LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Steffi Graf
built 633 days ago
Steffi Graf was born on June 14, 1969 in Manhiem, West Germany. She is a former number one International tennis player. As a child, Steffi was introduced to the game and coached by her father Peter. As a young tennis player, Steffi won numerous juniors tournaments and in 1982, at the age of twelve, she won the European Championships. She then went on to play in her first professional tournament in October of 1982 in Filderstadt, Germany, where she lost.
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Victories at Zurich and Brighton preceded the Virginia Slims Championships, where Graf cemented her top-ranked status by beating Navratilova in the final 6-4, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. Graf ended 1989 with an 86-2 match record and the loss of only twelve sets.
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Graf generated passion for tennis from the time she picked up a wooden racket at age three. As a youngster, she won almost solely with her forehand, which Chris Evert called "the best in women's tennis." Later, Graf developed a wicked sliced backhand and built her serve up to 105 mph.
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Graf announced her retirement on August 13, 1999, when she was ranked third in the world. She was the highest-ranked ever to retire since the computer rankings began in November of 1975.
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Steffi Graf war drei Jahre alt, als sie in ihrer Heimatgemeinde Brühl im Jahre 1973 zum ersten Mal einen Tennisschläger in die Hand nahm. Inspiriert wurden diese ersten Versuche durch Vater Peter Graf. Dieser hatte als Versicherungskaufmann und Gebrauchtwagenhändler gearbeitet, bis er mit 27 Jahren den Tennissport für sich entdeckte und es innerhalb weniger Jahre zum Spieler in der deutschen Regionalliga und diplomierten Tennistrainer brachte. Peter Graf wurde früh auf die motorische Begabung seiner Tochter aufmerksam und begann, diese durch fortschreitend schwierigere Aufgaben zu fördern. Schon zwei Jahre später errang Tochter Stefanie den Sieg beim traditionellen „Jüngsten-Turnier“ in München. 1977 gelangen der Siebenjährigen weitere Turniersiege.
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Graf started playing tennis at the age of four and turned pro in 1982. Her coaches were Pavel Slozil (1986 to 1991) and Heinz G�nthardt (form 1992 until the end of her career in 1999). She played right-handed and has been famous for her forehand (she was sometimes called "Fraulein Forehand" in recognition of this) and her excellent fitness.
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Steffi Graf