Life in Las Vegas
Most people think of Las Vegas as a city of casinos and glittering hotels. For me, the city has become my new home surrounded by a circle of my family and friends. Andre was born and raised in Las Vegas and so naturally, he still has a lot of connections here. Since a large part of my family also has moved to Las Vegas, a lot of my closest family members live nearby. It is a great joy to see our kids grow up together with their cousins.
The summer in Las Vegas is significantly longer than in Germany and a lot of the leisure activities are outdoors. For instance, we often go hiking to the Red Rock mountains or picnicking with family and friends to one of the many parks and recreational areas in the city. Of course everyone nows it gets very hot in Vegas. We are in the desert but probably are less aware that it can get moderately cold in the winter and that we even get fair amount of snow. Skiing at Mount Charleston is less than an hour away.
We only occasionally visit Vegas’ most famous street called simply “The Strip.” But there are always a lot of things going on there so we do get down there to watch great shows and concerts from time to time. There are few cities in the world where one can see Elton John and Paul McCartney live, watch a boxing match and visit the musical “Lion King” in the same week. Viva Las Vegas.
One thing is certain, this city is unique and special. It seems to be intensely alive. I have always been curious about their natural environment. It must be amazing. Viva!
Hi Steffi,
Nice to see your blog. Best wishes for all the good things you continue like” Children for Tomorrow”.
A great fan of yours
Waltaire
Hello mam , i am sure you are having quality time there , myself from India and have been an ardent fan of yours since my childhood …Tennis world is blessed to have you …..Warm regards.
Hi Steffi I live in phoenix so I know how intence the heat gets. I think its great living in los vegas its so lively! You are amazeing!
Omg….Stephanie G is Blogging!!
Why Vegas SG? I mean…apart from the Andre Connection of course.
I thought you loved NYC more. I have read many interviews where you talked about your love for NYC.
Feel blessed to post here Fraulein Forehand..
cheers
I’m not sure where to leave this message….but I’m wishing you and Andre a happy 8th year of marriage anniversary today! Don’t know if you’re doing anything special, but wishing the best for the entire family as I write these well wishes this evening.
NJinLA
Great movement on video shown. I told someone in June when I watched you play Clysters exhibition, that she would be on top and you could be in top 20, even after 2 kids. Yet you were smart to stop at 29 when you were still on top. You had a great, golden career and now you seem to have a wonderful family and charities. Great job!
Hope you read this. My husband and I are both long time supporters of both you and Andre. Please send our best regards & continued support to him. Those self-righteous people who are being harsh with their comments right now, should take a step back and reflect. How many people can honestly say that they’ve never made a mistake in their lives? … and this was not something Andre did to enhance his tennis performance! He took a big chance being so honest in his book … very brave of him! All the best to you and your family going forward.
Steffi-
I have always been impressed with your life in LV, and have been inspired by your and Andre\’s charitable contributions and family commitment to each other. I think it is wonderful and gracious for Andre to share his story in his new book Open. I was as equally outraged by any apparent negativity and as he explained lack of compassion towards his battle with drugs in 80\’s.
I hope he never allows that level of ignorance into his life and celebrates always his accomplishments both personally and professionally.
We all make mistakes and are faced with challenges, it is the real and true person that can face them and come out bigger and brighter than before, and Andre is truly a testament to that. You two are both so inspiring and so truly blessed.
All the best-
Dear Steffi, just a word to let you know how much my husband and I respect you and Andre for being who you are and Andre being so candid about himself. We’re Dutch, living in Luxembourg and we are in Vegas for vacation, this is what we do for over 15 years We were at the Wynn last night and when you walked out and passed me by, looking me in the eye, I was going to say something to you but thought you just wanted to leave so I didn’t. The first book Andre signed was ours and we hoped to have a picture with him but we were told to move fast and that he wouldn’t do that. Today in the news we saw that he did have pictures made with people so we’re really sorry we missed out on this opportunity. We hope and pray that you may prosper as a family and that we keep seeing on your faces and hearing in your voices the love you have for eachother. May God bless you and your family richly, in every area of your lives. Warm regards Joe and Petra van Schendel
Girl I’m a big fan of yours, continue to live life to the fullest.
Stefi, I look at you & Andre as a complete success story. I have been so taken by the recent coverage and appearances of Andre regarding his new book. We all have our prisons. I have been impressed by both you since you were very young and I am happy that life has settled into a happy groove.
All my best to you, Andre, the children!
Sincerely,
Hi Steffi,
I’m a long time fan of yours and Andre’s and recently saw Andre on the Late Show with David Letterman and 60 minutes this last week, and it was great to see him interviewed by David Letterman and Katie Couric, and especially great to see his courage, honesty, and directness in talking about his past in those two interviews. Great to see you both playing tennis together on the 60 minutes interview, too ! This past summer I had the privilege to see Andre playing tennis closeup in a local charitable event in New City, New York, raising funds for hospitals and research organizations to better fight breast cancer, and all your combined contributions to education in Las Vegas and other philanthropic projects throughout the world are wonderful humanitarian endeavors as well !
Besides helping us better understand him as a person and the great stress and pressures he was under personally and professionally as a champion tennis player, his courage will no doubt make it easier now for people who are in similar situations in life, to reach out for help and assistance, who might have been reluctant to do so previously. And I’m certain his long time fans will have great compassion and understanding for what he must have been going through in the past, and great admiration for his honesty and courage in talking about them in his biography “Open” as well. I look forward to reading “Open” soon.
Andre is a great person and a great tennis champion, and so are you, and it is wonderful that you and Andre have created a new and happy life together, for you both and your children, and that your various philanthropic projects have contributed to the good and welfare of so many others throughout the world.
Let Andre know his many long term tennis fans stand with him, and with you, and we wish you both and your children continued joy, happiness, and all the best,
Peter
Hi Steffi…
I have a good friend who was born and raised in Mannheim and through her I became very familiar with the town…the Wasserturm…the great Weihnachmarkt. at Christmastime..do you get back to Mannheim very often?
I applaud Andre for his candid story of late and I am sure he finds great strength and resilience through you and your family to be able to talk about his recovery and triumph.
All the best to you and thanks for your website and blog and the tennis memories!
“Tschuss” John
you are my all-time favorite tennis player! the last several years not seeing you play has been torture. i wish you were still playing. watching you for all those years was a great pleasure. thanks for all you gave me, what i would do to meet you the next time im in vegas. thanks again steffi!
Hello Steffi…have been a big fan of urs ..as a kid i started playing tennis watching ur matches on TV n always dreamt if i could ever get to meet u
. I collected every pic of urs in magazines or newspapers and that small book is still with me ..i was just in love with you 
Hey u remember once during a match a person frm the crowd proposed u just when u were about to serve…but then u really replied that guy well ..haha that was a funny question u asked him.. u just asked “how much money do u have ?”
the whole stadium burst into laughter ..hehe ,that was really cool !!
May God bless u and ur family .
Wishing you and ur family the best of the worlds !!!
Love..Rohit
my god, that guy who proposed is you ?I still remembered. that was a long time ago. I love steffi too. She is my idol when I was young .I am from China.At that time its so hard to get information about tennis .I would buy any magazine or newspaper had any info about steffi, then chop it put into a box.
Bless you all.
Hi Steffi,
I just want to say that you are/were such a great champion and role model throughout your career and you continue to be an inspiration to many people.
Thank you for all the memories!
Mark
x
After you spend a little time in Vegas you find all the fun-healthy things to do.
You have some really great hiking and mountain bike trails ,along with world class rock climbing at Red Rock. and as you said ,skiing is even close.
I’m currently reading Andre’s book, I have more respect and appreciation for him now, than before.
Live for the kids and keep that great smile on your face.
Eric
Hi Steffi i dont know much about Las Vegas but im sure its nice to live their. You are a insparatoin to so many people.
Hi Stefanie,
I was happily surprised to see your website being updated and that you have a blog now.
I admire you since I was a little kid (at age 7 now I’m 26). The day you won the French in 1999 it so clear in my memory. I still remember the day of the announcement of your retirement so well. We were in a traffic jam in Belgium underway home to the Netherlands (I live in Amsterdam) when the announced was on the news I was in shock. When the news came out about you and Andre I became a fan of Andre and almost watched everything he played whom I could see live on television. I red his book and I was fascinated by it. Especially the part where he tells how he won your heart
For this blog living in Vegas I can understand that completely. I have been to Vegas 6 times to see Céline Dion my friends and I love the city. I hope to go back one day maybe 31 December 2010. Every time I was in Vegas I was hoping that maybe I would see you or Andre but it never happened.
I hope everything goes well with you and your family and say hi to Andre
sincerly,
Stéphanie
say something about las vegus casino life in ur blog.i am interested to read .thanks.
Hallo Stefanie,
I am German and live in Texas. I have named my daughter after you. I liked reading about your life in Vegas. My kids are 12 and 14 and I am sometimes sad they do not get to grow up in Germany. You raising your kids in Vegas makes it okay for me to raise mine in Texas as well.
Alles Liebe, Christa
PS: I like Andres book. It is so honest and my husband sees himself a lot in it. Your family is therapy for mine. (haha)
I wish i could go to there…
Hi steffi, how great i can talk 2 u…u’re one of great people in the world that could be my inspiration so i could find my destiny in my life…thanks a lot….
I just discovered your blog and I just wanted to say how wonderful it is to see all the projects you’re working on for the community, and how you continue to keep up with your family and level of fitness.
Right now, I am working on my PhD in Santa Cruz, California (a beautiful place for outdoor activities and my 2-3 hour trail runs in the redwoods or on the coast!), but I am moving to Berlin next summer to be with my partner. I have lived in France before (4 years) and am excited to move to Germany. I spent this summer in Berlin. As a triathlete and endurance athlete, I was a bit surprised there weren’t more resources for female competitive athletes who are not at the Olympic/elite level, but who are also not beginner level. I consider myself in the top 10% at the amateur level, however. But I was kind of lonely on my runs in Tiergarten and swims in the pool near the HBF. Lots of men, no women. Maybe this is my opportunity to start something new?
(I would also like to start a program in Germany similar to something I have volunteer coached for in the U.S. — Girls on the Run.)
Thank you for the inspiration!
Amanda
I feel really great to write for one of my all time favourite sports person. In india, tennis is not so well known as cricket but to see you on court and to see you playing with such calmness but again aggressive was really a pleasure. Right now, am in USA and bought tennis racket and whenever i play i always think of you. Salute to you. Hope you are scoring high in your life as you were on court. Hope to meet you someday.
Lots of good wishes.
Hello Steffi,
I’m just a small fan of yours
I have grown up watching your Play!
It’s my wildest dream to see you in person.
Thanx for the Blog.
Alles Gute!
-Prutha
India.
Danke für die vielen Jahre der spannenden und emotionalen Matches!
Es wird Zeit, daß wir mal wieder einen Durchbruch in Weltrangliste schaffen.
Tennis wird auch mein ewiger Begleiter bleiben.
Cheers, Daniel
Hi Stefanie !
Ich habe gestern (13. Dezember) Andre in Berlin getroffen. Er war bezaubernd (aber DAS weißt du ja schon). Ich habe Andre gebeten, dir liebe Grüße von mir auszurichten und dann haben wir noch ein gemeinsames Fotos aufgenommen. Wirklich toll !!!
Ich wünsche Dir, Andre und den Kindern eine fröhliche Weihnachtszeit und alles Gute für 2010…………vielleicht sehen wir uns mal wieder.
Liebe Grüße – Anke
Hi Stefanie. I am “killing” 2 days in Vegas as I am writing this. I was working south of here and now am in Vegas for a few days before going to L.A. for another job.
I love visiting your adopted hometown but I have never been a fan of the Strip. I just went to see the Andre Agassi Prep Academy – very impressive (at least from the outside – I didn’t think I could go inside).
Anyway – I just wanted to let you know you have always inspired me in your tennis and I have a special affinity to you because we have the same first name. You have a beautiful family and I wish you and Andre all the very best.
Stephanie Groves
Thanks for taking the time to drop by. If you get a chance to visit again, don’t hesitate to aks if you can take a closer look. I think you will be impressed.
Hi Steffi,
I love Las Vegas too! My wife and I love to go to the buffet at the Charleston outlet. Have you ever been there? Good luck with everything, and tell Andre we said Hi!!!
Aloha Steffi
Years back I met you in the Inka trail and I was impressed for kindness and your love for nature. We are comencing a Eco lodge in Iquitos Peru and one in The Sacred Valley in Cuzco and I will love you to take a quick look. We are aware that education is key for this communities to flourish so we are commited to make this project a success very soon.
Hi Steffi
I am the biggest admirer and fan of you and Andre. I try to follow your every move and my greatest wish is to visit Las Vegas, with a friend of mine who is also Steffi and Andre mad. I live in Cape Town, South Africa and regret not seeing you play when you were here.
I have just bought “Open” and cannot wait to get stuck into the book.
Best wishes to you and Andre and those adorable children of yours.
Your greatest fan
Susan
Steffi, I’ve been missed you so much. I live in a city of Amazon Forest, Brazil, and I’m a fan of U since1989 (it’s such a long time). Sorry for my awfull english, but I just want to show you how happy I am reading your news and knowing that you’re happy with your family in a different world of tennis tour/games grand slams and all.
Steffi,
It is great that your family from Germany now live in Las Vegas near you and also Andre’s family is in Las Vegas. It is great benefit for your kids to play with their cousins and their grandparents can spend time with their grandkids. My family is in three different countries. I wish someday we all can move to one place.
God bless you.
Hi Stefanie,
I just completed reading Andre’s book and wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed reading about him, tennis, your family and friends and most of all about all the great things that you and Andre do for children and people in need. I hope that other athletes will follow your generous examples.
I would like to visit the academy when next in Vegas and am reading The Tender Bar on Andre’s recommendation. It’s another winner like “Open”. Continued success to nice people like the Agassi’s. Dom
Hello Steffi, How’s life going on. how are kids. my best wishes to you and your family. happy easter.
your fan
Hi Steffi,
mein Mann und ich fliegen am 30.4. nach Las Vegas. Ich kurzerhand eingeladen von ihm, freue mich riesig. Da kam mir spontan die Idee, dann kann ich mich ja mit Steffi treffe. Ich weiss das hört sich blöd an, aber irgendwie haben wir vieles gemeinsam und in jungen Jahren warst du für mich durch das Tennis auch immer präsent. Meine Freundinnen und ich, wir haben in dieser Zeit auch alle Tennis gespielt, so wie viele, die durch dich im Tennisfieber waren. Wir haben auch ein paar Dinge gemeinsam. Ich komme aus Deutschland – Baden Württemberg, bin ein Jahr und ein Monat älter und viele haben immer behauptet ich sehe dir sehr ähnlich. Zumindest die Grösse, die Haare und die Nase, die ich mittlerweile mit Stolz trage. Ebenfalls bin ich glücklich verheiratet und habe zwei tolle Kinder.
Wahrscheinlich darum kam mir die Idee dich zu treffen, eben so wie mit einer Freundin, die man schon lange nicht mehr gesehen hat und sich riesig darauf freut, sie einmal wieder zu sehen und bei einem Kaffee mal wieder über alte Zeiten zu plaudern.
Ich weiss dass es unmöglich ist, aber auch etwas Unmögliches wird manchmal wahr. Ich bin im Hotel Aria bis 08. Mai.
Wünsche dir weiterhin alles Liebe und Gute, bleib glücklich und gesund.
Heike Pfister
Hallo Liebe Steffi,
…. sag’ mal, spielen hier die Tennies kein Tennis? Unsere Kleine ist recht traurig.. liebe Grüße Esther & Familie aus Bayern
es ist sehr schön mal wieder Kalifornien und Nevada mit meiner Familie zu besuchen. Diesmal haben wir unsere 9 jährige Tochter auch dabei. Seit einem Jahr spielt sie Tennis. Wir haben ihr eine Tennisbekleidung aus USA versprochen, bis dato (seit gestern in Las Vegas) nichts gefunden….