Tennis legend Andre Agassi’s whirlwind romance with Hollywood star Brooke Shields seemed like a match made in celebrity heaven when they tied the knot in 1997. But behind the glitz and glamour, a dark storm was brewing – one fuelled by Agassi’s secret battle with a crystal meth addiction that ultimately tore their marriage apart.
The couple’s love story began in the mid-1990s, a time when Agassi was at the pinnacle of his career and Shields was a beloved actress known for films like The Blue Lagoon and Endless Love. Shields has reflected fondly on the early days, admitting it felt “good to feel smaller than another” because Agassi was “so famous and number one in the world.” But cracks soon appeared. Agassi’s career was plummeting – he dropped to 141st in the rankings after falling out of love with tennis – and his personal life spiralled into chaos. In 1997, the year they married, Agassi turned to crystal meth in a desperate bid to escape his misery.
In a shocking admission from his 2009 autobiogrophy ‘Open’, Agassi revealed the depths of his despair, confessing: “It was the first time in my life [I’d taken drugs]. Twenty-seven years old. Ranked 141 in the world. And in a marriage that I shouldn’t be in.
“My decision was ‘Why not? Can’t feel any worse.’ There was a sadness that came with it initially, followed by the energy and a chemically induced reconnection to life.”
What started as an experiment became a dangerous habit. Agassi admitted: “I did it way too many [times]. I wouldn’t be able to put a number on it… I did it for a good part of 1997.”
Shields was blindsided by the revelation. In her 2014 memoir ‘There Was a Little Girl’, she wrote: “He explained to me that for the first whole part of our relationship, he had been addicted to crystal meth.”
The addiction created an emotional chasm. Agassi told Shields he had no intention of seeking therapy and even rejected her personal support – and it wasn’t long before she realised their marriage was doomed.
“He alienated me when he lost and was on to the next tournament after he won. We were drifting apart,” she said. “I was the one who had supported him unconditionally… Why would this have been any different? I would have been his biggest advocate and supporter.”
Their schedules didn’t help – Shields was filming her sitcom Suddenly Susan, while Agassi globetrotted for tournaments. “For the next two years, we saw very little of each other,” she recalled.
Agassi’s troubles deepened when he failed a drug test from the ATP Tour. Panicked and ashamed, he lied in a letter to officials, claiming accidental ingestion. “I wrote a letter filled with lies, because I was ashamed,” he said. Miraculously, he escaped suspension, viewing it as a “second chance” he vowed to atone for daily.
But the secrecy strained his marriage. Shields offered unwavering support in other areas, like when Agassi revealed his hair loss and use of hairpieces. However, Agassi showed no interest in couples counselling, leaving Shields feeling unsupported.
By 1999, the fairy tale was over. They divorced after just two years. Post-break-up, both moved on – Agassi to a successful comeback – he won a further five Grand Slams between 1999 and 2004 – and marriage to Steffi Graf, with whom he has two children – and Shields to producer Chris Henchy, father of her two daughters.
Years later, Shields has found silver linings, crediting Agassi for helping her separate from her overbearing mother “lovingly.” However, she admitted in her documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, “I’ve never reconnected with him.”
Agassi, meanwhile, has turned his pain into purpose through philanthropy, emphasising compassion for those battling addiction. Their story remains a cautionary tale of fame, love and the hidden demons that can destroy even the strongest bonds.