Agassi, Graf Lose Money on House Sale

Luckily, I think they can afford it.

From the AP: Tennis stars Agassi, Graf lose $3 million on mansion sale

Retired tennis stars Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf have agreed to sell their mansion overlooking San Francisco Bay for $20 million - $3 million less than it sold for five years ago...

Agassi and Graf live most of the year in Las Vegas and had been asking $24.5 million for the property, which features 11 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a home theater, two pools, a tennis court and helicopter landing pad.

Agassi's financial advisers wanted him to get rid of the little-used compound to save on the cost of upkeep, Bullock said.

Vaidisova on Grass and Graf

Graf and Grass Inspire Vaidisova

"Being born in Germany Steffi Graf was always my idol and my inspiration and I am sure nobody else is ever going to do as well as she did. She had so much class on and off the court.

"I grew up watching some of Steffi's finals at Wimbledon and I remember them and how she fought for victory. She was definitely the player I looked up to the most

Read the article

Agassi/Graf Resort Wins Initial Legal Fight

From the AP: House Ok's liquor license measure

The Idaho House voted 49-17 to allow businesses located within year-round resorts to get liquor licenses, helping clear the way for a swanky hotel project that's being financed by tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf to serve cocktails.

The plan now goes to the Senate.

Agassi/Graf Perfume

I realize tennis players like to make easy money when they can, but this press release about Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf's new fragrances just sounds ridiculous - like we've stepped into the middle of a bad romance flick.  It might be better to leave the perfume marketing to the Maria Sharapovas of the tennis world.

From Strategiy: Aramis introduces two new fragrances

Introducing Aramis Always for Him and for Her, two new fragrances inspired by the real life love story of tennis legends Andre Agassi and Stefanie raf. Aramis Always for Him and for Her are modern romance captured in a bottle – telling the story of a couple’s perfect love match and their commitment over time.

Agassi and Graf Sign Fragrance Deal

From Fashion Monitor Toronto: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf Launch Fragrance Duo

Estée Lauder-owned Aramis will launch Always, a fragrance duo inspired by celebrity tennis couple Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf.

Andre Agassi signed up with Aramis two years ago, and now his tennis-legend wife is also involved.

Andre Agassi and Steffie Graf - in this case, Stefanie Graf - will become faces of male and female duo beauty products...

Agassi and Graf to Attend Emeril's Katrina Fundraiser

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf will attend Emeril Lagasse's 'Carnivale du Vin' culinary charity event on October 29 at the Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The event will benefit children of the New Orleans area affected by Hurricane Katrina. 

Their official role is listed as "Celebrity Guests" and a private tennis lesson with Agassi and Graf will be auctioned off at the event.  Tickets to the event run a cool $1,000.

Agassi and Graf to Play Mixed Doubles at Charity Exhibition

From Tennis Week: Agassi, Graf, Blake, Bryans Ready to Rock

Andre Agassi and James Blake rocked Arthur Ashe Stadium in a classic quarterfinal that was the most memorable match of the 2005 U.S. Open. In December, the two friends will renew their rivalry on court again for a cause — after Agassi and wife Steffi Graf make their mixed doubles debut together.

Agassi will partner with the Hall of Famer he knows well — Graf — and Agassi and Blake will join forces to take on the Bryan Brothers in the Tamarack Resort's Rock-n-Racquets at Taco Bell Arena at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho on Saturday, December 3rd.

Agassi and Graf in Hello Magazine

There's a short fluff piece on Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in Hello magazine including a couple of photos of them playing with daughter Jaz Elle in the park.  I like how Agassi is in his Reebok adidas (what was I thinking when I wrote reebok?) tennis oufit in the photos - as if that's what he usually wears when hanging out with his family! 

The two-year-old, with her blonde hair in pigtails, was all giggles as her doting dad tipped her upside-down and then put her safely back on her feet. And her mum Steffi Graf likewise had her hands full, as she helped big brother Jaden get to grips with a large plastic playhouse just a few yards away...

When asked about the early days of his romance with Steffi, the proud father is characteristically self-effacing. "The looks were something I responded to most when I didn't know her - I'm such a caveman!" he confessed. "But then you notice the pillars in her life that are a testament to who a person is. And then I basically stalked her, then got to know her and it has been a joy ever since."

Agassi/Graf Business News

In business news, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are getting into the real estate development business in Idaho: Tamarack Resort announces plans to build new hotel

Tennis stars Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf are part of a development group planning to build a 300,000-square-foot, 175-room hotel at Tamarack Resort in Donnelly....

Oppenheim said the Agassi-Bayview partnership also plans to build an additional 50 condominium units in the White Water area of Tamarack, where buyers will be able to purchase "fractional" or complete home ownership interests...

Agassi and Graf are scheduled to visit the resort next month, Wilson added.

New Agassi/Graf Ad

Genworth Financial has finally taken pity on tennis fans and produced a new TV ad starring Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf which will start running tomorrow.  I like the old ads, but at this point I've seen them so many times they're more likely to make me NOT want to do business with Genworth than the other way around. 

Graf Welcomed Back

Mixed results on the court for Steffi Graf last night in her brief return to "professional" tennis, as should be expected of a mother of two who has trained very sparingly for years, but she was treated like returning royalty and claimed "It was a lot of fun.  It was not as I expected it to be." 

I guess that means she'd been dreading the experience beforehand.  I know it's been a while since she's played on tour now, but it's so hard to imagine her feeling overmatched on the tennis court.  After all, when she retired she could still compete very close to the top level of the game.

From the Houston Chronicle: Animated Graf delights hardy crowd

It wasn't a fairy-tale return to tennis for 22-time Grand Slam singles champ Steffi Graf, but you couldn't tell that to the fans at Westside Tennis Club.

In her first pro appearance since retiring in 1999, Graf helped the Houston Wranglers rally to force overtime against the Sacramento Capitals Tuesday in a World Team Tennis match. Sacramento beat Houston 20-18 in the extra session.

Graf, 36, was noticeably nervous before Tuesday's match.

Steffi Graf Returns

The AP has a preview of Steffi Graf's WTT match: Graf: 'It's too early to say if there will be more'

Steffi Graf is returning to the tennis court for the first time in six years, but don't call it a comeback.

The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion is interrupting her retirement on Tuesday to play with the Houston Wranglers of the World TeamTennis Pro League.

"It's hard for me to call it a comeback," Graf told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "It's too early to say if there will be more. It's hard with all the schedules. If it works out, maybe there is another one."

Steffi Graf Videoclips

She doesn't talk much in public these days but Steffi Graf has been out and about at this year's French Open - seen on the practice courts, taking part in a mixed doubles exhibition with Justine Henin-Hardenne, Marat Safin, and Gilles Simon, and even doing interviews.

Eurosport has a videoclip of a Steffi interview.  The interview is in German but Eurosport has a voiceover translation in English.  Mostly about French Open memories and a little funny back-and-forth with Barbara Schett.

And here's one with the opposite problem.  Stade 2  has a videoclip of another Steffi Graf interview.  The interview's in English, but the voiceover translation is in French.  But you can still hear most of the English interview underneath and if you're like me you can practice your rudimentary French at the same time (part of my continuing effort to convince myself that being an avid tennis fan isn't a waste of time).

Quote of the Day

"I just need to make sure Steffi's ready to play.  I won't be telling her what to do, that's for sure." - John Lucas, coach of World Team Tennis' Houston Wranglers on the prospect of coaching Steffi Graf this summer.