Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf scored another ace on the paparazzi Sunday. 

The tennis greats released the first photo of son Jaden Gil Agassi to The Associated Press in a move likely designed to prevent their 

longtime tormenters, the free-lance photographers who often stalk them, from capitalizing on any photos. 

The photo was emailed to the AP as a free handout by Agassi Enterprises Inc., his management company. 

Last week's wedding and birth of the child three days later caught the paparazzi flat-footed. 

The couple reportedly gave out a phony mid-December due date to keep the paparazzi from camping out to get the baby's first photographs, which probably would have been worth at least $100,000 to a free-lancer. 

Jaden Gil cooperated as well, arriving at 3:30 a.m. Friday, 

rather than in the afternoon, when word could have spread much faster. 


Graf Gives Birth Three Weeks Early

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Steffi Graf (news - profile - photos) gave birth to a healthy son three weeks early, and father Andre Agassi (news - profile - photos) attended the birth. 

The baby, Jaden Gil, was born at Valley Hospital in Las Vegas on Friday and weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces, Graf's marketing firm said Saturday. 

``This is the most proud day of our lives,'' the two tennis stars said in a statement. ``We are thankful for this wonderful gift and are excited to begin our new lives as parents.'' 

Mother and son were doing well and were able to leave the hospital the day after the birth, the statement said. 

Graf and Agassi married in a private ceremony Monday. They had previously announced their son was expected in early December. It is the first child for both. 

Agassi, 31, and Graf, 32, began dating after each won the French Open (news - web sites) in 1999. Graf, a seven-time Wimbledon (news - web sites) champion, retired in 1999. 

Agassi was previously married to actress Brooke Shields. It is Graf's first marriage. 

The couple recently bought a $23 million home in the San Francisco Bay area. They announced in July they were expecting a baby. 

Monday October 22 9:09 PM ET 
Tennis Stars Agassi, Graf Marry in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Tennis power couple Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, who are expecting a child together in December, were married on Monday in a private ceremony by a Las Vegas judge, a spokesman for Agassi said.

``We are so blessed to be married and starting this chapter of our lives,'' the newlyweds said in a joint statement. ``The privacy and intimacy of our ceremony was beautiful and reflective of all we value.''

October 23, 2001

Agassi and Graf Marry


Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf were married Monday in Las Vegas, the tennis aces announced. 
According to their press release, the couple chose to exchange their vows in a small, private ceremony. The couple has been dating for more than two years, and is expecting their first child in December. 

The couple said in a joint statement, "We are so blessed to be married and starting this chapter of our lives. The privacy and intimacy of our ceremony was beautiful and reflective of all we value." 

Agassi was previously married to Brooke Shields.

Also tying the knot, as rumored, was former Married … With Children star Christina Applegate, who wed longtime actor-beau Johnathon Schaech (That Thing You Do) on Saturday, Oct. 20 in Palm Springs, Calif., with just their immediate family and close friends in attendance.

Applegate and her bridesmaids wore gowns by Reem Acra, while the groom and his men strolled down the aisle in black suits by HUGO BOSS, Entertainment Tonight dishes. The newlyweds had been dating since January of 1998