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Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Serving love: Top 5 Grand Slam romances that you probably didn't know about
They came for the trophies but left with butterflies. When tennis stars lock eyes across the net, sometimes the real match point happens after the final set. From locker room flings to center-court soulmates, these Grand Slam lovebirds have proven that love isn't just a four-letter word on the scoreboard — it's the ultimate doubles strategy. So grab your popcorn and prep your heartstrings — we're serving you the juiciest, swooniest, top-spin romance stories tennis has ever seen. Steffi Graf & Andre Agassi When two of the greatest tennis legends in history crossed paths, the result wasn't just a combined 30 Grand Slam titles — it was a grand romance. Agassi had admired Graf from afar before they officially met at a charity event in 1999. Sparks flew quickly, and by 2001, they were married. While they dominated their eras separately, their post-tennis life together — raising two kids in Las Vegas — became the real championship win. Agassi often credits Steffi's grounded nature for keeping him balanced, and their bond remains a gold standard for tennis couples. Roger Federer & Mirka Vavrinec Before he became the GOAT, Roger Federer was a fresh-faced 18-year-old at the 2000 Sydney Olympics — where he met Mirka, a fellow Swiss player. A quiet courtship blossomed during the games, and despite Mirka retiring early due to injury, she became Federer's rock — both as his wife and unofficial PR manager. They married in 2009 and have since raised two sets of twins. Federer often gushes that Mirka is the true MVP of his career, having supported him through every win, loss, and comeback. Elina Svitolina & Gaël Monfils These two brought a splash of Gen Z energy to the tennis circuit. Ukrainian powerhouse Elina Svitolina and French showman Gaël Monfils began dating in 2019 and quickly became fan favorites. After a brief breakup in early 2021 (which nearly broke the internet), they surprised everyone by announcing their engagement — and got married that same year. Their joint Instagram account, @ is a quirky peek into their travel, training, and parenting adventures. With their first child born in 2022, this duo is scoring points in both love and life. Chris Evert & Jimmy Connors The OG tennis romance of the 1970s, Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors were the sport's sweethearts. They were both top-ranked, ridiculously talented, and very publicly in love. In 1974, they each won Wimbledon — the ultimate power couple flex — and even got engaged. But young love can be tough under the spotlight, and they parted ways in 1975. Despite the split, their whirlwind romance still stands as one of tennis's most iconic 'what-could-have-beens. ' Kim Clijsters & Lleyton Hewitt This one's a tale of love, ambition, and timing. Belgian champ Kim Clijsters and Aussie ace Lleyton Hewitt met in 2000 and became engaged in 2003. Fans dubbed her 'Aussie Kim' due to her popularity Down Under. While their romance ended in 2004 — just before either had their biggest career wins — both went on to Grand Slam glory solo. No hard feelings though: Clijsters later married and had children, while Hewitt has remained a staple in Aussie tennis life. Tennis may be a solo sport, but when love enters the game, these stars prove it's all about playing doubles — for life.
Fox News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
8-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi discusses what American players need to win major tournaments
Print Close By Ryan Morik Published May 15, 2025 It's been over two decades since an American men's tennis player won a Grand Slam, but Andre Agassi thinks the drought could end soon. Agassi and Andy Roddick both took home a Grand Slam in 2003, but the United States has come up empty-handed ever since. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have since taken over the sport, rewriting the history books in the process. Pete Sampras won all 14 of his Grand Slams before those three even won their first. Since then, all they've done is blow by Sampras. Federer has 20, Nadal 22 and Djokovic 24. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON "It's interesting. We've been spoiled in years past. [John] McEnroe, [Jimmy] Conners, Andy Roddick. But the truth is there have been three guys who have been pretty damn gritty for a long time in Rafa, Novak,= and Feds," Agassi noted in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. Agassi made sure to mention that the United States has its share of stars. Taylor Fritz is ranked fourth; Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton are ranked 12th and 13th, respectively; Frances Tiafoe is 16th; and Sebastian Korda is 23rd. And Agassi believes courts filled with American players could fuel other Americans to finally get over the hump. NAOMI OSAKA'S FIERY MESSAGE TO CRITICS AFTER WINNING TOURNAMENT IN FRANCE "One thing I can say from experience is I needed Pete, and I needed Jim [Courier]. We each helped the other one believe something was possible. … I think these guys, when we look at these big stadiums and these big moments, I'm seeing you on the other side of the net, it makes me believe I belong here," Agassi said. "I'm hoping that's the crux we need. I think Ben Shelton has such a huge upside. That's what's great about tennis. It's gladiators, and you gotta figure it out day to day," he said. Since 2004, there have been 84 Grand Slams played (there was no Wimbledon in 2020), and the big three of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic combined to win 65 of them. Of the remaining 19, 13 were won by Andy Murray (three), Stan Wawrinka (three), Jannik Sinner (three) and Carlos Alcaraz (four). No one else in that period has won more than one. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP It's been nothing but dominance from non-Americans since 2003, and Sinner and Alcaraz have won each of the last five Grand Slams, but Agassi believes a change is coming soon. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Print Close URL
Fox News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Andre Agassi raves about pickleball after making pro debut in sport: 'I'm loving it'
Andre Agassi is back on the court, just a smaller one. The eight-time Grand Slam winner made his professional pickleball debut last month at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, teaming up with 18-year-old Anna Leigh Waters, the top-ranked female player in the world, in a mixed tournament. He won his first match before dropping his second, but after participating casually over the years, he's hooked. "Dude, I'm not just liking it, I'm loving it. … It's an anomaly to see any support ever at this kind of pace, but it's easy to see why," Agassi said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "My family was looking for things to do, and watching how like bring people together, generations together, how it breaks cultural barriers, breaks down gender barriers, breaks down generational barriers, low-point of entry, nobody's intimated to try it, it's challenging at every level. Tell me when to stop, for crying out loud." Agassi caught wind of "Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story," a Netflix documentary directed by Ashley Underwood, Larry David's wife. She, too, has caught the pickleball fever, which might make for an amazing "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode. "I played pickleball, my husband and I played. We had a fun group during COVID. That's actually when I got started," Underwood told Fox News Digital. "I was a tennis player before, and someone asked me to come play pickleball, and I fell in love with the sport. I went to a major league pickleball tournament in November 2021, and I couldn't believe what I saw in the pro game. They're just playing like a completely different sport almost than recreational players. Just real athletes, incredible to see, and honestly, I saw that this was the birth of a professional sport. So I wanted to chronicle a unique moment in time." Despite his tennis success, though, there are a lot of nooks and crannies that Agassi still needs to get used to. "It's really hard. These guys are so specialized, it's so sensitive, such little margin for error," Agassi said. "There's so much nuance that creates opportunity. It's not like 'see space, hit space.' There was a lot I had to unlearn, but some things came instinctively. I grew up with a racket in my hand, and in this case it's a paddle, so I'm going to make good contact. But the blood pressure, it's hard to find a place to put it when you're out there on the pickle court." A report found that there were nearly 20 million participants in 2024, a 311% increase from 2011. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tennis legend Andre Agassi to make pro pickleball debut in doubles match with Anna Leigh Waters
Tennis legend Andre Agassi is ready for his next challenge. Agassi — an eight-time Grand Slam winner in tennis — is now taking his talents to pro pickleball. Agassi will make his pro pickleball debut at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Fla. on April 30. He's teaming up with the biggest star in the sport, 18-year-old Anna Leigh Waters, as part of the doubles match. Want to know how to make pro pickleball more mainstream? THIS. MORE OF THIS.📍@AndreAgassi @AnnaLeighWaters @usopenpicklebal — The Kitchen Pickleball 👨🏻🍳 (@TheKitchenPB) April 22, 2025 Agassi is no stranger to pickleball. In 2023, he took part in the Pickleball Slam. The event — which also featured Michael Chang, John McEnroe and Andy Roddick — marked the first time pickleball was broadcast on ESPN. Since then, Agassi has apparently developed an affinity for the sport. In March, he released his own pro pickleball paddle with JOOLA. Waters is considered the best pickleball player in the world. She is currently ranked as the top singles, doubles and mixed player in the world. Waters has been a mainstay in the sport since 2019, when she was just 12 years old. Her aggressive play style is credited with changing the way pros play pickleball, and is the reason Waters wanted to team up with Agassi for the event. Agassi was considered an aggressive tennis player in his prime. The U.S. Open Pickleball Championships will begin Saturday and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Agassi and Waters are expected to take the court at noon ET.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andre Agassi notches win in professional pickleball debut with star Anna Leigh Waters
Tennis legend and eight-time Grand Slam Champion Andre Agassi walked away with a win in his professional pickleball debut on Wednesday, alongside star Anna Leigh Waters in the mixed pro doubles event at the U.S. Open Pickleball. The pair walked away with a 2-1 win against youngsters Tristan Dussault and Stevie Petropouleas, advancing to the third round of the tournament, taking place in Naples, Florida. ✅ make pro Pickleball debut✅ WIN pro Pickleball debutAndre Agassi and Anna Leigh Waters take home the W! — CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) April 30, 2025 "Coming out with Anna Leigh, I was as nervous as a gypsy with a mortgage," Agassi joked in his post-win interview. No doubt, he chose the perfect partner with whom to make his debut; Waters, 18, is the No. 1 ranked women's pickleball player in the world, having gone pro at the astounding age of 12. She took home the gold in the U.S. Open Pickleball mixed pro doubles event alongside James Johnson in 2024, as well as gold in the women's doubles main draw partnering with her mother, Leigh. Waters cited Agassi's aggressive play style as a plus for the pairing, and it showed when they took the court on Wednesday. The two successfully deployed the famous "shake and bake" in their debut as a pairing — an aggressive strategy, and one that requires precision of timing and excellent communication, which makes its use in Agassi's pro pickleball debut all the more impressive. Though Agassi and Waters walked away with the win, Dussault and Petropouleas — ages 16 and 13, respectively — didn't make things easy for them, clawing their way back after a losing the opening game to follow up with an 11-9 victory to force a third game. Agassi and Waters won the final match 11-7 to advance. Unfortunately, despite their initial win, Agassi and Waters weren't destined for an extended run in their first tournament together. They went on to lose in Round 3 to the duo of Trang Huynh-McClain and Len Yang over a three-game set, losing in the final match 11-7. Huynh-McClain and Yang will now take on Richard Livornese and Riley Bohnert in the U.S. Open Pickleball quarterfinals. Coverage for the remainder of the U.S. Open Pickleball tournament, taking place through Saturday, will air on CBS Sports Network daily starting at noon ET.
