Agassi and Graf expecting child: ATP Tour

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are expecting a child, the men's ATP Tour website said on Friday.

"This is a very exciting time for us," Agassi was quoted as saying. "We are so happy to have been blessed with this gift."

The child, expected to be born in mid-December, will be the first for both the former world number ones.

Agassi, now 31, and Graf, 32, were first spotted together in a New York restaurant after the 1999 U.S. Open final, won by the Las Vegan.

Graf is a fixture at big tournaments, watching Agassi from the stands alongside his coach Brad Gilbert. Agassi, however, refuses to discuss their relationship.

At Wimbledon he told a journalist enquiring about any marriage plans: "Why don't you think of a question that is your business?"

Agassi was married to actress Brooke Shields but divorced after two years in early 1999 just before an astonishing run of form which won him the French and U.S. Open crowns, and a place in the Wimbledon final.

Germany's Graf also won the French Open that year but lost in the Wimbledon final before announcing that she would be retiring at the end of the year.

Graf split with Michael Bartels, her motor racing driver boyfriend of seven years, shortly before news of her liaison with Agassi became public knowledge.

Graf said in February 2000 she had had only had two serious relationships in her life before Agassi.

"I always looked for long-range relationships. I'm interested in building trust, letting a relationship grow, getting comfortable with each other."

Of having children, she said then in an interview with Tennis Magazine: "I don't know if I want to have kids or not. I guess you're supposed to want to have kids but the reality is that it hasn't been something that's preoccupied my thoughts."

Her younger brother Michael is married with two kids.