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Steffi Graf: World No
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The main weapon in Graf's game was her powerful forehand, which earned her the nickname "Fraulein Forehand." Graf ... had a powerful backhand drive, but over the course of her career tended to use this less frequently, in preference for her very effective backhand slice. She built her powerful and accurate serve up to 180 km/h (112 mph), making it one of the fastest serves in women's tennis, and was a capable volleyer, but was often criticised for not using her volley more often. She was also very fast and athletic, chasing down balls that seemed unplayable. Her footwork was unique and instantly recognizable. Her powerful strokes are considered by many to have started the current trend of power baseline tennis that is common among professional women tennis players today.
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Graf followed this with easy victories in her next four tournaments at Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Texas, Boca Raton, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina. The Washington final was notable because Graf won the first twenty points of the match against Zina Garrison. In the Boca Raton final, Graf lost the only set she conceded to Chris Evert in their final eight matches.
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Graf grew in love with the sport, often having to be coaxed off the practice court. Soon, she competed against older players, spent time at a training center and won junior tournaments with regularity. She turned pro at 13 years, four months, and was ranked 124th as she began her first season in 1983. She climbed to No. 98 by season's end, to 22 the next year and No. 6 in 1985, all without winning any singles titles.
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Graf was ranked in the World Top 10 from 1985 through 1996, and again in 1998-'99. She holds the record for the longest consecutive stretch in the World's Top 2 - 10 years, 3 months, 1 week - March 2, 1987 through June 8, 1997. Her career win-loss record is an impressive 902-115. She was honored as the WTA Player of the Year eight times (1987-'90, '93-'96) and was named the ITF World Champion a record seven times (1987-'90, '93, '95, '96).
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In her first pro appearance since retiring in 1999, Graf helped the Houston Wranglers rally to force overtime against the Sacramento Capitals Tuesday in a World Team Tennis match. Sacramento beat Houston 20-18 in the extra session.
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In October of 2001, Graf was married to Andre Agassi. They have two children, a boy and a girl. Graf is the founder and chairperson of children for tomorrow, a non-profit foundation that develops and implements projects for children traumatized by war or other crises.
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