his autobiography, Open, he described the intense pressure his father placed on him to become a successful tennis player.“My father yells everything twice, sometimes three times, sometimes 10,” he wrote. “Harder, he says, harder. Hit earlier. Damn it Andre, hit earlier, Crowd the ball, crowd the ball.”Having experienced that demanding environment himself, Agassi wanted something different for his children. Graf also made it clear that they were free to choose their own interests.“We never really introduced tennis so much into their lives. They’ve chosen other things,” the mom of two shared.
Why Jaden and Jaz Agassi never pursued professional tennis
Jaden found his passion in baseball rather than tennis. He joined the University of Southern California in 2019 and played college baseball before gaining experience with summer league teams. In 2025, he also represented Team Germany in the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers.His ambition is to build a sporting identity separate from his parents’ achievements.“Agassi is a very tennis last name, of course,” Jaden told WKBN News in June 2024. “The goal is to try to make it a baseball one.”Jaz, meanwhile, has explored dancing and horseback riding. She also enjoys outdoor activities, including snowboarding. Unlike her brother, she keeps much of her personal life away from public attention.Agassi has also spoken openly about protecting his children’s freedom to choose their own paths.“The idea that a parent would attach a child’s right to be loved in this world based on their performance is a tragedy,” he explained in a 2024 conversation with USA Today. “What somebody needs to do to be pro at 16 years old is crazy, right?”He once described tennis as an unusual sport and explained why he and Graf avoided pushing their children towards it.“It’s a weird sport,” Andre told Fox Sports. “We don’t see too many second-generation players. For us, it’s about raising our children in a way we can share in their life and not always worry about their life.”For the tennis legends, their children’s happiness matters far more than another championship trophy.
