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Steffi Graf: Finals
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Steffi Graf has been plagued by injuries throughout her spectacular career. The list of her injuries is almost as long as her incredible list of titles. After a long absence due to wrist, ankle, and other problems, Graf is healthy again. Known for her lethal forehand and powerful serve, Graf ... moves like a gazelle and has an extremely effective backhand slice. Rubin cited Graf's backhand as one of the key factors in their match Thursday, which ended Rubin's terrific run. Graf overcame an early Rubin lead to reach the Evert Cup finals, where she will face Serena Williams.
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A notable feature of Graf's game was her versatility across all playing surfaces. She won six French Open singles titles (second to Evert) and seven Wimbledon singles titles (third behind Navratilova and Helen Wills Moody). She is the only singles player to have achieved a Calendar Year Grand Slam across all three types of tennis courts, as the other Calendar Year Grand Slams won by other players occurred when the Australian and U.S. Opens were still played on grass. Graf reached thirteen consecutive Grand Slam singles finals, from the French Open in 1987 through the French Open in 1990, winning nine of them. She played in 36 Grand Slam singles tournaments from the 1987 French Open through the 1996 U.S. Open, reaching the finals 29 times and winning 21 titles. Her 22nd and last Grand Slam title was the French Open in 1999.
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In 1986 at Hilton Head, South Carolina, Graf won her first tour title, defeating Chris Evert in the final. She went on to win seven subsequent tournaments and finished her 1986 season ranked at Number 3. Stefi’s breakthrough year came in 1987 when she finished the season with a 75-2 match record and claimed the Number 1 ranking that had previously belonged to Martina Navratilova.
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Graf had one last hurrah, upsetting Hingis at the 1999 French Open final in June. She retired two months later. She was 30. Five years later, Graf was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
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Graf started 1988 by winning the Australian Open, defeating Chris Evert in the final 6-1, 7-6. Graf did not lose a set during the tournament and lost a total of only 29 games.
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Graf finally won her first tour title in April 1986 at Hilton Head, South Carolina, defeating Chris Evert in the final. She followed this up with seven additional tournament victories in 1986 and finished the year ranked No. 3.
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