Latest news with #Agassi
Hypebeast
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Nike Revives the Iconic Air Tech Challenge 2 in "Tart"
Name:Nike Air Tech Challenge 2 'Tart'Colorway:Sail/Tart-Stone Blue-Football Grey-Pure Platinum-Coconut MilkSKU:FZ9033-101MSRP:$150 USDRelease Date:June 27, 2025Where to Buy:Nike Nike is set to reintroduce the belovedAir Tech Challenge 2'Tart,' a classic tennis silhouette famously worn byAndre Agassi. Originally designed byTinker Hatfield, the model stood out in its era for breaking the mold of traditional all-white tennis shoes, offering something bolder and more expressive. This latest release stays true to its roots with a clean sail-colored leather upper, contrasted by cracked blue overlays and matching midsole accents. The vibrant orange tart hue on the Swoosh and sockliner injects a pop of color, giving the shoe its distinctive edge. Built for both style and performance, the sneaker features a premium leather construction with perforations on the toe box for breathability, along with padded insoles that deliver comfort and support. The outsole is equipped with a court-inspired tread pattern, offering excellent traction both on and off the court. A highly anticipated drop, the return of the Air Tech Challenge 2 'Tart' reaffirms the silhouette's legacy as a bold, functional icon in the world of performance tennis footwear.
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Andre Agassi explains why Carlos Alcaraz's backhand has more power, control and deception
Tennis legend Andre Agassi believes a tiny technical tweak in the way Carlos Alcaraz hit a backhand shot has had a profound impact on his game. Agassi, analysing Alcaraz's game on American network TNT following the Spanird's win over Lorenzo Musetti in the French Open semifinals, said the change has made him hit a return with 'more power, more control, and more deception.' His final, against Jannik Sinner, will be played on Sunday. The 1999 French Open champion compared Alcaraz's backhand shot to last year, when 'he was taking the ball up higher'. 'His right arm's a little bent, so the racket head's going up long before it comes down. He's taking it up pretty darn high. Now he has to drop it, get underneath, pull through with the right hand and finish,' Agassi said. 'The dude is so fast twitched that really what he has in his backhand there is just a variable that he doesn't need to deal with.' This year, Agassi added, it has been different. 'He takes it back with the straight right arm. His left is way under control. Like a golf swing, right? You get to the top of your swing. You have that pause and you drop in the slot and then you let it go. 'He's getting himself to that slot right away. And that's what I love about it. Because that not only gives him the option to sort of settle down some misfires, but he can hold the ball longer. Because of what he's doing, see his racket face is already closed. That ball can travel deeper. That ball travels deeper in the strike zone.' The control gives Alcaraz a chance to add deception to his shots, Agassi said, and added that most of his opponents at Roland Garros have been guessing the direction of his shots. 'They don't know if he's going to hold, pull it across, or if he's going to hold and just go inside off line. And he can just leave his opponent with their jockstrap on the ground. 'The guy can go either direction with it because in tennis power and control comes from time spent on racket with the ball. I don't care how you swing. If you swing like Nadal, if you swing through, you can keep that ball in the racket a split second longer. We're talking about nuances. You've got more power, you've got more control, and you've got more deception. So you're talking about a guy who's crazy athletic.'
Wales Online
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have golden rule to make legendary tennis marriage work
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have golden rule to make legendary tennis marriage work Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi enjoyed incredible tennis careers and have dominated the sport of pickleball in recent years while now sharing the secret behind their success on and off the court Tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are still going strong both on and off the court (Image: Getty ) Tennis legends Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi have revealed the golden rule they follow to make their marriage work. The couple are widely considered to be among the greatest tennis players the sport has ever seen. Graf's career from 1982 to 1999 saw her win a whopping 22 Grand Slams, being the only player ever to clinch each of the majors at least four times. In 2001, the German married men's tennis icon Agassi, who himself won eight Grand Slams with his scintillating play between 1986 and 2006. The couple have gone on to have two children, 23-year-old son Jaden Gil Agassi and 21-year-old daughter Jaz Elle. Now, a quarter of a century into their marriage, a key part of Agassi and Graf's relationship is the increasingly popular sport of pickleball. The two 55-year-olds began playing pickleball with their kids during the Covid-19 lockdowns in the spring of 2020 and have been hooked ever since. Graf admitted that the sport, which is similar to tennis but is played on a doubles badminton court, 'filled a huge' tennis-shaped gap in their lives post-retirement. And she revealed the one key reason that they have been able to sustain their marriage while competing. She said in an interview with BILD: 'We don't play against each other. We prefer to be on the same side of the court.' Agassi added: 'We like that pickleball is a community-oriented sport. People who play pickleball also improve quickly.' He went on to say: 'We really want to spread the game. When we're not traveling, we practice a lot of pickleball. Since we both play, it's fun to do it together.' On Saturday, April 12, Agassi hosted the first-ever Agassi Open Play Day at Life Time Green Valley to mark National Pickleball Month. The event was also mirrored at more than 100 Life Time athletic clubs around the United States at the same time. Earlier this year, Agassi and Graf defended their Pickleball Slam crown by winning the title for a third successive time. Jaz Agassi, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Jaden Agassi pose on the court after Andre Agassi and Graf won the Pickleball Slam 3 championship in Las Vegas (Image: Getty ) They teamed up against former US Open champion Andy Roddick and Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard, winning the $1million (£743,000) prize after three matches and a tiebreak round. Article continues below When Agassi and Graf aren't playing pickleball, they enjoy spending time with their kids and their respective partners, even going on triple dates. Agassi said: 'We had a great date night the other night where it was me, Steffi, my son and Catherine, his girlfriend, and Jaz, our daughter, and her boyfriend Parker, and it was like a triple date and we all just went out and sat and talked. 'We feel like peers around them, we respect them, we seek their opinion on things, they're not hesitant to ask us our perspective on what they're going through, so it really feels like a healthy season in life.'
Time of India
30-05-2025
- 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
