She had to overcome three difficult three set matches en route to this final, against Mariaan De Swardt in the second round, Venus Williams in the quarterfinals and Mirjana Lui in the semifinals. 1 in women's singles for a record 377 weeks and won 22 major singles titles,[7] the second-most since the start of the Open Era in 1968 and the third-most of all-time. She won 22 Grand Slam Singles' teetles, an in 1988 wis the only tennis player tae achieve the "Gowden Slam", winnin, in the Singles, aw fower Grand Slam teetles an the Olympic Gowd medal in the semme year. [90][91] She played her last Grand Slam doubles tournament at the 1999 Australian Open with Gorrochategui, losing in the second round. Graf defeated Mary Joe Fernndez in the final of the Australian Open, which was her eighth Grand Slam singles title in the last nine she contested. According to her coaches Pavel Sloil and Heinz Gnthardt, Graf's superior sense of timing was the key behind the success of her forehand. She was one of the most fierce Tennis stars of her generation and tasted great success on every court. [134] During her career, Graf divided her time between her hometown of Brhl; Boca Raton, Florida; and New York City where she owned a penthouse in the former Police Headquarters Building in SoHo. Chicago was notable, however, for being the first tournament Graf played with her new coach, former Swiss player Heinz Gnthardt. Graf who dated Michael Bartels is the daughter-in-law of Emmanuel Agassi. Graf was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004. Graf lost an Australian Open quarterfinal to Jana Novotn, the first time she did not reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament since the 1986 French Open. Graf did not lose a set during the tournament and lost a total of only 29 games. David Douillet writes judo history in Sydney in 2000. Graf then won all five of her Fed Cup matches, helping Germany defeat Spain in the final by defeating Arantxa Snchez Vicario, 64, 62. 3, having racked up a total of 107 tournament victories. She had some amazing rivalries with Hall of Fame opponents such as Navratilova, Evert, Sabatini and Seles. City of Love: Graf and Agassi first linked by 1999 French Open [133], In 1997, she left the Catholic Church, citing personal reasons. And each time the opponent threw a problem her way, she . [122][129] Other companies she has endorsed include Barilla, Apollinaris, Citibank, Danone and Teekanne. After several months injury lay off, Graf returned to play in the German Open in Berlin in front of a home crowd and had the worst defeat of her career in the quarterfinal, when Amanda Coetzer beat her in just 56 minutes 60, 61. She is now a naturalized American citizen, and has even been nominated as one of 2022's Great US Immigrants by Carnegie Corporation of New York. [33] Zvereva, who had eliminated Martina Navratilova in the fourth round, won only thirteen points in the match.[33]. At the year-ending Virginia Slims Championships, Graf was upset by Pam Shriver, only her third loss of the year. . Home; Q & A; Blog; Contact; Taramati Baradari Resort, Weather Biarritz October, Central Gwinnett High School, Facts About Victoria, Australia, Quick Funeral Home Obituaries . Her 63, 60 defeat of Gabriela Sabatini in a semifinal was described by veteran observer Ted Tinling as "probably the best tennis I've seen". [135][136], From 1992 to 1999, Graf dated racing driver Michael Bartels. Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams. Why have we forgotten about Steffi Graf? In retrospect, isn't she the After winning two more indoor tournaments at Zurich and Brighton, she failed once again in the Virginia Slims Championships, losing her quarterfinal to Novotn. Navratilova, therefore, . 33 years ago, Steffi Graf made this unique record which remains In the Miami final, she lost her first set of the yearto Natasha Zverevaafter winning 54 consecutive sets. Steffi Graf - The German Way & More [79] Only one week later, she underwent reconstructive knee surgery in Vienna and subsequently missed the 1997 Wimbledon and US Open championships. ", "An Evolutionary History of Tennis Racquets", "Marketing to the female target audience", "OFFBEAT: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf team up for new tennis racquet", "Viewing Gallery: Happy Birthday! Kohde-Kilsch Finds She Can Do Nothing Against Dominant Graf Retiring from the sport in 1999, Graf's career remains one of the most looked upon in tennis history. 2 (21-06-10) Titles. Notable features of Graf's game were her versatility across all playing surfaces, footwork and powerful forehand drive. Shortly after the US Open, she underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in her right wrist. Only results in WTA Tour (incl. And Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, arguably the most accomplished sports couple there ever was, had good reason to be on campus that day. Stefanie ("Steffi") Graf | Former German Tennis Pro and Champion. Starting in the early 1990s, she used the slice almost exclusively in baseline rallies and mostly limited the topspin backhand to passing shots. A mixture of injury problems, personal difficulties, and loss of form made 1991 a tough year for Graf. steffi graf opponents Opel Corsa Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary", "Steffi Graf is Longines' Newest Abassador", "SRK and Steffi Graf to represent Kerala tourism", "Steffi: proof that the rich don't get to heaven", "The Trials of Steffi Graf: with her father in jail and her own innocence being questioned, the world's best woman tennis player has finally been forced to take control of her life", "Tennis: Agassi taking different tact [sic] with fatherhood,", "Tennis legend Steffi Graf talks Royal Ascot and her career to HELLO! In 1988, Graf became only the second tennis player in history to win a Slam on hardcourt, clay, and grass all in the same season. Graf then lost a closely contested final to Monica Seles, 26, 63, 810. Her birth name is Stefanie Maria Graf and she is currently 51 years old. Steffi Graf - Children, Andre Agassi & Facts - Biography Instead of being hailed as the undisputed female GOAT, people will always talk about her mysterious backhand deficiency. She won 7 Wimbledon, 6 French Open, 5 US Open and 4 Australian Open . [146], In December 1999, Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press. She has a younger brother, Michael. who often frustrated opponents with variety and consistency. She had an Adidas sneakers line known as the St. Graf Pro line. [11][12][13][14] She won six French Open singles titles (second to Evert), seven Wimbledon singles titles, four Australian Open titles, and five US Open singles titles. She played Jelena Dokic in Christchurch, New Zealand, Amanda Coetzer in Durban, South Africa, and her former rival Arantxa Snchez Vicario in Zaragoza, Spain. In 1987, Grafs career truly took off: she won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, beating world no. Though she lost the game to opponent Tracy Austin by 6-4, 6-0, this did very little to dishearten the young blood. [103] Graf completely ruled out a return to professional tennis. She won five consecutive singles majors (1988 Australian Open to 1989 Australian Open), and seven out of eight, in two calendar years (1988 Australian Open to 1989 US Open, except 1989 French Open). Furthermore, Graf's backhand was, in a subtle way, an extremely aggressive shot. Going back in time, one can recall the right-handed player who fearlessly outplayed her opponents. In their five previous head-to-head matches, Graf had defeated Martnez each time. Graf began 1993 with four losses in her first six tournaments of the year: two to Snchez Vicario and one each to Seles and the 36-year-old Martina Navratilova. As the defending champion Graf lost in straight sets to Mary Pierce in the French Open semifinal. Novak Djokovic has arrived in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, and he is looking as confident as ever. Graf won a majority of her slams using her sharp slice backhand and her incredible forehand. She soon began taking the top prize at junior tournaments with regularity, going on to win the European Championships 12s and 18s in 1982. "[15] In December 1999, Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press. It was Graf's final Grand Slam singles title as she retired later that year. Although she now lives in Las Vegas, Stefanie Maria Graf was born in Mannheim, West Germany on June 14, 1969. [a] Widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, she was ranked world No. Her father was arrested in August and was sentenced to 45 months in jail. Fernandez had two break points to take a 30 and double break lead in the third set. Steffi Graf with the Wimbledon trophy in 1989 after defeating Martina Navratilova 6-2, 6-7 (1), 6-1 in the final. "[89] Her endurance and superior footwork allowed her to excel on clay courts, where, in addition to six French Open titles, she won 26 regular tour events, including a record eight titles at the German Open. Steffi Graf -vs- Opponent Name Score: Result: win/loss Part 1 : View Download Part 2 :View Download ., Steffi Graf - My Best: "Steffi is the goddess of Tennis" : John McEnroe "She let her racket do the talking. Date biografice. Last edited on 20 February 2023, at 18:23, BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year, Learn how and when to remove this template message, 3 different Grand Slam titles won without losing a set, 2 titles won without losing a set in the same calendar year, Tennis records of the Open Era - women's singles, "Duden | Steffi | Rechtschreibung, Bedeutung, Definition", "The 10 most influential players in the history of tennis", "ON TENNIS; Graf Is Best, Right? [54] She then won her next four tournaments in Tokyo, Indian Wells, Delray Beach and Miami respectively. [66] In August Monica Seles made her much anticipated return to tennis at the Canadian Open. At Wimbledon, Graf defeated Jana Novotn to win her third consecutive, and fifth overall, ladies' title. The partnership was the subject of much discussion, as the two women, both known to be shy, usually kept communication to a minimum during changeovers and between points, a highly unusual situation in doubles. Graf won 6-0, 6-0. She survived an intense three-set battle with Helena Sukova in the semis, breaking in the tenth and final game to win the third set 64. Shortly after winning in Tokyo, Graf injured her right thumb while cross-country skiing in Switzerland and subsequently withdrew from the Virginia Slims of Florida and the Lipton Championships. On 13 August 1999, shortly after retiring with a strained hamstring from a second round match against Amy Frazier in San Diego, Graf announced her retirement from the women's tour at age 30. Graf and Navratilova faced each other six times and Graf had the advantage, 4-2. [63][64], A strained right calf muscle forced Graf to withdraw from the Australian Open. That doesn't mean it will happen. International Olympic Committee. Graf started 1988 by winning the Australian Open, defeating Chris Evert in the final 61, 76. Graf again lost to Monica Seles in the final of the French Open 67, 46. 1 German tennis player. A worthy opponent, she is an exceptional and versatile player to have dominated the international women's tennis scene for a long time. "Such a cruel moment" - Steffi Graf once spoke about Martina Hingis n 1973 Steffi avea 3 ani cnd a luat prima oar n Brhl (Baden) o rachet de tenis n mn. Most sliced shots float these days; Graf's seemed to reach her opponent's side in a straight line, skimming low over the net. In the subsequent Amelia Island final on clay, Graf lost her first match of the year to Sabatini but returned to European clay with easy victories at Hamburg and Berlin. [150] Flink said in 2020 that the jury was still out on (Serena) Williams as the greatest ever, but Williams' consistency over the long span did not match that of Graf or Navratilova. Eighteen-time Grand Slam champion and former rival Chris Evert opined, "Steffi Graf is the best all-around player. The shock was who she did it against. [65] She came back in February, winning four consecutive tournaments in Paris, Delray Beach, Miami and Houston. 1 Martina Navratilova, and reached two finals, at Wimbledon and the US Open, losing out to Navratilova in both. Graf then went on to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open before losing to Monica Seles in two sets. Her rivalries with Yugoslavias Monica Seles and Spains Arantxa Snchez Vicario in the 1980s and 1990s have gone down in tennis folklore. As true as that forehand was, the mask was no less a lie. [77] [9] She won 107 singles titles, ranking her third on the WTA's all-time list after Martina Navratilova (167 titles) and Chris Evert (157 titles). In the womens tournament, Williams could repeat the achievement if she competes in what will be her fifth Olympic Games. [25] During that period, she lost six times to Evert and three times to Navratilova, all in straight sets. Next came Wimbledon, where Martina Navratilova had won six straight titles. [151], Graf was voted the ITF World Champion in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 and 1996. Their bond was unbreakable, and as Steffi became a force in tennis, Peter was right beside hercontrolling her life and business off the court while she controlled the rhythms on it. Having also won bronze in the womens doubles with Claudia Kohde-Kilsch in Seoul, her Olympic record stands at four podium finishes, including two titles counting the one she won in Los Angeles aged 14 when tennis was a demonstration sport! She first used the Wilson Pro Staff 7.0 lite, then switched to the Pro Staff 7.5 in 1996 and to the Pro Staff 7.1 in 1998. 3, She was not included in the official year end ranking. And stepping on the plane there was a big group of German athletes on it. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 20:01, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steffi_Graf_career_statistics&oldid=1142150918, Virginia Slims Championships, New York City, WTA Tour Championships, New York, United States. But the world of tennis is still waiting for another player capable of securing a Golden Slam in one year. Steffi Graf: Top five biggest wins of the tennis legend's career - Khel Now Graf did not lose a set the whole tournament. [28][29][30][31] The official time of the match given on the scoresheet was 34 minutes; however, just 32 minutes of that was spent on the court, as a rain break split the match into two periods of play, of nine and 23 minutes. Tennis star Monica Seles stabbed - HISTORY In 1996, Steffi Graf was famously proposed to by a fan as she was getting ready to serve. She claimed a prestigious and symbolic victory in the final against Yugoslavias Sabrina Gole on the courts at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. She lost her first round match 64, 60 to Tracy Austin, a two-time US Open champion and former world No. 1 was in peerless form on the clay courts of Roland . More than two years elapsed before Seles competed again. Selected for European Heroes in 2004 and 2005 by TIME Magazine. [48] In Boca Raton, Florida, Graf reached her first final of the year, where she faced Conchita Martnez for the title. Serena uses her hard and powerful groundstrokes to bully her opponents and uses her serve, like Federer, to set up the point before finishing it off . [75] Graf then had a straight-sets win against Snchez Vicario in the Wimbledon final. Graf's technique on the forehand was unique and instantly recognizable: generating considerable racquet head speed with her swing, she reached the point of contact late and typically out of the air. 1, Reached the final of every tournament played in a calendar year, Two streaks of 5 years with winning percentage of 90%+, 8 WTA Tier 1/Premier-5/Premier Mandatory clay titles, 89.63% win rate (147-17) in WTA Tier 1/Premier-5/Premier Mandatory events, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 18:23. It was like a death by a thousand cuts for her poor opponents who would be . Is it possible to have another Steffi Graf? | Talk Tennis In a close French Open final, Graf again overcame Snchez Vicario, taking the third set 108. In addition to being great as players, they were also great as husband and wife. [47] She would work with him for the remainder of her career. The 19-year-old Graf lost the first set 7-5 before getting the measure of her rival and fighting back to take the next two sets 6-2, 6-1. She was absolutely right the term Golden Slam was born at that exact moment. While the Berlin tournament was being played, the largest-circulation German tabloid, Bild, ran a story about an alleged scandal involving Graf's father. 1 for 186 consecutive weeks from 17 August 1987: incredible footwork, a devastating forehand, an effective backhand and a powerful, reliable serve an all-round game that proved successful on every surface.

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