Steffi Graf is a German former professional tennis player born on June 14, 1969, in Mannheim, West Germany. Here’s a rundown of her remarkable life and career.
*Early Life*
Graf was introduced to tennis by her father, Peter Graf, at the age of three. She began practicing on a court at four and played in her first tournament at five. Her family moved to Brühl when she was nine, and she went on to win European Championships in the 12s and 18s categories in 1982.
*Career Highlights*
Graf turned pro in 1982 and won her first WTA tournament in 1986.
She became the world No. 1 in women’s singles on August 17, 1987, holding the ranking for a record 377 weeks.
-Graf won 107 singles titles, including 22 Grand Slam singles titles, and completed a Golden Slam in 1988 by winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic gold medal.
Her achievements include:
*Grand Slam Singles Titles:*
*Australian Open:* 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994
*French Open:* 1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999
*Wimbledon:* 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
*US Open:* 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996
Graf was known for her powerful forehand drive, versatility across all playing surfaces, and athletic ability.
She was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004.
*Personal Life and Legacy*
Graf married fellow tennis player Andre Agassi in 2001, and they have two children together.
She is considered instrumental in popularizing tennis in Germany, alongside Boris Becker.
Billie Jean King regards Graf as definitely the greatest women’s tennis player of all time.
Serena Williams has also cited Graf and Roger Federer as the greatest players of all time.
*Injuries and Retirement*
Graf struggled with injuries throughout her career, particularly in the early 1990s.
-She retired from professional tennis in 1999, at the age of 30, after winning her 22nd Grand Slam singles title at the French Open.
Stefanie Maria Graf (/ɡrɑːf, ɡræf/ GRA(H)F, German: [ˈʃtɛfi ˈɡʁaːf] [4][5] born on 14 June 1969) is a former professional tennis player from Germany.[a] She achieved the distinction of being ranked world No. 1 in women’s singles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for an unprecedented 377 weeks and concluded the year as the No. 1 player a record eight times. Graf secured 107 singles titles on the WTA Tour, which includes 22 major women’s singles titles, marking the second-highest total since the inception of the Open Era in 1968 and the third-highest in history. She is the only player in tennis, regardless of gender, to have won each major singles tournament at least four times, achieving a quadruple career Grand Slam.
Full Name
Stefanie Maria Graf[1]
Country (Sports)
West Germany (1982–1990)
Germany (1990–1999)
Residence
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Born
14 June 1969 (age 55)
Mannheim, West Germany
Height
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Turned Pro
1982
Retired
1999
Plays
Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Coach
Peter Graf
Pavel Složil (1986–1991)
Heinz Günthardt (1992–1999)
Prize Money
$21,895,277[3]
16th in All-Time Rankings
Single
Career achievements
900 wins and 115 losses
Career titles
107 (third in history)
Highest ranking
Ranked No. 1 on 17 August 1987
Grand slam singles results
Australian Open
W (1988, 1989, 1990, 1994)
French Open
W (1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999)
Wimbledon
W (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996)
US Open
W (1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals
W (1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996)
Olympic Games
W (1988)
Doubles
Career record
173–72
Career titles
11
Highest ranking
No. 3 (3 March 1987)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open
SF (1988, 1989)
French Open
F (1986, 1987, 1989)
Wimbledon
W (1988)
US Open
SF (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour Finals
SF (1986, 1987, 1988)
Olympic Games
SF (1988)
Mixed doubles
Career record
9–7
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open
2R (1991)
French Open
2R (1994)
Wimbledon
SF (1999)
US Open
1R (1984)
Team competitions
Fed Cup
W (1987, 1992)
Hopman Cup
W (1993)
Medal record
Representing West Germany
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul Doubles
Representing Germany
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona Singles.
A teenage prodigy, Graf made history as the youngest player to compete in the main draw of a Grand Slam at the 1983 French Open, at the age of 13. Over the subsequent years, she honed her skills and became the player who disrupted the reign of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova in women’s tennis, securing her first Grand Slam title at the 1987 French Open. In 1988, Graf reached new heights, becoming the first tennis player to accomplish the Golden Slam by winning all four major championships and the Olympic gold medal within the same calendar year. The next few years saw her maintain her status as the top player globally, although she faced challenges from injuries and the emergence of younger competitors, particularly Monica Seles. After Seles was stabbed in 1993, Graf reclaimed her position of dominance on the women’s tour for several years. Despite further injury setbacks in 1997 and 1998, Graf won her 22nd and final Grand Slam title at the French Open in 1999, reached the Wimbledon final, and subsequently retired from professional tennis at the age of 30, ranked as the world No. 3.
Graf’s game was characterized by her adaptability on various surfaces, exceptional footwork, and a powerful forehand. Her athletic prowess and aggressive baseline play have been credited with shaping the modern style of tennis that prevails today. Billie Jean King remarked, “Steffi [Graf] is undoubtedly the greatest women’s tennis player of all time.” The Associated Press named Graf the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century, and when asked in 2016 to identify the greatest players in history, Serena Williams cited Graf and Roger Federer. Graf was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004. Together with Boris Becker, she is regarded as a key figure in popularizing tennis in Germany. Since 2001, she has been married to fellow tennis star Andre Agassi, and they have two children.
