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Men's Tennis
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Women's Tennis
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| Thursday, July 12 Updated: July 23, 8:48 PM ET |
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| Graf is due in mid-December Associated Press | |||
LAS VEGAS -- Tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf
confirmed Thursday they are expecting a baby.
"This is a very exciting time for us," Agassi said in a
statement. "We are so happy to have been blessed with this gift."
The baby, the first for both, is due in mid-December.
"I do not know what their plans are for marriage," said Todd
Wilson, spokesman for Agassi Enterprises.
Agassi, 31, and Graf, 32, began dating after each won their side
of the French Open in 1999. Graf retired, having won seven
Wimbledon titles and 22 Grand Slams, then was often seen cheering
Agassi at tournaments.
The sport's leading couple have been the constant subject of
reports, which variously say either that they've broken up or have
become engaged. Graf was forced to post a message on her Web site
in February 2000 denying reports that she and Agassi were getting
married in the summer. "Please be nice and stop bombarding us with
mails and faxes," the message read.
But the couple might have surprised fans Thursday by announcing,
not a marriage, but a baby.
Agassi was previously married to actress Brooke Shields. After
they married in April 1997, Agassi's ranking tumbled to No. 141.
They divorced two years later, and when he began dating Graf in
1999 in Paris, he simultaneously commenced a career comeback by
winning the French Open. He is currently the third-ranked men's
player in the world.
Shields, 35, married writer-producer Chris Henchy in April.
Before Agassi, Graf dated racing driver Michael Bartels for
seven years.
Agassi's first Grand Slam championship came at Wimbledon in
1992. He has since won three times at the Australian Open,
including this year, twice at the U.S. Open and once at the French
Open.
Agassi, who was seeded second, lost to Patrick Rafter in the
Wimbledon semifinals last week.
Agassi and Graf, who have been living in Agassi's Las Vegas
home, recently bought a $23 million home in the San Francisco Bay
area.
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ALSO SEE Agassi and Graf to have baby boy in December | |
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