View source for Steffi Graf

{{Short description|German former tennis player (born 1969)}}
{{for|the Austrian runner|Stephanie Graf}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
| name = Steffi Graf
| fullname = Stefanie Maria Graf<ref>{{cite web|author1=Bob Carter|title=Graf, queen of the lawn|url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Graf_Steffi.html|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=29 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415090420/http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Graf_Steffi.html|archive-date=15 April 2005|url-status=live}}</ref>
| image = Steffi Graf in Hamburg 2010 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Graf in 2010
| image_upright = .8
| country = {{flagcountry|FRG}} (1982–1990)<br />{{GER}} (1990–1999)
| residence = [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|6|14}}
| birth_place = [[Mannheim]], West Germany
| height = {{height|m=1.75|precision=0}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Player profile – Steffi Graf|work=WTA Tennis |date=7 April 2017 |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/70044/title/steffi-graf|publisher=[[Women's Tennis Association]] (WTA)|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402124007/https://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/70044/title/steffi-graf|url-status=live |author1=Admin }}</ref>
| turnedpro = 1982
| retired= 1999
| plays = Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
| coach = [[Peter Graf]]<br />[[Pavel Složil]] (1986–1991)<br />[[Heinz Günthardt]] (1992–1999)
| careerprizemoney = $21,895,277<ref>{{cite web|title=13 women have passed $20 million now|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5114430/title/13-women-have-passed-%2420-million-now|publisher=[[Women's Tennis Association]] (WTA)|date=3 November 2015|access-date=28 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816150723/http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5114430/title/13-women-have-passed-$20-million-now|archive-date=16 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[WTA Tour records#WTA career prize money leaders|24th in all-time rankings]]
| tennishofyear = 2004
| tennishofid = stefanie-graf
| singlesrecord = {{tennis win loss percentage|W=900|L=115|dec=2}} 
| singlestitles = 107 <small>[[WTA Tour records|(3rd all-time)]]</small>
| highestsinglesranking = [[List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players|No. '''1''']] (17 August 1987)
| AustralianOpenresult = '''W''' ('''[[1988 Australian Open – Women's singles|1988]]''', [[1989 Australian Open – Women's singles|1989]], [[1990 Australian Open – Women's singles|1990]], [[1994 Australian Open – Women's singles|1994]])
| FrenchOpenresult = '''W''' ([[1987 French Open – Women's singles|1987]], '''[[1988 French Open – Women's singles|1988]]''', [[1993 French Open – Women's singles|1993]], [[1995 French Open – Women's singles|1995]], [[1996 French Open – Women's singles|1996]], [[1999 French Open – Women's singles|1999]])
| Wimbledonresult = '''W''' ('''[[1988 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1988]]''', [[1989 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1989]], [[1991 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1991]], [[1992 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1992]], [[1993 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1993]], [[1995 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1995]], [[1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1996]])
| USOpenresult = '''W''' ('''[[1988 US Open – Women's singles|1988]]''', [[1989 US Open – Women's singles|1989]], [[1993 US Open – Women's singles|1993]], [[1995 US Open – Women's singles|1995]], [[1996 US Open – Women's singles|1996]])
| Othertournaments = yes
| WTAChampionshipsresult = '''W''' ([[1987 Virginia Slims Championships – Singles|1987]], [[1989 Virginia Slims Championships – Singles|1989]], [[1993 WTA Tour Championships – Singles|1993]], [[1995 WTA Tour Championships – Singles|1995]], [[1996 WTA Tour Championships – Singles|1996]])
| Olympicsresult = '''W''' ('''[[Tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's singles|1988]]''')
| doublesrecord = {{tennis record|won=173|lost=72}} (70.6%)
| doublestitles = 11
| highestdoublesranking = No. 3 (3 March 1987)
| AustralianOpenDoublesresult = SF ([[1988 Australian Open – Women's doubles|1988]], [[1989 Australian Open – Women's doubles|1989]])
| FrenchOpenDoublesresult = F ([[1986 French Open – Women's doubles|1986]], [[1987 French Open – Women's doubles|1987]], [[1989 French Open – Women's doubles|1989]])
| WimbledonDoublesresult = '''W''' ([[1988 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|1988]])
| USOpenDoublesresult = SF ([[1986 US Open – Women's doubles|1986]], [[1987 US Open – Women's doubles|1987]], [[1988 US Open – Women's doubles|1988]], [[1989 US Open – Women's doubles|1989]])
| OthertournamentsDoubles = yes
| WTAChampionshipsDoublesresult = SF ([[1986 Virginia Slims Championships (November) – Doubles|1986]], [[1987 Virginia Slims Championships – Doubles|1987]], [[1988 Virginia Slims Championships – Doubles|1988]])
| OlympicsDoublesresult = SF ([[Tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's doubles|1988]])
| Mixed = yes
| mixedrecord = {{tennis record|won=9|lost=7}}
| mixedtitles = 
| AustralianOpenMixedresult = 2R ([[1991 Australian Open – Mixed doubles|1991]])
| FrenchOpenMixedresult = 2R ([[1994 French Open – Mixed doubles|1994]])
| WimbledonMixedresult = SF ([[1999 Wimbledon Championships – Mixed doubles|1999]])
| USOpenMixedresult = 1R ([[1984 US Open – Mixed doubles|1984]])
| Team=yes
| FedCupresult = '''W''' ([[1987 Fed Cup|1987]], [[1992 Fed Cup|1992]])
| HopmanCupresult = '''W''' ([[1993 Hopman Cup|1993]])
| medaltemplates-expand = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|{{FRG}}}}
{{MedalGold | '''[[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]]''' | [[Tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's singles|Singles]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | [[Tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's doubles|Doubles]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{Flagu|Germany}}}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Tennis at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's singles|Singles]]}}
}}
'''Stefanie Maria Graf''' ({{IPAc-en|ɡ|r|ɑː|f|,_|ɡ|r|æ|f}} {{respell|GRA(H)F}}, {{IPA|de|ˈʃtɛfi ˈɡʁaːf|lang|De-Steffi Graf.ogg}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Steffi|title=Duden {{!}} Steffi {{!}} Rechtschreibung, Bedeutung, Definition|work=[[Duden]]|access-date=21 October 2018|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021232126/https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Steffi|archive-date=21 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Wells|first=John C.|year=2008|title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary|edition=3rd|publisher=Longman|isbn=9781405881180}}</ref> born 14 June 1969), known professionally as '''Steffi Graf''' and preferring to be called '''Stefanie''' since 2001,<ref>{{cite news|title=Don't call me Steffi|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/1273774.stm|publisher=BBC|date=12 April 2001|access-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808101605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/1273774.stm|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> is a German former professional [[tennis]] player.{{efn|She is now a naturalized American citizen, and was nominated as one of 2022's Great US Immigrants by Carnegie Corporation of New York.<ref name="Carnegie_2022">{{cite web |title=2022 Great Immigrants |url=https://www.carnegie.org/awards/great-immigrants/2022-great-immigrants/ |date=2022 |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327041732/https://www.carnegie.org/awards/great-immigrants/2022-great-immigrants/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} She was ranked as the [[List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players|world No. 1]] in women's singles by the [[Women's Tennis Association]] (WTA) for a record 377 weeks, and finished as the [[List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players#Year-end No. 1 players|year-end No. 1]] a record eight times. Graf won 107 singles titles on the [[WTA Tour]], including 22 [[Grand Slam (tennis)#Tournaments|major]] women's singles titles, the second-most since the start of the [[Open Era]] in 1968 and the [[All-time tennis records – women's singles#Grand Slam singles totals|third-most of all time]]. She is the only tennis player, male or female, to have won each major singles tournament at least four times — a [[List of Grand Slam women's singles champions#Career Grand Slam|quadruple career Grand Slam]].

A teenage phenomenon, Graf became the youngest player to appear in the main draw of a major at the [[1983 French Open – Women's singles|1983 French Open]] aged 13. She improved over the following years and emerged as the player who ended [[Chris Evert]] and [[Martina Navratilova]]'s dominance on women's tennis, winning her first major at the [[1987 French Open – Women's singles|1987 French Open]]. In [[1988 WTA Tour|1988]], Graf ascended to dominance, becoming the first tennis player to achieve the [[Grand Slam (tennis)#Golden Slam|Golden Slam]] by winning all four major titles and the [[Tennis at the Olympics|Olympic gold]] medal in the same calendar year. The following years saw her remain the best player in the world, but struggle with injuries and the rise of young rivals, especially [[Monica Seles]]. After the [[Monica Seles#1993 stabbing attack|stabbing of Seles]] in 1993, Graf returned to dominance on the women's tour for several years. After more injuries in 1997 and 1998, in 1999 Graf captured her 22nd and final major title at the [[1999 French Open – Women's singles|French Open]], reached the [[1999 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|Wimbledon]] final, and retired from the sport, aged 30 and ranked as the world No. 3.

Graf's game was noted for versatility across all playing surfaces, footwork, and powerful forehand drive. Her athletic ability and aggressive game played from the baseline have been credited with developing the style of play that dominates today's game. [[Billie Jean King]] said, "Steffi [Graf] is definitely the greatest women's tennis player of all time." Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by the [[Associated Press]]; asked in 2016 to name the greatest players of all time, [[Serena Williams]] answered Graf and [[Roger Federer]]. Graf was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004. Along with [[Boris Becker]], Graf is considered instrumental in popularizing tennis in Germany. She has been married to fellow tennis player [[Andre Agassi]] since 2001. They have two children.

==Early life==
Stefanie Graf was born on 14 June 1969, in [[Mannheim]], Baden-Württemberg, [[West Germany]], to Heidi Schalk and car-and-insurance salesman [[Peter Graf]] (18 June 1938 − 30 November 2013). When she was nine years old, her family moved to the neighboring town of [[Brühl (Baden)|Brühl]]. She has a younger brother, Michael.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thelocal.de/20131202/steffis-svengali-peter-graf-dies |title=Steffi's father Peter Graf dies after cancer battle |website=The Local |date=2 December 2013 |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611015950/http://www.thelocal.de/20131202/steffis-svengali-peter-graf-dies |archive-date=11 June 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> 

Her father, an aspiring tennis coach, first introduced her to the game, teaching his three-year-old daughter how to swing a wooden racket in the family's living room.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-passings-20131206-story.html |title=PASSINGS: Peter Graf, Robert Dockson |work=Los Angeles Times |date=6 December 2013 |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001081719/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/06/local/la-me-passings-20131206 |archive-date=1 October 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> She began practising on a court at the age of four and played in her first tournament at five. She soon began taking the top prize at junior tournaments with regularity, going on to win the European Championships 12s and 18s in 1982.

==Career==
===Early career===
Graf played in her first professional tournament in October 1982 at [[1982 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix|Filderstadt]], Germany. She lost her first round match 6–4, 6–0 to [[Tracy Austin]], a two-time US Open champion and former world No. 1 player.

At the start of her first full professional year in 1983, Graf was 13 years old and ranked world No. 124. She won no titles during the next three years, but her ranking climbed steadily to world No. 98 in 1983, No. 22 in 1984, and No. 6 in 1985. In 1984, she first gained international attention when she almost upset the tenth seed, [[Jo Durie]] of the United Kingdom, in a fourth round [[Centre Court]] match at Wimbledon. In August as a 15-year-old (and youngest entrant) representing West Germany, she won the tennis demonstration event at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympic Games]] in Los Angeles. No medals were awarded as this was not an official Olympic event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=64473 |title=Steffi Graf: The Golden Slam |publisher=Olympic.org |access-date=4 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616133142/http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=64473 |archive-date=16 June 2009 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

Graf's schedule was closely controlled by her father Peter Graf, who limited her play so that she would not burn out.<ref name="latimes1987">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-13-sp-7824-story.html |title=Both on and Off Court, Graf Has Come a Long Way in Past Year |work=Los Angeles Times |date=13 September 1987 |first=John |last=Feinstein |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829210451/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-09-13/sports/sp-7824_1_peter-graf |archive-date=29 August 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> In 1985, for instance, she played only ten events leading up to the US Open, whereas another up-and-coming star, [[Gabriela Sabatini]], played 21. Peter Graf also kept a tight rein on his daughter's personal life. Social invitations on the tour were often declined as Graf's focus was kept on practicing and match play. Working with her father and then-coach [[Pavel Složil]], Graf typically practiced for up to four hours a day, often heading straight from airports to practice courts. This narrow focus meant that Graf, already shy and retiring by nature,<ref name="latimes1987"/> made few friends on the tour in her early years, but it led to a steady improvement in her play.

In 1985 and early 1986, Graf emerged as the top challenger to the dominance of [[Martina Navratilova]] and [[Chris Evert]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-08-sp-9730-story.html |title=Graf, 16, Can Handle Pressure |work=Los Angeles Times |date=8 June 1986 |first=John |last=Feinstein |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223012/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-06-08/sports/sp-9730_1_peter-graf |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> During that period, she lost six times to Evert and three times to Navratilova, all in straight sets. She did not win a tournament but consistently reached tournament finals, semifinals and quarterfinals, with the highlight being a semifinal defeat to Navratilova at the US Open.

On 13 April 1986, Graf won her first WTA tournament and beat Evert for the first time in the final of the [[Family Circle Cup]] in [[Hilton Head, South Carolina]] (she never lost to Evert again, beating her seven more times over the next three and a half years). Graf then won her next three tournaments at [[Bausch & Lomb Championships|Amelia Island]], Indianapolis, and [[Qatar Telecom German Open|Berlin]], culminating in a 6–2, 6–3 defeat of Navratilova in the final of the latter. Illness caused her to miss Wimbledon,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-17-sp-11677-story.html |title=Tennis Roundup : Mysterious Illness Forces Graf to Withdraw From Wimbledon |work=Los Angeles Times |date=17 June 1986 |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223012/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-06-17/sports/sp-11677_1_steffi-graf |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and an accident where she broke a toe several weeks later also curtailed her play. She returned to win a small tournament at [[Mahwah, New Jersey|Mahwah]] just before the US Open where, in one of the most anticipated matches of the year, she encountered Navratilova in a semifinal. Navratilova prevailed over Graf in the semifinal 6–1, 6–7<sup>(7–3)</sup>, 7–6<sup>(10–8)</sup>, saving three match points in an epic spread over two days.<ref>[http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-09-07/sports/8602230305_1_third-set-tiebreaker-backhand-point Navratilova Pushed To Limit Before Ousting Upstart Graf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801221235/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-09-07/sports/8602230305_1_third-set-tiebreaker-backhand-point|date=August 1, 2018}}, ''SunSentinel'' [Florida, U.S.], Jim Sarni, Sept. 7, 1986.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Ashley |date=2020-04-17 |title=Turning Points: Martina Navratilova saves match points to edge Steffi Graf at 1986 US Open |url=https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2020-04-17/turning_points_martina_navratilova_saves_match_points_to_edge_steffi_graf_at_1986_us_open.html |access-date=2023-09-08}}</ref> Graf then won three consecutive indoor titles at [[Toray Pan Pacific Open|Tokyo]], [[Zurich Open|Zurich]], and [[Brighton]], before once again contending with Navratilova at the season-ending [[1986 Virginia Slims Championships|Virginia Slims Championships]] in New York. This time, Navratilova beat Graf 7–6, 6–3, 6–2.

===Breakthrough year: 1987===
Graf's Grand Slam tournament breakthrough came in 1987. She started the year strongly, with six tournament victories heading into the French Open, with the highlight being at the tournament in [[Miami Masters|Miami]], where she defeated Martina Navratilova in a semifinal and Chris Evert in the final and lost only 20 games in the seven rounds of the tournament. In the French Open final, Graf defeated Navratilova, who was the world No. 1, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 after beating Sabatini in a three-set semifinal.

Graf then lost to Navratilova 7–5, 6–3 in the Wimbledon final, her first loss of the year. However, in the [[Fed Cup|Federation Cup]] final in [[Vancouver]], Canada, three weeks later, she defeated Evert easily 6–2, 6–1. The US Open ended anti-climactically as Navratilova defeated Graf in the final 7–6, 6–1.

Graf had a win–loss record of 75–2 for a 97.4 winning percentage in 1987, both losses coming to Navratilova as they split the four matches they played during the year. On 17 August, after defeating Evert in a straight set final in the Virginia Slims of Los Angeles, Graf overtook Navratilova for the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career, a ranking she would hold for the next 186 consecutive weeks, a record (it was tied by Serena Williams in 2016). Graf was the first player other than Navratilova or Evert to hold the top spot since Tracy Austin in 1980.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Lisa Dillman|title=Graf Defeats Evert, Gains No. 1 Ranking|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-17-sp-1036-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=17 August 1987|access-date=19 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301063406/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-08-17/sports/sp-1036_1_martina-and-chris|archive-date=1 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Grand Slam: 1988===
[[File:Seoul women's tennis results.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Seoul women's tennis results]]
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.

Graf lost twice to Sabatini during the spring, once on hardcourts in Boca Raton, Florida, and once on clay at [[Bausch & Lomb Championships|Amelia Island, Florida]]. Graf, however, won the tournament in San Antonio, Texas, and retained her title in Miami, where she once again defeated Evert in the final. Graf then won the tournament in [[Qatar Telecom German Open|Berlin]], losing only twelve games in five matches.

At the [[1988 French Open – Women's singles|French Open]], Graf successfully defended her title by defeating [[Natasha Zvereva]] 6–0, 6–0 in a 34-minute final.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-07-02-8801120571-story.html | title=Graf wastes no time reaching another final | date=2 July 1988 | first=Phil | last=Hersh | work=Chicago Tribune | access-date=25 May 2019 | archive-date=14 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514212919/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-07-02-8801120571-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rolandgarros.com/fr_FR/about/history/past_tournaments/1988.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325101912/http://www.rolandgarros.com/fr_FR/about/history/past_tournaments/1988.html|archive-date=25 March 2015|title=Roland-Garros – the 2021 Roland-Garros Tournament official site}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1988 : Steffi Graf était pressée.|url=http://www.rolandgarros.com/fr_FR/content/default/1987_1999_steffi_et_le_temps_des_spcialistes.html|website=www.rolandgarros.com|publisher=[[Fédération Française de Tennis]] (FFT)|language=fr|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822224621/http://www.rolandgarros.com/fr_FR/content/default/1987_1999_steffi_et_le_temps_des_spcialistes.html|archive-date=22 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxT19Jhgy64|title=French Open 1988 Final – Steffi Graf vs Natallja Zvereva|date=26 November 2014|work=YouTube|access-date=4 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713073704/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxT19Jhgy64|archive-date=13 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/that-1980s-sports-blog/2014/may/27/french-open-1988-steffi-graf-andre-agassi-mats-wilander|title=The 1988 French Open: how Agassi arrived, Graf ruled and Wilander won|first=Steven|last=Pye|work=The Guardian|date=27 May 2014|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514212910/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/that-1980s-sports-blog/2014/may/27/french-open-1988-steffi-graf-andre-agassi-mats-wilander|url-status=live}}</ref> That was the shortest-ever and most one-sided Grand Slam tournament final ever and the first [[double bagel]] in a major final in the [[Open Era]].<ref name="French double bagel"/> Zvereva, who had eliminated [[Martina Navratilova]] in the fourth round, won only thirteen points in the match.<ref name="French double bagel">{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4DD1138F936A35755C0A96E948260&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FPeople%2FG%2FGraf%2C%20Steffi |title=TENNIS; Graf Shuts Out Zvereva to Gain French Open Title |work=The New York Times |date=5 June 1988 |access-date=17 May 2011 |first=Robin |last=Herman |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030230821/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/05/sports/tennis-graf-shuts-out-zvereva-to-gain-french-open-title.html?n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes+Topics%2FPeople%2FG%2FGraf%2C+Steffi |url-status=live }}</ref>

Next came Wimbledon, where Martina Navratilova had won six straight titles. Graf was trailing Martina Navratilova in the final 7–5, 2–0 before winning the match 5–7, 6–2, 6–1.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Peter Alfano|title=Wimbledon; An Era Ends as Graf Beats Navratilova|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/03/sports/wimbledon-an-era-ends-as-graf-beats-navratilova.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 July 1988|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130092346/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/03/sports/wimbledon-an-era-ends-as-graf-beats-navratilova.html|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> She then won tournaments in [[Hamburg Masters|Hamburg]] and [[United Jersey Bank Classic|Mahwah]] (where she lost only eight games all tournament).

At the US Open, Graf beat Sabatini in a three-set final, 6–3, 3–6, 6–1, to win the [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]], a feat previously performed by only two other women, [[Maureen Connolly Brinker]] in 1953 and [[Margaret Court]] in 1970. Graf's 1988 Grand Slam remains the only one in history completed on three surfaces (grass, clay, hard court), as all other Grand Slams in tennis history were achieved prior to the introduction of hard court at the US Open in 1978.<ref name="Bleacher Report">{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1536384-forget-calendar-slam-surface-slam-almost-as-rare|title=Forget Calendar Slam, "Surface Slam" Almost as Rare|work=Bleacher Report|date=20 February 2013|access-date=15 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721160101/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1536384-forget-calendar-slam-surface-slam-almost-as-rare|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In reaching and winning all four Grand Slam finals, Graf became the first player in history to contest and win 28 Grand Slam singles matches in a single year; albeit including the unplayed walkover against Evert in the US Open. Even discounting that result, no other player had played and won 27 Grand Slam matches in a single year before. Since then, five players managed a 27–1 win–loss record, meaning all of them failed to win the Grand Slam: Graf in 1989 and 1993, [[Monica Seles]] in 1992, [[Martina Hingis]] in 1997, [[Roger Federer]] in 2006, and [[Novak Djokovic]] in 2015, 2021 and 2023.

Graf then defeated Sabatini 6–3, 6–3 in the gold medal match at the [[tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] in [[Seoul]] and achieved what the media had dubbed the "Golden Slam", the first tennis player to do this.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Steffi Graf became tennis' first Golden Slam winner |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/tennis-golden-slam-steffi-graf-1988-olympics-gold |website=Olympics.com |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="Steffi Graf Interview The Guardian">{{cite news |last=Greenstreet |first=Rosanna |title=Q&A: Steffi Graf |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/22/steffi-graf-interview |url-status=live |work=The Guardian |date=22 June 2013 |access-date=24 June 2013 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112112428/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/22/steffi-graf-interview |archive-date=12 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-01-sp-4214-story.html |title=THE SEOUL GAMES : Women's Tennis : Graf Turns Her Slam Into a Golden One |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 October 1988 |first=Bill |last=Dwyre |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703022331/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-10-01/sports/sp-4214_1_steffi-graf |archive-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Graf also won her only Grand Slam doubles title that year—at Wimbledon partnering Sabatini—and picked up a women's doubles Olympic bronze medal. Graf was the first tennis player to achieve this.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

At the year-ending [[WTA Tour Championships|Virginia Slims Championships]], Graf was upset by [[Pam Shriver]], only her third loss of the year. The loss deprived her of the Golden Super Slam. She was named the 1988 [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality|BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]].

At the end of the year, the municipality of Brühl, her hometown, gave her the title of honorary citizen.

===New challengers and personal challenges===
[[File:Steffi Graf backhand.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Graf backhand]]

====1989====
Speculation was rife at the beginning of 1989 about the possibility of Graf winning another Grand Slam. Some noted observers, such as Margaret Court, suggested that Graf could achieve the feat a couple more times. And the year began as expected, with Graf extending her Grand Slam tournament winning streak to five events at the Australian Open, defeating [[Helena Suková]] in the final. Her 6–3, 6–0 defeat of Gabriela Sabatini in a semifinal was described by veteran observer [[Ted Tinling]] as "probably the best tennis I've seen".<ref>"Australian Tennis", March 1989, p. 28</ref> He went on to add, "I saw what Steffi did to Sabatini at the Australian Open this year, and that was it. She is better than them all."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068538/7/index.htm | work=CNN | title=Serving Her Country | date=26 June 1989 | access-date=28 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604112009/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068538/7/index.htm | archive-date=4 June 2014 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Graf followed this with easy victories in her next four tournaments at Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Texas, Boca Raton, Florida, and [[Family Circle Cup|Hilton Head]]. The Washington, D.C. tournament was notable because Graf won the first twenty points of the final against [[Zina Garrison]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DF1131F933A15751C0A96F948260 |title=Graf Trounces Garrison |work=The New York Times |date=20 February 1989 |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030230845/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/20/sports/graf-trounces-garrison.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Boca Raton final, Graf lost the only set she conceded to Chris Evert in their final seven matches.<ref>[http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/playerheadtoheaddetail.asp?PlayerID=50020&x=3&y=6&Player1ID=70044 Head to Head] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226060744/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/playerheadtoheaddetail.asp?PlayerID=50020&x=3&y=6&Player1ID=70044 |date=26 December 2008 }}</ref>

In the subsequent [[Bausch & Lomb Championships|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 Masters|Hamburg]] and [[Qatar Telecom German Open|Berlin]].

Graf's Grand Slam tournament winning streak ended at the French Open, where 17-year-old Spaniard [[Arantxa Sánchez Vicario]] beat Graf in three sets. Graf served for the match at 5–3 in the third set but lost the game and won only three more points in the match. Suffering from food poisoning, she had struggled to beat [[Monica Seles]] in their semifinal 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 and said that she had menstrual cramps in the final.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Stephen R. |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/50806/SURPRISE-SANCHEZ-BEATS-GRAF.html |title=SURPRISE! SANCHEZ BEATS GRAF 17-YEAR-OLD WINS TITLE |work=[[Deseret News]] |date=11 June 1989 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314154328/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/50806/SURPRISE-SANCHEZ-BEATS-GRAF.html |archive-date=14 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Nick Stout |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/sports/tennis-sanchez-surprises-graf-to-win-the-french-open.html |title=TENNIS – Sanchez Surprises Graf to Win the French Open |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=11 June 1989 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175428/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/sports/tennis-sanchez-surprises-graf-to-win-the-french-open.html |archive-date=19 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Graf, however, recovered to defeat Martina Navratilova 6–2, 6–7, 6–1 in the Wimbledon final after defeating Monica Seles 6–0, 6–1 in a fourth round match, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in a quarterfinal, and Chris Evert in a semifinal.

Graf warmed up for the US Open with easy tournament victories in [[Acura Classic|San Diego]] and [[United Jersey Bank Classic|Mahwah]]. In her semifinal match at the US Open, Graf defeated Sabatini 3–6, 6–4, 6–2. The match was notable for its dramatic ending. Having suffered from leg cramps since the middle of the third set, Graf ran off the court seconds after match point to seek medical treatment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Robin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/09/sports/graf-and-navratilova-march-to-a-showdown.html |title=Graf and Navratilova March to a Showdown |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=9 September 1989 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220150129/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/09/sports/graf-and-navratilova-march-to-a-showdown.html |archive-date=20 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the final, Navratilova led 6–3, 4–2 before Graf rallied to win 3–6, 7–5, 6–1 for her third Grand Slam singles title of the year.

Victories at Zurich and [[Brighton International|Brighton]] preceded the [[1989 Virginia Slims Championships|Virginia Slims Championships]], where Graf cemented her top-ranked status by beating Navratilova in the four-set final. Graf ended 1989 with an 86–2 match record and the loss of only 12 sets. Her 0.977 winning percentage is the second-highest in the open era behind Navratilova.<ref name="wta_spotlight">{{cite web|title=No.1 spotlight: Steffi Graf|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/40love/article/3150587/title/no1-spotlight-steffi-graf|publisher=[[Women's Tennis Association]] (WTA)|date=20 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122014432/http://www.wtatennis.com/40love/article/3150587/title/no1-spotlight-steffi-graf|archive-date=22 January 2016}}</ref>

====1990====
Graf defeated [[Mary Joe Fernández]] in the final of the Australian Open, which was her eighth Grand Slam singles title in the last nine she contested. 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 6–4. Her winning streak (unbeaten since the 1989 French Open loss to Arantxa Sánchez) continued with victories in [[Toray Pan Pacific Open|Tokyo]], [[Bausch & Lomb Championships|Amelia Island]], and [[Hamburg Masters|Hamburg]]. 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 [[1990 Lipton Championships|Lipton Championships]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Robin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/09/sports/graf-is-injured-skiing.html |title=Graf Is Injured Skiing |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=9 February 1990 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116010009/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/09/sports/graf-is-injured-skiing.html |archive-date=16 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[WTA German Open|Berlin]], she extended her unbeaten streak to 66 matches (second in [[Women's Tennis Association|WTA]] history to Navratilova's 74) before losing the final to Monica Seles, 4–6, 3–6.

While the Berlin tournament was being played, the largest-circulation German tabloid, ''[[Bild]]'', ran a story about an alleged scandal involving Graf's father. The difficulty of answering questions about the matter came to a head at a Wimbledon press conference, where Graf broke down in tears. Wimbledon authorities then threatened to immediately shut down any subsequent press conferences where questions about the issue were asked. Whether this scandal affected Graf's form is open to debate. In an interview with ''Stern'' magazine in July 1990, Graf stated, "I could not fight as usual."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7DE163BF930A25754C0A966958260 |title=Tennis; Graf's Toughest Foe: the Press |work=The New York Times |date=13 July 1990 |access-date=17 May 2011 |first=Ferdinand |last=Protzman |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030230830/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/13/sports/tennis-graf-s-toughest-foe-the-press.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Graf again lost to Monica Seles in the final of the French Open 6–7, 4–6. Seles was behind 2–6 in the first-set tiebreaker, but then came back to win six points in a row and take the set. At Wimbledon, Graf lost in the semifinals to [[Zina Garrison]], who with this victory broke Graf's string of 13 consecutive major finals. This was a major upset as Garrison had to save a match point to defeat Monica Seles in the quarterfinal, and was expected to easily fall to Graf, whom she had not beaten in four years. After victories in [[Canada Masters|Montreal]] and [[Acura Classic|San Diego]], Graf reached the US Open final, where she lost in straight sets to Sabatini. Graf won four indoor tournaments after the US Open, including a pair of straight-set wins over Sabatini in the finals of [[Zurich Open|Zürich]] and [[Virginia Slims of New England|Worcester]]. Although Sabatini got the best of Graf in the semifinals of the season-ending Virginia Slims Championships, Graf still finished the year as the top-ranked player.

====1991====
A mixture of injury problems, personal difficulties, and loss of form made 1991 a tough year for Graf. Seles established herself as the new dominant player on the women's tour, winning the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open and, in March, ending Graf's record 186 consecutive-weeks hold on the World No. 1 ranking.<ref name="wta_spotlight"/> Graf briefly regained the top ranking after winning at Wimbledon but lost it again after her loss to Navratilova at the US Open.

Graf lost an [[1991 Australian Open|Australian Open]] quarterfinal to [[Jana Novotná]], the first time she did not reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament since the 1986 French Open. She then lost to Sabatini in her next three tournaments before winning the U.S. Hardcourt Championships in [[San Antonio]], beating Monica Seles in the final. After losing a fifth straight time to Sabatini in [[Bausch & Lomb Championships|Amelia Island, Florida]], Graf again defeated Seles in the [[Hamburg Masters|Hamburg]] final. Following her tournament victory in [[WTA German Open|German Open]] in Berlin, Graf suffered one of the worst defeats of her career in a [[1991 French Open|French Open]] semifinal where she won only two games against Sánchez Vicario and lost her first 6–0 set since 1984. At [[1991 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]], however, Graf captured her third women's crown, this time at Sabatini's expense. Sabatini served for the match twice, and was two points away from her first Wimbledon title. After breaking Sabatini's serve to even the third set at 6–6, Graf defeated Sabatini by winning the next two games to take the match 6–4, 3–6, 8–6. Martina Navratilova then defeated Graf 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 in a [[1991 US Open (tennis)|US Open]] semifinal, the first time she had beaten Graf in four years. Graf then won in Leipzig, with her 500th career victory coming in a quarterfinal against [[Judith Wiesner]]. After winning two more indoor tournaments at Zurich and [[Brighton International|Brighton]], she failed once again in the Virginia Slims Championships, losing her quarterfinal to Novotná. Soon after, she split with her long-time coach, Pavel Složil.

====1992====
A bout of [[rubella]] forced Graf to miss the first major event of 1992, the [[1992 Australian Open|Australian Open]]. Her year continued indifferently with losses in three of her first four tournaments, including a semifinal loss to [[Jana Novotná]] in [[Virginia Slims of Chicago|Chicago]]. It was Graf's second consecutive loss to Novotna, and dating back to their 1991 Australian Open quarterfinal match, Jana had won three of their last five meetings. It would also be the last loss Graf would ever have to Novotna in a match she completed (she did have a loss after withdrawing with injury after the first set of a late 1996 match). Chicago was notable, however, for being the first tournament Graf played with her new coach, former Swiss player [[Heinz Günthardt]]. Graf's father had approached Günthardt during the 1991 Virginia Slims Championships.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ziehm|first1=Len|title=Steffi lives it up – New Graf steps out in style|agency=Chicago Sun Times|date=16 February 1992}}</ref> She would work with him for the remainder of her career.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/16/sports/tennis-finally-graf-gets-to-start-her-year.htm]{{dead link|date=July 2017}}</ref> In [[Virginia Slims of Florida|Boca Raton, Florida]], Graf reached her first final of the year, where she faced [[Conchita Martínez]] for the title. In their five previous head-to-head matches, Graf had defeated Martínez each time. Even though she lost the opening set, Graf went on to prevail in three sets. She lost twice to Sabatini in the early spring at the Lipton International and the Bausch & Lomb Championships, which now brought her to seven losses in her last eight matches against Sabatini; however, the Bausch & Lomb loss would be Graf's final loss to Sabatini, winning her next, and last eight matches against Sabatini.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/headtohead/steffi-graf_2255881_2718/0,,12781~2718~7184,00.html |title=WTA &#124; Players &#124; Head to Head &#124; Steffi Graf |work=WTA Tennis |publisher=Wtatennis.com |access-date=1 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017092649/http://www.wtatennis.com/headtohead/steffi-graf_2255881_2718/0,,12781~2718~7184,00.html |archive-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Victories at [[Hamburg Masters|Hamburg]] and [[WTA German Open|Berlin]] (beating Sánchez Vicario in the finals of both) prepared her for the French Open, where she defeated Sánchez Vicario in the semifinals after losing the first set 6–0. Graf then lost a closely contested final to Monica Seles, 2–6, 6–3, 8–10. Seles won the match on her fifth match point; Graf came within two points of winning the match a few games earlier. At Wimbledon, after struggling through early-round three-setters against [[Mariaan de Swardt]] and [[Patty Fendick]], she easily defeated Natasha Zvereva in the quarterfinal, Sabatini in the semifinal, and Seles in the final, 6–2, 6–1, with Seles playing in almost complete silence because of widespread media and player criticism of her [[grunting (tennis)|grunting]]. Graf then won all five of her [[Fed Cup]] matches, helping Germany defeat Spain in the final by defeating Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, 6–4, 6–2. At the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Graf lost to [[Jennifer Capriati]] in the final and claimed the silver medal. At the US Open, Graf was upset in the quarterfinals by Sánchez Vicario 7–6, 6–3. Four consecutive indoor tournament victories in the autumn helped improve her season, but for the third consecutive year, she failed to win the Virginia Slims Championships, where she lost in the first round to [[Lori McNeil]].

===Second period of dominance===
====1993====
Graf began 1993 with four losses in her first six tournaments of the year: two to Sánchez Vicario and one each to Seles and the 36-year-old Martina Navratilova. Seles defeated Graf at the Australian Open 4–6, 6–3, 6–2. She struggled at the [[Qatar Telecom German Open|German Open]] in Berlin where she lost a 6–0 set to the unheralded [[Sabine Hack]] before defeating [[Mary Joe Fernández]] and Sabatini in three-set matches to claim her seventh title there in eight years.

During a quarterfinal match between Seles and [[Magdalena Maleeva]] in Hamburg, Seles was stabbed between the shoulder blades by a mentally ill German fan of Graf, Günter Parche. He claimed that he committed the attack to help Graf reclaim the world No. 1 ranking. More than two years elapsed before Seles competed again. Shortly after the stabbing, during a players meeting at the [[1993 Italian Open (tennis)|Italian Open]] in Rome, 17 of the world's top 25 WTA members voted against preserving Seles' world No. 1 ranking while she was sidelined. Since Graf skipped the Italian Open, she did not take part in the vote.<ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Robin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/30/sports/tennis-seles-struggles-with-injury-and-wta-decision.html |title=TENNIS – Seles Struggles With Injury and W.T.A. Decision |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 May 1993 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116004531/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/30/sports/tennis-seles-struggles-with-injury-and-wta-decision.html |archive-date=16 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Robin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/27/sports/tennis-for-seles-the-wound-still-hurts.html?pagewanted=all |title=TENNIS – For Seles, the Wound Still Hurts |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=27 August 1993 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081043/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/27/sports/tennis-for-seles-the-wound-still-hurts.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=16 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

During Seles's absence, Graf won 65 of 67 matches,<ref>{{cite news|title=Troubled WTA Tour limps through '94 season|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/html/cd/1994/199403/19940305/19940305007_2.html|work=[[China Daily]]|date=5 March 1994|access-date=1 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202012137/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/html/cd/1994/199403/19940305/19940305007_2.html|archive-date=2 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> three of four Grand Slam events and the year-end Virginia Slims championships. She won her first French Open title since 1988 with a three-set victory over Mary Joe Fernández in the final. Fernandez had two break points to take a 3–0 and double break lead in the third set. The win elevated Graf to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in 22 months. At Wimbledon, Graf defeated Jana Novotná to win her third consecutive, and fifth overall, ladies' title. In the third and deciding set, Novotná had a point to go up 5–1 on her serve. After breaking Novotná's serve, Graf won the next four games to take the match 7–6, 1–6, 6–4. Graf had a bone splinter in her right foot during this tournament (and for the next few months), finally resulting in surgery on 4 October.<ref>{{cite news |author=John Roberts |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis-graf-footloose-and-pain-free-germanys-world-no-1-in-intimidating-form-at-the-australian-open-1408464.html |title=Tennis: Graf footloose and pain-free: Germany's world No 1 in intimidating form at the Australian Open |work=[[The Independent]] |date=22 January 1994 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081051/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis-graf-footloose-and-pain-free-germanys-world-no-1-in-intimidating-form-at-the-australian-open-1408464.html |archive-date=16 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In the meantime, she lost surprisingly to [[Nicole Bradtke]] of Australia in a [[Fed Cup]] match on clay before winning the [[Acura Classic]] in San Diego and the [[Rogers Cup|Canadian Open]] in Toronto in preparation for the US Open. She won there, comfortably beating Helena Suková in the final after needing three sets to eliminate Gabriela Sabatini and [[Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere]] in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively. In the fall, Graf won the [[1993 Volkswagen Card Cup|Volkswagen Card Cup]] in Leipzig a day before her foot operation, losing only two games to Jana Novotná in the final. Graf lost to Conchita Martínez in her comeback tournament a month later in [[Advanta Championships Philadelphia|Philadelphia]]. However, she finished her year with a highlight, winning her first Virginia Slims Championships since 1989 by beating Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final despite needing painkillers for a back injury.

====1994====
Seemingly free of injury for the first time in years, Graf began the year by winning the [[1994 Australian Open|Australian Open]], where she defeated Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final with the loss of only two games. Graf later stated it was the best tennis she had ever played in a Grand Slam final.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlI8Q0rdRUU&t=74s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/nlI8Q0rdRUU| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Steffi Graf Interview – 1994 Australian Open|date=16 June 2016|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> She then won her next four tournaments in [[1994 Toray Pan Pacific Open|Tokyo]], [[1994 Newsweek Champions Cup and the Evert Cup|Indian Wells]], [[1994 Virginia Slims of Florida|Delray Beach]] and [[1994 Lipton Championships|Miami]] respectively. In the Miami final, she lost her first set of the year—to Natasha Zvereva—after winning 54 consecutive sets.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Charles Bricker|title=Wilander Having His Day In Court|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-03-22/sports/9503220016_1_atp-tour-second-seeded-steffi-graf-defeat-unseeded|publisher=[[SunSentinel]]|date=22 March 1995|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806214529/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-03-22/sports/9503220016_1_atp-tour-second-seeded-steffi-graf-defeat-unseeded|archive-date=6 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the Hamburg final, she lost for the first time in 1994 after 36 consecutive match victories, losing to Sánchez Vicario in three sets. She then won her eighth [[Qatar Telecom German Open|German Open]], but there were signs that her form was worsening as she almost lost to [[Julie Halard]] in a quarterfinal. As the defending champion Graf lost in straight sets to [[Mary Pierce]] in the [[1994 French Open|French Open]] semifinal.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Robin Finn|title=Pierce Applies The Pressure To Upset Graf|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/03/sports/tennis-pierce-applies-the-pressure-to-upset-graf.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 June 1994|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224190852/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/03/sports/tennis-pierce-applies-the-pressure-to-upset-graf.html|archive-date=24 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Ed McGrogan|title=This Date in French Open History: June 2|url=http://www.tennis.com/players/2012/06/this-date-in-french-open-history-june-2/36361/|publisher=Tennis.com|date=2 June 2012|access-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808101655/http://www.tennis.com/players/2012/06/this-date-in-french-open-history-june-2/36361/|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by a first-round straight-sets loss at [[1994 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] to [[Lori McNeil]], her only loss at Wimbledon between 1991 and 1997 and her first loss in a first round Grand Slam tournament in ten years.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Robin Finn|title=McNeil Ousts Graf in an Upset for the Ages|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/22/sports/tennis-mcneil-ousts-graf-in-an-upset-for-the-ages.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 June 1994|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816150950/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/22/sports/tennis-mcneil-ousts-graf-in-an-upset-for-the-ages.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Graf still managed to win [[Acura Classic|San Diego]] the following month but aggravated a long-time back injury in beating Sánchez Vicario in the final. Graf developed a bone spur at the base of her spine due to a congenital condition of the [[sacroiliac joint]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Jody|title=Houston Women's Tennis Championships Preview: Houston is first clay test for Graf's back|agency= The Houston Chronicle|date=9 April 1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Christopher|first1=Clarey|title=Graf Set for Her Comeback, Pained Mainly by Questions|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/14/sports/14iht-graf.html|access-date=16 March 2017|agency=The New York Times|date=14 February 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316113923/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/14/sports/14iht-graf.html|archive-date=16 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She began to wear a back brace and was unsure about playing the [[1994 US Open (tennis)|US Open]] but elected to play while receiving treatment and stretching for two hours before each match. She made it to the final and took the first set against Sánchez Vicario but lost the next two sets — Sanchez Vicario's last victory over Graf. In the middle of the second set, Graf suffered back spasms while reaching for a ball in the ad court.<ref>{{cite news |last=Araton |first=Harvey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/11/sports/usopen-94-sanchez-smiles-as-graf-winces.html |title=U.S.OPEN '94 – Sanchez Smiles As Graf Winces |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=11 September 1994 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816105502/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/11/sports/usopen-94-sanchez-smiles-as-graf-winces.html |archive-date=16 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> She took the following nine weeks off, returning only for the Virginia Slims Championships where she lost in straight sets to Pierce in the quarterfinal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pierce tops Graf; Navratilova loses last|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L7ksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DRUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6797%2C1093300|work=Star-News|agency=AP|date=18 November 1994|page=3C|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-date=30 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030231314/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L7ksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DRUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6797%2C1093300|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Graf ended the year ranked No. 1 on the computer the ITF named Sanchez Vicario its World Champion for the year, while the WTA backed their official rankings and named Graf.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.itftennis.com/about/world-champions/women.aspx |title=ITF Tennis – ABOUT |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530150949/http://www.itftennis.com/about/world-champions/women.aspx |archive-date=30 May 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/stefanie-graf/ |title=International Tennis Hall of Fame |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822012418/https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/stefanie-graf/ |archive-date=22 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

====1995====
A strained right calf muscle forced Graf to withdraw from the [[1995 Australian Open|Australian Open]].<ref>{{cite news|author1=John Roberts|title=Calf injury forces Graf out of Australian Open|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/calf-injury-forces-graf-out-of-australian-open-1566944.html|work=[[The Independent]]|date=7 January 1995|access-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816153546/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/calf-injury-forces-graf-out-of-australian-open-1566944.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She came back in February, winning four consecutive tournaments in [[1995 Open Gaz de France – Singles|Paris]], [[1994 Virginia Slims of Florida – Singles|Delray Beach]], [[1995 Lipton Championships – Women's singles|Miami]] and [[1994 Virginia Slims of Houston – Singles|Houston]]. She then beat Sánchez Vicario in the finals of both the [[1995 French Open|French Open]] and [[1995 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]]. The 1995 Wimbledon final is regarded as one of the most dramatic women's major finals in history as Graf and Sánchez Vicario battled in a tight third set that included a 16-minute long, 13-deuce game on Sanchez Vicario's serve at 5–5.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Robin Finn|title=In a Classic, Graf Captures Wimbledon On Sheer Will|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/09/sports/tennis-in-a-classic-graf-captures-wimbledon-on-sheer-will.html|work=The New York Times|date=9 July 1995|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816194519/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/09/sports/tennis-in-a-classic-graf-captures-wimbledon-on-sheer-will.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In August Monica Seles made her much anticipated return to tennis at the Canadian Open. It was decided to grant her a joint number-one ranking with Graf who took her first loss of the year in the first round to Amanda Coetzer. The [[1995 US Open (tennis)|US Open]] was Monica Seles's first Grand Slam event since the 1993 attack, with much anticipation again around a potential Seles-Graf final. After surviving a scare in a three-setter against Amanda Coetzer in the first round, Graf reached the final with relative ease, while Seles went through her side of the draw in even more convincing fashion. Seles and Graf met in the final, with Graf winning in three sets, saving a set point in the first set. Graf then capped the year by beating countrywoman [[Anke Huber]] in a five-set final at the season-ending [[1995 WTA Tour Championships|WTA Championships]] in 2 hours and 46 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Robin Finn|title=Graf's Year Is Difficult One Till the End, but Successful|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/20/sports/tennis-graf-s-year-is-difficult-one-till-the-end-but-successful.html|work=The New York Times|date=20 November 1995|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816151915/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/20/sports/tennis-graf-s-year-is-difficult-one-till-the-end-but-successful.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=wta40>{{cite web|title=40 Love History: Five Set Finals|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3501154/title/40-love-history-five-set-finals|publisher=[[Women's Tennis Association]] (WTA)|date=18 October 2013|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809121158/http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3501154/title/40-love-history-five-set-finals|archive-date=9 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====Tax issues=====
In personal terms, 1995 was a difficult year for Graf, as she was accused by German authorities of [[tax evasion]] in the early years of her career.<ref>{{cite news|title=Steffi Graf Investigated for Tax Evasion|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-13-sp-23308-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=13 July 1995|access-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805191541/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-07-13/sports/sp-23308_1_steffi-graf|archive-date=5 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In her defense, she stated that her father Peter was her financial manager, and all financial matters relating to her earnings at the time had been under his control. Her father was arrested in August and was sentenced to 45 months in jail.<ref name="nyt96">{{cite web|author1=Robin Finn|title=Tennis;Graf finds real world full of ups and downs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/sports/tennis-graf-finds-real-world-full-of-ups-and-downs.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=9 December 2017|date=24 March 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210074054/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/sports/tennis-graf-finds-real-world-full-of-ups-and-downs.html|archive-date=10 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/25/sports/peter-graf-is-sentenced-to-prison-in-tax-case.html |title=Peter Graf Is Sentenced To Prison in Tax Case |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 January 1997 |first=Alan |last=Cowell |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527065715/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/25/sports/peter-graf-is-sentenced-to-prison-in-tax-case.html |archive-date=27 May 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> He was eventually released after serving 25 months. Prosecutors dropped their case against Graf in 1997, when she agreed to pay a fine of 1.3&nbsp;million [[Deutsche Mark]]s to the government and an unspecified charity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-25-sp-21887-story.html|title=Graf's Father Sentenced to Jail|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=25 January 1997|access-date=16 April 2020|archive-date=23 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423104656/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-01-25/sports/sp-21887_1_steffi-graf|url-status=live}}</ref>

====1996====
Graf again missed the [[1996 Australian Open|Australian Open]] after undergoing surgery in December 1995 to remove bone splinters from her left foot.<ref>{{cite news|title=Foot Surgery Sidelines Graf|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/12/16/foot-surgery-sidelines-graf/|work=Chicago Tribune|date=16 December 1995|access-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803123505/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-12-16/sports/9512160035_1_grand-slam-events-miss-monica-seles|archive-date=3 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Graf came back to the tour in March, winning back to back titles in [[1999 Evert Cup – Singles|Indian Wells]] and [[1996 Lipton Championships – Women's singles|Miami]], followed by a record ninth title at the [[1996 German Open (tennis)|German Open]] in May and a quarterfinal defeat in [[1996 Italian Open – Women's singles|Rome]] against Martina Hingis. She then successfully defended the three Grand Slam titles she won the year before. In a close [[1996 French Open|French Open]] final, Graf again overcame Sánchez Vicario, taking the third set 10–8.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Robin Finn|title=Graf Wins Wrenching French Epic|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/09/sports/tennis-graf-wins-wrenching-french-epic.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times|date=9 June 1996|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816152621/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/09/sports/tennis-graf-wins-wrenching-french-epic.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Graf had led 4–1 in the second set tiebreak, only to lose six points in a row and force a decider. Twice in the third set Sánchez Vicario served for the championship but was broken each time by Graf. It was the longest French Open women's singles final in history, both in terms of time (3 hours and 3 minutes) and number of games played (40).<ref name=collins>{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Bud|author-link=Bud Collins|title=The Bud Collins History of Tennis|year=2010|publisher=New Chapter Press|location=[New York]|isbn=978-0942257700|page=408|edition=2nd}}</ref> Graf then had a straight-sets win against Sánchez Vicario in the [[1996 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] final. That was the last competitive match Graf and Sánchez Vicario would ever play against one another. In July, a left knee injury forced Graf to withdraw from the [[tennis at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E1DE1F39F934A25754C0A960958260 |title=OLYMPICS;Injuries Force Sampras and Graf to Skip Games |work=The New York Times |date=17 July 1996 |access-date=17 May 2011 |first=Robin |last=Finn |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030231315/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/17/sports/olympics-injuries-force-sampras-and-graf-to-skip-games.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Graf played only one warm-up event ahead of the US Open, the [[1996 Acura Classic – Singles|Acura Classic]] in [[Manhattan Beach, California]], where she lost to Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals. She then successfully defended her title at the [[1996 US Open (tennis)|US Open]], defeating Monica Seles in the final. Her toughest battle came against rising star Martina Hingis in the semifinal, with Hingis unable to convert on five set points. Graf did not lose a set the whole tournament. She also won her fifth and final [[WTA Tour Championships]] title with a five set win over Martina Hingis, with Hingis cramping up in the fifth set.<ref name=wta40/>
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. She repeated the feat in 1993, 1995, and 1996.

===Final years on the tour: 1997–99===
[[File:Steffi Graf 2005.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Graf in 2005]]
The last few years of Graf's career were beset by injuries, particularly to her knees and back. She lost the world No. 1 ranking to Martina Hingis and failed to win a Grand Slam title for the first time in ten years in 1997. That year Graf lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open in straight sets to [[Amanda Coetzer]].<ref name="amandacoetzer.tripod.com">{{cite web |url=http://amandacoetzer.tripod.com/sked97.htm |title=Untitled Normal Page |publisher=Amandacoetzer.tripod.com |date=18 August 1997 |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627103445/http://amandacoetzer.tripod.com/sked97.htm |archive-date=27 June 2004 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
She subsequently withdrew from the [[1997 Toray Pan Pacific Open|Pan Pacific Open]] and had [[arthroscopic surgery]] performed on her left knee. 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 6–0, 6–1.<ref name="amandacoetzer.tripod.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quotesquotations.com/biography/amanda-coetzer-biography/ |title=Amanda Coetzer Biography |date=6 December 2009 |publisher=Quotesquotations.com |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520030819/http://www.quotesquotations.com/biography/amanda-coetzer-biography/ |archive-date=20 May 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref> In the French Open Graf was again beaten by Amanda Coetzer in straight sets, 6–1, 6–4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/tennis-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1940 |title=Amanda Coetzer - Tennis Player from South Africa - Tennis-Heroes.net |publisher=Sporting-heroes.net |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030231322/http://www.sporting-heroes.net/tennis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Only one week later, she underwent reconstructive knee surgery in [[Vienna]] and subsequently missed the 1997 Wimbledon and US Open championships. The treatment was for a fracture of the cartilage as well as a shortening and partial rupture of the patellar tendon of her left knee.<ref name="Icons of Women's Sport">{{cite book |last=Overman |first=Steven |title=Icons of Women's Sport| volume=1 |year=2012 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara |isbn= 978-0313385490 |page=181}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Surgery on Graf's Knee Requires a Long Layoff|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/11/sports/surgery-on-graf-s-knee-requires-a-long-layoff.html|work=The New York Times|date=11 June 1997|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816153109/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/11/sports/surgery-on-graf-s-knee-requires-a-long-layoff.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
After missing almost half of the tour in 1998, Graf lost in the third round at [[1998 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] and in the fourth round at the [[1998 US Open (tennis)|US Open]]. Shortly after the US Open, she underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in her right wrist.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ronald Atkin |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/wimbledon-99-the-steffi-graf-interview-time-for-a-golden-goodbye-1101143.html |title=Wimbledon '99: The Steffi Graf Interview: Time for a golden goodbye? |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184656/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/wimbledon-99-the-steffi-graf-interview-time-for-a-golden-goodbye-1101143.html |archive-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Upon her return Graf defeated world No. 2 Hingis and world No. 1 [[Lindsay Davenport]] en route to the [[Advanta Championships Philadelphia|Philadelphia]] title. At the first round of the season-ending [[1998 Chase Championships|Chase Championships]], Graf defeated world No. 3, Jana Novotná, before losing in the semifinal to first-seeded Davenport.

At the beginning of 1999 Graf played the warm up event to the [[1999 Australian Open|Australian Open]] in Sydney; she defeated Serena Williams in the second round and Venus in the quarterfinals before losing to Lindsay Davenport in the semifinal. Graf then went on to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open before losing to Monica Seles in two sets. In Indian Wells Graf lost to Serena Williams in three sets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/headtohead/steffi-graf_2255881_2718/0,,12781~2718~9044,00.html|title=Head to Head|work=WTA Tennis |access-date=24 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024114643/http://www.wtatennis.com/headtohead/steffi-graf_2255881_2718/0,,12781~2718~9044,00.html|archive-date=24 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the [[1999 French Open|French Open]], Graf reached her first Grand Slam final in three years and fought back from a set and twice from a break down in the second set to defeat the top ranked Hingis in three sets for a memorable victory. Graf became the first player in the [[Tennis open era|open era]] to defeat the first, second, and third ranked players in the same Grand Slam tournament by beating second-ranked Davenport in the quarterfinals and third-ranked Seles in the semifinals. Graf said after the final that it would be her last French Open, fueling speculation about her retirement.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/1999/french_open/news/1999/06/05/hingis_graf |title=Graf edges Hingis, captures sixth and 'last' French title |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=16 August 1999 |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122162850/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/1999/french_open/news/1999/06/05/hingis_graf/ |archive-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

Graf then reached her ninth [[1999 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] singles final, losing to third-seeded Davenport in straight sets. 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 Lučić-Baroni|Mirjana Lučić]] in the semifinals.

On 13 August 1999, shortly after retiring with a strained hamstring from a second round match against [[Amy Frazier]] in [[1999 TIG Classic|San Diego]], Graf announced her retirement from the women's tour at age 30.<ref>{{cite news|author1=John Roberts|title=Highs and lows of Graf the great|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/highs-and-lows-of-graf-the-great-741802.html|work=[[The Independent]]|date=14 August 1999|access-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184710/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/highs-and-lows-of-graf-the-great-741802.html|archive-date=15 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Graf bows out|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/tennis/419376.stm|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=13 August 1999|access-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808102928/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/tennis/419376.stm|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> She was ranked No. 3 at that time and said, "I have done everything I wanted to do in tennis. I feel I have nothing left to accomplish. The weeks following Wimbledon [in 1999] weren't easy for me. I was not having fun anymore. After Wimbledon, for the first time in my career, I didn't feel like going to a tournament. My motivation wasn't what it was in the past."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamTennisGrafRetires/aug13_retires.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721145731/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamTennisGrafRetires/aug13_retires.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=21 July 2012 |title=Steffi Graf announces retirement |publisher=Canoe.ca |access-date=17 May 2011 }}</ref>

===Doubles career===
From the beginning of her career until 1990, Graf regularly played doubles matches in Grand Slams and other tournaments, winning a total of 11 doubles titles. In 1986, she formed a partnership with rival [[Gabriela Sabatini]]. The pair was moderately successful, winning the [[1988 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|1988 Wimbledon Championships]] together and reaching the finals of the French Open in 1986, 1987 and 1989. 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fowler|first1=Ed|title=Sabatini, Graf: Oddest couple playing doubles|work=Houston Chronicle|date=26 June 1988}}</ref> Sabatini said of the partnership: "doubles is all about communicating with each other, and we didn't communicate that much. We would just say the basic things, but nothing else."<ref name="youtube1">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN1YVgOjyvY|title=Steffi Graf – Tennis Documentary|date=13 February 2014|work=YouTube|access-date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407212639/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN1YVgOjyvY|archive-date=7 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The pair played their last major tournament together at the [[1990 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|1990 Wimbledon Championships]], losing in the quarterfinals. From 1991 until the end of her career, Graf would only play doubles sporadically, forming short-term partnerships with a variety of players, including [[Lori McNeil]], [[Anke Huber]] and her best friends on the tour, [[Rennae Stubbs]], [[Patricia Tarabini]] and [[Ines Gorrochategui]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1994/05/23/131141/do-not-disturb-if-steffi-graf-could-shut-out-the-world-the-way-she-shuts-down-opponents-on-the-court-then-for-her-life-would-be-perfect |title=Do Not Disturb: If Steffi Graf could shut out the world the way she shuts down opponents on the court then, for her, life would be perfect |newspaper=Sports Illustrated Vault &#124; Si.com |access-date=27 March 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328020511/http://www.si.com/vault/1994/05/23/131141/do-not-disturb-if-steffi-graf-could-shut-out-the-world-the-way-she-shuts-down-opponents-on-the-court-then-for-her-life-would-be-perfect |archive-date=28 March 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/tennis/354563.stm |title=Tennis &#124; Martinez wins controversial clash |work=BBC News |date=27 May 1999 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328022957/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/tennis/354563.stm |archive-date=28 March 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> She played her last Grand Slam doubles tournament at the [[1999 Australian Open – Women's doubles|1999 Australian Open]] with Gorrochategui, losing in the second round.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/event_guide/history/players/9336.html |title=Results Archive – Steffi Graf – Australian Open Tennis Championships |website=ausopen.com |publisher=Tennis Australia |access-date=27 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327171000/https://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/event_guide/history/players/9336.html |archive-date=27 March 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=20003282 |format=PDF |title=Steffi Graf : Player Details |website=Itftennis.com |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816150205/http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=20003282 |archive-date=16 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

Graf also occasionally played mixed doubles, although she never won a title. She partnered with doubles specialist [[Mark Woodforde]] at the Australian Open in 1994, with [[Henri Leconte]] at Wimbledon in 1991 and at the French Open in 1994, and with [[Charlie Pasarell]] at the US Open in 1984. In an unusual arrangement, she paired with her coaches Pavel Složil at Wimbledon in 1988 and Heinz Günthardt in 1992 and 1996, also at Wimbledon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/draws/archive/pdfs/players/8a6409a5-66b2-4c89-9854-bd361a2eef90_MX.pdf |title=Steffi Graf (GER) : Mixed Doubles |website=Wimbledon.com |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327171048/http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/draws/archive/pdfs/players/8a6409a5-66b2-4c89-9854-bd361a2eef90_MX.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> At the [[1999 Wimbledon Championships – Mixed doubles|1999 Wimbledon Championships]], Graf formed a much-publicized partnership with [[John McEnroe]], with whom she reached the semifinals before withdrawing due to concerns that her uncertain hamstring, coupled with a bout of [[bronchitis]], would affect her in the singles final.<ref>{{cite news |author=Nick Harris |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis-wimbledon-99-magic-mixture-of-mcenroe-and-graf-1102587.html |title=Tennis: Wimbledon 99 – Magic mixture of McEnroe and Graf |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517234711/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis-wimbledon-99-magic-mixture-of-mcenroe-and-graf-1102587.html |archive-date=17 May 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Robin Finn |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/26/sports/tennis-without-dad-around-disturb-her-lucic-upsets-fourth-seeded-seles-wimbledon.html |title=TENNIS; Without Dad Around To Disturb Her, Lucic Upsets Fourth-Seeded Seles at Wimbledon |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=26 June 1999 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916164847/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/26/sports/tennis-without-dad-around-disturb-her-lucic-upsets-fourth-seeded-seles-wimbledon.html |archive-date=16 September 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Graf Likely To Retire|url=https://cbsn1.cbsistatic.com/news/graf-likely-to-retire/|website=CBS News|access-date=31 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201082242/https://cbsn1.cbsistatic.com/news/graf-likely-to-retire/|archive-date=1 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Post-career exhibition matches===
[[File:Steffi Graf (Wimbledon 2009).jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Graf at Wimbledon 2009]]
In late 1999 and early 2000, as part of her Farewell Tour, Graf played a series of exhibition matches against former rivals in New Zealand, Japan, Spain, Germany and South Africa. She played [[Jelena Dokic]] in [[Christchurch]], New Zealand, Amanda Coetzer in [[Durban]], South Africa, and her former rival Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in [[Zaragoza]], Spain.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/graf-overcomes-layoff-to-beat-coetzer-in-farewell-exhibition-741947.html |title=Graf overcomes layoff to beat Coetzer in farewell exhibition |work=[[The Independent]] |date=7 December 1999 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520162957/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/graf-overcomes-layoff-to-beat-coetzer-in-farewell-exhibition-741947.html |archive-date=20 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/tennis.html |title=* NZine * Tennis – The Biggest Participant Sport In New Zealand – Tennis, Steffi Graf, Indoor Tennis Centre, Davis Cup, Anthony Wilding, Wilding Park, Maurice Agar, Scenic Circles Indoor Tennis Centre, New Zealand Tennis |website=Nzine.co.nz |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007114531/http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/tennis.html |archive-date=7 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was Graf and Sánchez Vicario's first head-to-head meeting since 1996. In February 2000, Graf played against [[Kimiko Date]] at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, winning in three sets.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greene |first=Bob |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/the-week-in-tennis-741956.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/the-week-in-tennis-741956.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The Week in Tennis |work=[[The Independent]] |date=14 December 1999 |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> In September 2004, Graf dispatched her former doubles partner Gabriela Sabatini, in straight sets, in an exhibition match played in [[Berlin]], Germany.<ref name="latimes2005">{{cite web |author=Lisa Dillman |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-30-sp-tennis30-story.html |title=Graf Will Make a Cameo in Team Tennis |website=Los Angeles Times |date=30 March 2005 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030231318/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-30-sp-tennis30-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She was also in Berlin to host a charity gala, as well as inaugurating a tennis stadium renamed the "Steffi Graf Stadion". Proceeds from her match against Sabatini went to Graf's foundation, "Children for Tomorrow".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kammerer|first1=Roy|title=Graf back on court – and still boasts that big forehand|agency=Associated Press|date=24 September 2004}}</ref>

In July 2005, Graf competed in one tie of [[World Team Tennis]] (WTT) on the [[Houston Wranglers]] team.<ref name="latimes2005"/> She was beaten in two out of three matches, with each match being one set. Graf lost her singles match to [[Elena Likhovtseva]] 5–4. She teamed with [[Ansley Cargill]] in women's doubles against [[Anna Kournikova]] and Likhovtseva but lost 5–2. She was successful, however, in the mixed doubles match.<ref>{{cite web |author=Sarah Hornaday |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Steffi-Graf-delights-crowd-at-Westside-Tennis-Club-1930275.php |title=Steffi Graf delights crowd at Westside Tennis Club – Houston Chronicle |website=Chron.com |date=13 July 2005 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803090202/http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Steffi-Graf-delights-crowd-at-Westside-Tennis-Club-1930275.php |archive-date=3 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Graf completely ruled out a return to professional tennis. In October, Graf defeated Sabatini in an exhibition match in [[Mannheim]], Germany, winning both of their sets. Like the exhibition match the previous year against Sabatini, proceeds went to "Children for Tomorrow".

[[File:Steffi Graf für Rexona.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Graf at a charity tennis tournament in 2010]]
In 2008 Graf lost an exhibition match against Kimiko Date at [[Ariake Colosseum]] in Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/11/one-ages/56938/ |title=One for the Ages |website=TENNIS.com |date=30 November 2015 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627155436/http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/11/one-ages/56938/ |archive-date=27 June 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> As part of the event, billed as "Dream Match 2008", she defeated Martina Navratilova in a one-set affair 8–7, with Graf winning a tiebreaker 10–5.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/tennis/exh-graf-navratil-0/ |title=Graf edges Navratilova in exhibition |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030221811/http://www.sportsnet.ca/tennis/exh-graf-navratil-0/ |archive-date=30 October 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> It was the first time in 14 years Graf had played Navratilova. Graf played a singles exhibition match against [[Kim Clijsters]] and a mixed doubles exhibition alongside husband [[Andre Agassi]] against [[Tim Henman]] and Clijsters as part of a test event and celebration for the newly installed roof over Wimbledon's [[Centre Court]] in 2009. She lost a lengthy one-set singles match to Clijsters and also the mixed doubles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177910 |title=Steffi Graf: The Queen Returns to Centre Court |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=18 May 2009 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115185129/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177910 |archive-date=15 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In 2010, Graf participated in the WTT Smash Hits exhibition in Washington, D.C. to support the [[Elton John AIDS Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purepeople |title=Steffi Graf lors du WTT Smash Hits à Washington en novembre 2010 – Photo |url=https://www.purepeople.com/media/steffi-graf-lors-du-wtt-smash-hits-a_m520484 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.purepeople.com}}</ref> She and Agassi, her husband, were on Team Elton John, which competed against Team Billie Jean King.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/15/AR2010111508410.html |title=Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Elton John headline an evening of tennis for charity in Washington |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128215345/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/15/AR2010111508410.html |archive-date=28 November 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Graf played in the celebrity doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles before straining her left calf muscle and being replaced by Anna Kournikova.

===Summary of career===
Graf won seven singles titles at Wimbledon, six singles titles at the French Open, five singles titles at the US Open, and four singles titles at the Australian Open. Her overall record in 54 Grand Slam events was 278–32 (90 percent) (84–10 at the French Open, 74–7 at Wimbledon, 73–9 at the US Open, and 47–6 at the Australian Open). Her career prize-money earnings totalled US$21,895,277 (a record until [[Lindsay Davenport]] surpassed this amount in January 2008). Her singles win–loss record was 900–115 (88.7 percent).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/players/70044/name |title=WTA profile of Steffi Graf |publisher=www.wtatennis.com |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625041019/https://www.wtatennis.com/players/70044/name |archive-date=25 June 2023 |url-status=live  }}</ref> She was ranked world No. 1 for 186 consecutive weeks (from August 1987 to March 1991; tied with Serena Williams, a record in the women's game) and a record total 377 weeks overall.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wtatennis.com/player/steffi-graf_2257889_2718 | title=WTA bio | access-date=19 November 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103192507/http://www.wtatennis.com/player/steffi-graf_2257889_2718 | archive-date=3 November 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{Main|Steffi Graf career statistics}}

===Grand Slam tournament performance timeline===
{{Performance key|short=yes|active=no}}
{|class=wikitable style=text-align:center;font-size:97%
|-
||
| colspan="8" |West Germany
| colspan="12" |Germany
|-
!Tournament!![[1983 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1983]]!![[1984 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1984]]!![[1985 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1985]]!![[1986 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1986]]!![[1987 Virginia Slims World Championship Series|1987]]!![[1988 WTA Tour|1988]]!![[1989 WTA Tour|1989]]!![[1990 WTA Tour|1990]]!![[1991 WTA Tour|1991]]!![[1992 WTA Tour|1992]]!![[1993 WTA Tour|1993]]!![[1994 WTA Tour|1994]]!![[1995 WTA Tour|1995]]!![[1996 WTA Tour|1996]]!![[1997 WTA Tour|1997]]!![[1998 WTA Tour|1998]]!![[1999 WTA Tour|1999]]!!{{Tooltip| SR | Strike rate}} !! {{Tooltip| W–L | Win–loss}} !! Win %
|-
|align=left|{{nowrap|[[Australian Open]]}}
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1983 Australian Open – Women's singles|1R]]
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1984 Australian Open – Women's singles|3R]]
|A
|style=color:#767676|NH
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1988 Australian Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1989 Australian Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1990 Australian Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=ffebcd|[[1991 Australian Open – Women's singles|QF]]
|A
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1993 Australian Open – Women's singles|F]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1994 Australian Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|A
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1997 Australian Open – Women's singles|4R]]
|A
|bgcolor=ffebcd|[[1999 Australian Open – Women's singles|QF]]
|4 / 10
|47–6
|style="background:#efefef;"|{{tennis win percentage|won=47|lost=6|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[French Open]]
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1983 French Open – Women's singles|2R]]
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1984 French Open – Women's singles|3R]]
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1985 French Open – Women's singles|4R]]
|bgcolor=ffebcd|[[1986 French Open – Women's singles|QF]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1987 French Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1988 French Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1989 French Open – Women's singles|F]]
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1990 French Open – Women's singles|F]]
| style="background:yellow;"|[[1991 French Open – Women's singles|SF]]
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1992 French Open – Women's singles|F]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1993 French Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
| style="background:yellow;"|[[1994 French Open – Women's singles|SF]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1995 French Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1996 French Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=ffebcd|[[1997 French Open – Women's singles|QF]]
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1999 French Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|6 / 16
|84–10
|style="background:#efefef;"|{{tennis win percentage|won=84|lost=10|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]
|[[1983 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles qualifying|LQ]]
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1984 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|4R]]
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1985 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|4R]]
|A
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1987 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|F]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1988 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1989 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|W]]'''
| style="background:yellow;"|[[1990 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|SF]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1991 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1992 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1993 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1994 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1R]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1995 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|W]]'''
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1998 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|3R]]
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1999 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|F]]
|7 / 14
|74–7
|style="background:#efefef;"|{{tennis win percentage|won=74|lost=7|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[US Open (tennis)|US Open]]
|[[1983 US Open – Women's singles qualifying|LQ]]
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1984 US Open – Women's singles|1R]]
| style="background:yellow;"|[[1985 US Open – Women's singles|SF]]
| style="background:yellow;"|[[1986 US Open – Women's singles|SF]]
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1987 US Open – Women's singles|F]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1988 US Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1989 US Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1990 US Open – Women's singles|F]]
| style="background:yellow;"|[[1991 US Open – Women's singles|SF]]
|bgcolor=ffebcd|[[1992 US Open – Women's singles|QF]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1993 US Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
| style="background:thistle;"|[[1994 US Open – Women's singles|F]]
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1995 US Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''[[1996 US Open – Women's singles|W]]'''
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|[[1998 US Open – Women's singles|4R]]
|A
|5 / 14
|73–9
|style="background:#efefef;"|{{tennis win percentage|won=73|lost=9|integer=yes}}
|-
!style=text-align:left|Win–loss
!1–2
!7–4
!11–3
!9–2
!19–2
!27–0
!27–1
!24–3
!21–3
!17–2
!26–1
!18–3
!21–0
!21–0
!7–2
!5–2
!17–2
!{{nowrap|22 / 54}}
!{{nowrap|278–32}}
!style="background:#efefef;"|{{tennis win percentage|won=278|lost=32|integer=yes}}
|}

<small>'''Note:'''
''Graf's semifinal match at the 1988 US Open and 3rd round match at the 1993 US open were walkovers (so not counted as win)''</small>

===Grand Slam tournament finals===
====Singles: 31 (22 titles, 9 runner-ups)====
{| class='sortable wikitable' 
!Result
!Year
!style="width:170px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:180px"|Opponent
!style="width:140px" class="unsortable"|Score
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1987 French Open – Women's singles|1987]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|[[French Open]]||Clay||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Martina Navratilova]]||6–4, 4–6, 8–6
|-
|style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1987 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1987]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|[[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]||Grass||{{flagicon|USA}} Martina Navratilova||5–7, 3–6
|-
|style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1987 US Open – Women's singles|1987]]||style="background:#ccccff;"|[[US Open (tennis)|US Open]]||Hard||{{flagicon|USA}} Martina Navratilova||6–7<sup>(4–7)</sup>, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;" |Win ||[[1988 Australian Open – Women's singles|1988]]||style="background:#ffffcc;"|[[Australian Open]]||Hard||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Evert]]||6–1, 7–6<sup>(7–3)</sup>
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;" |Win ||[[1988 French Open – Women's singles|1988]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open <small>(2)</small>||Clay||{{flagicon|URS}} [[Natasha Zvereva]]||6–0, 6–0
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;" |Win ||[[1988 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1988]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon||Grass||{{flagicon|USA}} Martina Navratilova||5–7, 6–2, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;" |Win ||[[1988 US Open – Women's singles|1988]]||style="background:#ccccff;"|US Open||Hard||{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Gabriela Sabatini]]||6–3, 3–6, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1989 Australian Open – Women's singles|1989]]||style="background:#ffffcc;"|Australian Open <small>(2)</small>||Hard||{{flagicon|TCH}} [[Helena Suková]]||6–4, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1989 French Open – Women's singles|1989]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open||Clay||{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Arantxa Sánchez Vicario]]||6–7<sup>(6–8)</sup>, 6–3, 5–7
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1989 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1989]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon <small>(2)</small>||Grass||{{flagicon|USA}} Martina Navratilova||6–2, 6–7<sup>(1–7)</sup>, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1989 US Open – Women's singles|1989]]||style="background:#ccccff;"|US Open <small>(2)</small>||Hard||{{flagicon|USA}} Martina Navratilova||3–6, 7–5, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1990 Australian Open – Women's singles|1990]]||style="background:#ffffcc;"|Australian Open <small>(3)</small>||Hard||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Mary Joe Fernández]]||6–3, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1990 French Open – Women's singles|1990]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open ||Clay||{{flagicon|YUG}} [[Monica Seles]]||6–7<sup>(6–8)</sup>, 4–6
|-
|style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1990 US Open – Women's singles|1990]]||style="background:#ccccff;"|US Open ||Hard||{{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini||2–6, 6–7<sup>(4–7)</sup>
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1991 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1991]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon <small>(3)</small>||Grass||{{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini||6–4, 3–6, 8–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1992 French Open – Women's singles|1992]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open||Clay||{{flagicon|FR Yugoslavia}} Monica Seles||2–6, 6–3, 8–10
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1992 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1992]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon <small>(4)</small>||Grass||{{flagicon|FR Yugoslavia}} Monica Seles||6–2, 6–1
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1993 Australian Open – Women's singles|1993]]||style="background:#ffffcc;"|Australian Open||Hard||{{flagicon|FR Yugoslavia}} Monica Seles||6–4, 3–6, 2–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1993 French Open – Women's singles|1993]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open <small>(3)</small>||Clay||{{flagicon|USA}} Mary Joe Fernández||4–6, 6–2, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1993 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1993]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon <small>(5)</small>||Grass||{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Jana Novotná]]||7–6<sup>(8–6)</sup>, 1–6, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1993 US Open – Women's singles|1993]]||style="background:#ccccff;"|US Open <small>(3)</small>||Hard||{{flagicon|CZE}} Helena Suková||6–3, 6–3
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1994 Australian Open – Women's singles|1994]]||style="background:#ffffcc;"|Australian Open <small>(4)</small>||Hard||{{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario||6–0, 6–2
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1994 US Open – Women's singles|1994]]||style="background:#ccccff;"|US Open ||Hard||{{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario||6–1, 6–7<sup>(3–7)</sup>, 4–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1995 French Open – Women's singles|1995]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open <small>(4)</small>||Clay||{{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario||7–5, 4–6, 6–0
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1995 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1995]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon <small>(6)</small>||Grass||{{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario||4–6, 6–1, 7–5
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1995 US Open – Women's singles|1995]]||style="background:#ccccff;"|US Open <small>(4)</small>||Hard||{{flagicon|USA}} Monica Seles||7–6<sup>(8–6)</sup>, 0–6, 6–3
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1996 French Open – Women's singles|1996]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open <small>(5)</small>||Clay||{{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario||6–3, 6–7<sup>(4–7)</sup>, 10–8
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1996]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon <small>(7)</small>||Grass||{{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario||6–3, 7–5
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1996 US Open – Women's singles|1996]]||style="background:#ccccff;"|US Open <small>(5)</small>||Hard||{{flagicon|USA}} Monica Seles||7–5, 6–4
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1999 French Open – Women's singles|1999]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open <small>(6)</small>||Clay||{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Martina Hingis]]||4–6, 7–5, 6–2
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1999 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1999]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon ||Grass||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Lindsay Davenport]]||4–6, 5–7
|}

====Doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)====
{|class="sortable wikitable" 
!Result
!Year
!style="width:170px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:180px"|Partner
!style="width:180px"|Opponents
!style="width:120px" class="unsortable"|Score
|-
|style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1986 French Open – Women's doubles|1986]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|[[French Open]]||Clay||{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Gabriela Sabatini]]||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Martina Navratilova]]<br />{{flagicon|HUN|1957}} [[Andrea Temesvári]]||1–6, 2–6
|-
|style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1987 French Open – Women's doubles|1987]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open ||Clay||{{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini||{{flagicon|USA}} Martina Navratilova<br />{{flagicon|USA}} [[Pam Shriver]]||2–6, 1–6
|-
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win ||[[1988 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles|1988]]||style="background:#ccffcc;"|[[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]||Grass||{{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini||{{flagicon|URS}} [[Larisa Neiland|Larisa Savchenko]]<br />{{flagicon|URS}} [[Natasha Zvereva]]||6–3, 1–6, 12–10
|-
|style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss ||[[1989 French Open – Women's doubles|1989]]||style="background:#ebc2af;"|French Open ||Clay||{{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini||{{flagicon|URS}} Larisa Savchenko<br />{{flagicon|URS}} Natasha Zvereva||4–6, 4–6
|}

===Records===
{{original research|section|date=July 2016}}
* These records were attained in [[Open Era]] of tennis.
* Records in '''bold''' indicate Open Era peer-less achievements.

{|class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Time span
!Selected Grand Slam tournament records
!Players matched
|-
|1988 Australian Open —<br /> 1988 Olympics||Golden Slam (4 majors + Olympic gold in same calendar year)||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1988 Australian Open —<br /> 1988 US Open||[[List of Grand Slam women's singles champions|Grand Slam]] (4 majors in same calendar year)<ref name="NO.1 SPOTLIGHT: STEFFI GRAF">{{cite web|title=NO.1 SPOTLIGHT: STEFFI GRAF|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/40love/article/3150587/title/no1-spotlight-steffi-graf|website=wtatennis.com|publisher=WTA|date=20 April 2013|access-date=15 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122014432/http://www.wtatennis.com/40love/article/3150587/title/no1-spotlight-steffi-graf|archive-date=22 January 2016}}</ref>||[[Margaret Court]]
|-
|1987 French Open —<br /> 1988 Olympics||Career Golden Slam||[[Serena Williams]]
|-
|1987 French Open —<br /> 1988 US Open||Career Grand Slam||Margaret Court<br />[[Billie Jean King]]<br />[[Chris Evert]]<br />[[Martina Navratilova]]<br />Serena Williams<br />[[Maria Sharapova]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1993 French Open —<br /> 1994 Australian Open||Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam||Martina Navratilova<br />Serena Williams
|-
|Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam in addition to already winning a Grand Slam||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1988 Australian Open —<br /> 1990 Australian Open||Winner of 8 of 9 Grand Slams||Margaret Court
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1988, 1995 & 1996||100% match winning percentage in 1 season||Margaret Court<br />Billie Jean King<br />Chris Evert<br />[[Monica Seles]]<br />Serena Williams
|-
|100% match winning percentage in 3 separate seasons||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1983 French Open —<br /> 1999 Wimbledon||89.67% (278–32) match winning percentage overall||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1988 French Open||Double bagel win in a Grand Slam final||[[Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers]]<br>[[Iga Świątek]]
|-
|1987 French Open —<br /> 1995 US Open||4+ titles at all four Majors<ref name="Steffi Graf Results">{{cite web|title=Steffi Graf Results|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/2718/title/steffi-graf#stats|website=wtatennis.com|publisher=WTA|access-date=15 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718221517/http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/2718/title/steffi-graf#stats|archive-date=18 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1987 French Open —<br /> 1989 US Open||2+ consecutive titles at all four Majors<ref name="Steffi Graf Results"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1988 Australian Open —<br /> 1996 US Open||5 calendar years winning 3+ Grand Slam titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1988 French Open —<br /> 1989 US Open||Defended all four Majors on first try<ref name="Steffi Graf Results"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1987 French Open —<br /> 1999 French Open||6+ titles on clay, grass and hardcourt||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|9+ finals on clay, grass and hardcourt||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1987 French Open —<br /> 1990 French Open||13 consecutive Grand Slam finals<ref name="NO.1 SPOTLIGHT: STEFFI GRAF"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1999 French Open||Defeated the top 3 seeded players in the same tournament||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1988 Australian Open —<br /> 1993 US Open||Reached the final of all four Grand Slams tournaments in a calendar year||Margaret Court<br />Chris Evert<br />Martina Navratilova<br />Monica Seles<br />[[Martina Hingis]]<br />[[Justine Henin]]
|-
|Reached the final of all four Grand Slams tournaments in a calendar year three times||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1988 Australian Open —<br /> 1996 US Open||[[List of Grand Slam women's singles champions#Grand Slam|3 different Grand Slam titles won without losing a set]]||[[Chris Evert]] <br /> [[Lindsay Davenport]] <br /> [[Serena Williams]]
|}

{|class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Grand Slam tournaments
!Time span
!Records at each Grand Slam tournament
!Players matched
|-
|rowspan="2"| Australian Open||1988–1990||3 consecutive titles||Margaret Court<br />Evonne Goolagong Cawley<br />[[Monica Seles]]<br />[[Martina Hingis]]
|-
|1988–1989, 1994||[[List of Grand Slam women's singles champions#Grand Slam|3 titles won without losing a set]]||[[Evonne Goolagong]]
|-
|Australian Open—French Open||1988||[[List of Grand Slam women's singles champions#Grand Slam|2 titles won without losing a set in the same calendar year]]||[[Billie Jean King]] <br /> [[Martina Navratilova]] <br /> [[Martina Hingis]] <br /> [[Serena Williams]] <br /> [[Justine Henin]]
|-
|rowspan="3"| French Open||1987–1999||[[List of French Open Singles Finals appearances#Women|9 finals overall]]<ref name="Roland Garros">{{cite web|title=Steffi Graf's record at Roland-Garros|url=http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/content/default/steffi_graf.html|website=rolandgarros.com|publisher=Roland Garros|access-date=15 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720202843/http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/content/default/steffi_graf.html|archive-date=20 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>||[[Chris Evert]]
|-
|1987–1990||[[List of French Open Singles Finals appearances#Women's most consecutive finals|4 consecutive finals]]<ref name="Roland Garros"/>||Chris Evert<br />[[Martina Navratilova]]
|-
|1983–1999||84 match wins<ref name="Roland Garros"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|Wimbledon||1984–1999||'''Career match winning performance 91.35% (74–7)'''<ref name="Steffi Graf Results"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|}

{|class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Time span
!Other selected records
!Players matched
|-
|17 August 1987 —<br /> 10 March 1991||[[List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players|186 consecutive weeks at No. 1]]<ref name="NO.1 SPOTLIGHT: STEFFI GRAF"/>||[[Serena Williams]]
|-
|1987–1997||377 total weeks at No. 1<ref name="NO.1 SPOTLIGHT: STEFFI GRAF"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1987–1990<br />1993–1996||8 years ended at No. 1||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1988–1990, 1994, 1996||5 years as wire-to-wire (all 52 weeks) No. 1||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1987, 1989||Reached the final of every tournament played in a calendar year||Monica Seles
|-
|1986–1990<br />1992–1996||Two streaks of 5 years with winning percentage of 90%+||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1986–1996||9 [[German Open (WTA)|German Open]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1986–89 & 1991–94||4 consecutive [[German Open (WTA)|German Open]] title wins<ref name="Steffi Graf Results"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1985–1996||11 [[German Open (WTA)|German Open]] finals<ref name="Steffi Graf Results"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1986–1996||11 consecutive [[German Open (WTA)|German Open]] finals<ref name="Steffi Graf Results"/>||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1987–1995||6 [[Virginia Slims of Florida]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1986–1995||9 [[Virginia Slims of Florida]] finals||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1992–1995||4 consecutive [[Virginia Slims of Florida]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1990–1998||5 [[Sparkassen Cup (tennis)|Sparkassen Cup]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1986–1992||6 [[Zurich Open]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1987–1993||6 [[WTA Hamburg]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1989–1994||4 [[Southern California Open]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1986–1989||3 [[WTA New Jersey]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1986–1992||6 [[Brighton International]] titles||'''Stands alone'''
|-
|1988–1998||4 [[Connecticut Open (tennis)|Connecticut Open]] titles||[[Venus Williams]]<br />[[Caroline Wozniacki]]
|-
|1992–1998||3 [[Advanta Championships of Philadelphia|WTA Philadelphia]] titles||[[Lindsay Davenport]]<br />[[Gabriela Sabatini]]
|-
|1986–1990||3 [[Amelia Island Championships|Amelia Island]] titles||[[Amélie Mauresmo]]
|-
|1988–1996||8 WTA Tier 1/Premier-5/Premier Mandatory clay titles<ref name="Steffi Graf Results"/>||[[Conchita Martínez]]
|-
|1992–1995||89.63% win rate (147–17) in WTA Tier 1/Premier-5/Premier Mandatory events||'''Stands alone'''
|}

[[File:Steffi Graf Farewell World Tour 2000.JPG|thumb|upright=.8|Graf Farewell World Tour 2000]]

==Playing style==
The main weapons in Graf's game were her powerful inside-out forehand drive (which earned her the moniker ''Fräulein Forehand'') and her intricate footwork.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/wimbledon_history/3742103.stm | work=BBC News | title=Wimbledon legends: Steffi Graf | date=31 May 2004 | access-date=1 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917150936/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/wimbledon_history/3742103.stm | archive-date=17 September 2010 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref> She often positioned herself in her backhand corner and although this left her forehand wide open and vulnerable to attack, her court speed meant that only the most accurate shots wide to her forehand caused any trouble. Graf's game was versatile across multiple playing surfaces, and she excelled at her footwork and powerful forehand drive.<ref name="Steffi Graf International Tennis Hall of Fame">{{cite web |url=http://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/steffi-graf |title=Steffi Graf |access-date=24 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629104344/http://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/steffi-graf |publisher=International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum |archive-date=29 June 2013}}</ref>

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. As a result, she hit her forehand with exceptional pace and accuracy. According to her coaches Pavel Složil and Heinz Günthardt, Graf's superior sense of timing was the key behind the success of her forehand.<ref name="youtube1"/><ref>{{cite news |author=Simon O'Hagan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/wimbledon-95-graf-on-a-new-curve-1588167.html |title=WIMBLEDON '95: Graf on a new curve |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811233548/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/wimbledon-95-graf-on-a-new-curve-1588167.html |archive-date=11 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

Graf also had a powerful backhand drive but over the course of her career tended to use it less frequently, opting more often for an effective backhand slice. Starting in the early 1990s, she used the slice almost exclusively in baseline rallies and mostly limited the topspin backhand to passing shots. Her accuracy with the slice, both cross-court and down the line and her ability to skid the ball and keep it low, enabled her to use it as an offensive weapon to set the ball up for her forehand put-aways. However, Graf admitted in 1995 that she would have preferred having a two-handed backhand in retrospect.<ref name="asapsports1">{{cite web |url=http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=19251 |title=ASAP Sports Transcripts – Tennis – 1995 – WTA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS – November 18 – Steffi Graf |website=Asapsports.com |date=18 November 1995 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313124523/http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=19251 |archive-date=13 March 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

She built her powerful and accurate serve up to {{convert|183|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, making it one of the fastest serves in women's tennis and was a capable volleyer.<ref name="bleacherreport1"/><ref name="grantland1"/>

An exceptionally versatile competitor, Graf remains the only player, male or female, to have won the calendar-year Grand Slam on three surfaces or to have won each Grand Slam at least four times. Eighteen-time Grand Slam champion and former rival [[Chris Evert]] opined, "Steffi Graf is the best all-around player. Martina [Navratilova] won more on fast courts and I won more on slow courts, but Steffi came along and won more titles on both surfaces."<ref name="youtube1"/> 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 (WTA)|German Open]]. Meanwhile, her naturally aggressive style of play, effective backhand slice and speed around the court made her even more dominant on fast surfaces such as hard courts, grass and carpet.<ref name="bleacherreport2">{{cite web |author=claudia celestial girl |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/306536-queens-of-the-court-steffi-graf |title=Queens of the Court: Steffi Graf |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=10 December 2009 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128132739/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/306536-queens-of-the-court-steffi-graf |archive-date=28 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="grantland1"/> Graf stated that grass was her favorite surface to play on, while clay was her least favorite.<ref name="asapsports1"/>

==Equipment and endorsements==
Early in her career, Graf wore [[Dunlop Sport|Dunlop]] apparel, before signing an endorsement contract with [[Adidas]] in 1985. She had an Adidas sneakers line known as the St. Graf Pro line.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sneakerreport.com/news/perf-sneaker-history-steffi-graf-500-wins-adidas/ |title=Today in Performance Sneaker History: Steffi Graf Becomes First Female with 500 Wins in Signature adidas Model |publisher=Sneaker Report |date=2 October 2013 |first=Riley |last=Jones |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914055729/http://sneakerreport.com/news/perf-sneaker-history-steffi-graf-500-wins-adidas/ |archive-date=14 September 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Early in her career, Graf used the [[Dunlop Sport|Dunlop]] Maxpower Pro and Maxpower Kevlar racquets and then played with the Max 200G racquet from 1984 to 1993<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13525498.html |title=Wunderbar deutsch |magazine=Der Spiegel |date=27 July 1987 |access-date=19 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223015/http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13525498.html |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="SchmidtLudlow2002">{{cite book|author1=Klaus Schmidt|author2=Chris Ludlow|title=Inclusive Branding: The Why and How of a Holistic Approach to Brands|url=https://archive.org/details/inclusivebrandin00klau_0|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-51329-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/inclusivebrandin00klau_0/page/183 183]–9|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/DunlopSport/status/431410946200702979 |title=Take a look at this Dunlop Steffi Graf ad from 1989! |publisher=Twitter |date=6 February 2014 |access-date=19 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223010/https://twitter.com/DunlopSport/status/431410946200702979 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tennis.about.com/od/racquetsballsstringing/a/evolmodracquet_3.htm |title=An Evolutionary History of Tennis Racquets |publisher=about.com |first=Jeff |last=Cooper |work=About.com Sports |access-date=19 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713175710/http://tennis.about.com/od/racquetsballsstringing/a/evolmodracquet_3.htm |archive-date=13 July 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> before switching to [[Wilson Sporting Goods|Wilson]] from 1994 to 1999. 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.<ref name="sportsbusiness1998"/> Graf's racquets were strung at 29 kilograms (64 pounds), significantly above the 50–60 pound range recommended by Wilson.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bodo|first1=Peter|title=Steffi Graf|issue=March 2000|publisher=TENNIS Magazine|date=March 2000}}</ref> In 2006, she signed an endorsement deal with [[Head (company)|Head]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2007/07/20070716/SBJ-In-Depth/Marketing-To-The-Female-Target-Audience.aspx |title=Marketing to the female target audience |publisher=SportsBusiness Journal |date=16 July 2007 |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223015/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2007/07/20070716/SBJ-In-Depth/Marketing-To-The-Female-Target-Audience.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.head.hu/index.php?module=news&news_id=982 |title=Steffi Graf joins Head team |publisher=HEAD |access-date=16 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223011/http://www.head.hu/index.php?module=news&news_id=982 |archive-date=16 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tennisindustrymag.com/articles/2006/07/feminine_allure.html |title=Feminine Allure |publisher=Tennis Industry |date=July 2006 |first=James |last=Martin |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223010/http://www.tennisindustrymag.com/articles/2006/07/feminine_allure.html |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> In 2010, Graf and Agassi collaborated with Head and developed the new line of Star Series tennis racquets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/offbeat-andre-agassi-and-steffi-graf-team-up-for-new/article_5852f96d-c237-5e45-af65-cf5477706de0.html |title=OFFBEAT: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf team up for new tennis racquet |work=The Times of Northwest Indiana |date=29 May 2010 |first=Philip |last=Potempa |access-date=19 September 2014 }}</ref>

Graf has signed many endorsement deals throughout the years including a ten-year endorsement deal with car manufacturer [[Opel]] in 1985,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.gm.com/media/intl/en/opel/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/intl/en/2012/opel/08_30_corsa_30th_anniversary/_jcr_content/rightpar/galleryphotogrid.html |title=Viewing Gallery : Happy Birthday! Opel Corsa Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary |publisher=Opel |access-date=19 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924042309/http://media.gm.com/media/intl/en/opel/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/intl/en/2012/opel/08_30_corsa_30th_anniversary/_jcr_content/rightpar/galleryphotogrid.html |archive-date=24 September 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and [[Rexona]] from 1994 to 1998.<ref name="sportsbusiness1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/1998/05/19980511/No-Topic-Name/TOP-25-FEMALE-ATHLETE-ENDORSEMENTS.aspx |title=Top 25 female athlete endorsements |publisher=SportsBusiness Journal |date=11 May 1998 |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924043533/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/1998/05/19980511/No-Topic-Name/TOP-25-FEMALE-ATHLETE-ENDORSEMENTS.aspx |archive-date=24 September 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="derspiegel">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-8034998.html |title=Ein deutsches Comeback |magazine=Der Spiegel |first1=Matthias |last1=Von Geyer |first2=Jörg |last2=Winterfeldt |date=23 November 1998 |access-date=19 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041344/http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-8034998.html |archive-date=24 September 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Other companies she has endorsed include [[Barilla Group|Barilla]], [[Apollinaris (water)|Apollinaris]], [[Citibank]], [[Danone]] and [[Teekanne (company)|Teekanne]]. She has appeared in many advertisements and television commercials with Andre Agassi including [[Canon Inc.]]<ref name="canon2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2004/08/20040809/Marketingsponsorship/Agassi-Still-In-Canons-Picture.aspx |title=Agassi still in Canon's picture |publisher=SportsBusiness Journal |date=9 August 2004 |first=Daniel |last=Kaplan |access-date=9 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910204814/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2004/08/20040809/Marketingsponsorship/Agassi-Still-In-Canons-Picture.aspx |archive-date=10 September 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and [[Longines]] in 2008 (Agassi became Longines ambassador in 2007).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longines.com/ambassadors/stefanie-graf |title=AMBASSADORS – Stefanie Graf |publisher=Longines |access-date=19 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924062439/http://www.longines.com/ambassadors/stefanie-graf |archive-date=24 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jckonline.com/2008/11/21/steffi-graf-longines-newest-abassador |title=Steffi Graf is Longines' Newest Abassador |publisher=JCK Online |date=21 November 2008 |access-date=19 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924042258/http://www.jckonline.com/2008/11/21/steffi-graf-longines-newest-abassador |archive-date=24 September 2014 }}</ref> In 2015, she was appointed as the brand ambassador of [[Kerala tourism]], for promoting [[Ayurveda]] in North America and Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://travel.manoramaonline.com/travel/travel-news/srk-and-steffi-graf-to-represent-kerala-tourism-travel.html|title=SRK and Steffi Graf to represent Kerala tourism|work=ManoramaOnline|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503014103/http://travel.manoramaonline.com/travel/travel-news/srk-and-steffi-graf-to-represent-kerala-tourism-travel.html|archive-date=3 May 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1997, she left the [[Catholic Church]], citing personal reasons.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/steffi-proof-that-the-rich-dont-get-to-heaven-1252835.html |title=Steffi: proof that the rich don't get to heaven |work=The Independent |date=27 July 1997 |access-date=19 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126043612/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/steffi-proof-that-the-rich-dont-get-to-heaven-1252835.html |archive-date=26 January 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> During her career, Graf divided her time between her hometown of [[Brühl, Baden-Wuerttemberg|Brühl]]; [[Boca Raton, Florida]]; and New York City, where she owned a penthouse in the former [[240 Centre Street|Police Headquarters Building]] in [[SoHo, Manhattan|SoHo]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1996/11/18/219047/the-trials-of-steffi-graf-with-her-father-in-jail-and-her-own-innocence-being-questioned-the-worlds-best-woman-tennis-player-has-finally-been-forced-to-take-control-of-her-life |title=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 |newspaper=Sports Illustrated Vault &#124; Si.com |access-date=14 March 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315000517/http://www.si.com/vault/1996/11/18/219047/the-trials-of-steffi-graf-with-her-father-in-jail-and-her-own-innocence-being-questioned-the-worlds-best-woman-tennis-player-has-finally-been-forced-to-take-control-of-her-life |archive-date=15 March 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Wolff |first=Alexander |date=20 September 1993 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |page=26 |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1993/09/20/129338/serves-and-follies-the-us-open-was-just-so-many-crybabies-and-no-names-until-pete-sampras-and-steffi-graf-dispatched-the-pretenders |title=Serves and Follies |access-date=25 January 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314153742/http://www.si.com/vault/1993/09/20/129338/serves-and-follies-the-us-open-was-just-so-many-crybabies-and-no-names-until-pete-sampras-and-steffi-graf-dispatched-the-pretenders |archive-date=14 March 2017 }}</ref>

From 1992 to 1999, Graf dated racing driver [[Michael Bartels]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=John |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/andre-takes-courtly-bow-with-steffi-741879.html |title=Andre takes courtly bow with Steffi |work=[[The Independent]] |date=1 November 1999 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820162406/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/andre-takes-courtly-bow-with-steffi-741879.html |archive-date=20 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> She started dating [[Andre Agassi]] after the [[1999 French Open]], and they married on 22 October 2001, with only their mothers as witnesses.<ref>{{cite web |last=Knolle |first=Sharon |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101751&page=1 |title=Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf Wed |publisher=ABC News |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522145516/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101751&page=1 |archive-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Graf, Agassi Are Parents of a Boy|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-oct-28-sp-62661-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=28 October 2001|access-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805200153/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/28/sports/sp-62661|archive-date=5 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Knolle |first=Sharon |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101751&page=1 |title=Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf Wed |publisher=ABC News |access-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522145516/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101751&page=1 |archive-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> They have two children: a son, born in 2001; and a daughter, born in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knolle |first=Sharon |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101751&page=1 |title=Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf Wed |publisher=ABC News |access-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522145516/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101751&page=1 |archive-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Agassi has said that he and Graf are not pushing their children toward becoming tennis players.<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10861440 "Tennis: Agassi taking different tact &#91;sic&#93; with fatherhood"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918085420/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10861440 |date=18 September 2018 }} The New Zealand Herald, 25 January 2013</ref> The Graf-Agassi family resides in [[Summerlin, Nevada|Summerlin]], a community in the [[Las Vegas Valley]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/love-everything-graf-now |title=Love is everything to Graf now |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=20 May 2010 |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025081858/http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/love-everything-graf-now |archive-date=25 October 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Graf's mother and her brother also live there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2014062019501/tennis-legendsteffi-graff-talks-royal-ascot-and-career/|title=Tennis legend Steffi Graf talks Royal Ascot and her career to HELLO! Online|work=hellomagazine.com|date=20 June 2014|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622090946/http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2014062019501/tennis-legendsteffi-graff-talks-royal-ascot-and-career/|archive-date=22 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1991, the Steffi Graf Youth Tennis Center in [[Leipzig]] was dedicated to her.<ref name="Steffi Graf WTA Bio">{{cite web|title=Steffi Graf Biography|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/2718/title/steffi-graf|access-date=24 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722183123/http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/2718/title/steffi-graf|archive-date=22 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is the founder, and chairperson, of "Children for Tomorrow", a non-profit foundation established in 1998 for implementing and developing projects to support children that have been traumatized by war or other crises.<ref name="Steffi Graf WTA Bio"/>

In 2001, Graf indicated that she preferred to be called "Stefanie" instead of "Steffi".<ref>{{cite news|title=Don't call me Steffi|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/1273774.stm|publisher=BBC|date=12 April 2001|access-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808101605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/1273774.stm|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Legacy==
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]].<ref name="AP Century">{{cite web|url=http://augustasports.com/stories/121299/oth_tennis.shtml|work=AugustaSports.com|title=Tennis Players of the Century.|access-date=24 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070521071150/http://augustasports.com/stories/121299/oth_tennis.shtml|archive-date=21 May 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Graf was ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the WTA for a record 377 weeks, and finished as the year-end No. 1 a record eight times,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grove.ufl.edu/~cwarner/people/SGraf.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961230142243/http://grove.ufl.edu/~cwarner/people/SGraf.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 December 1996 |title=Steffi Graf |publisher=Grove.ufl.edu |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> and she won 22 [[Grand Slam (tennis)#Tournaments|major]] women's singles titles.<ref name="Steffi Graf WTA Year In Detail">{{cite web|title=Steffi Graf Year In Detail|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/2718/title/steffi-graf#yearindetail|access-date=24 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722183123/http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/2718/title/steffi-graf#yearindetail|archive-date=22 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Graf's athletic ability and aggressive power game played from the baseline have been credited with developing the modern style of play that has come to dominate today's game.<ref>{{cite web |author=Australian Tennis Magazine |title=The 10 most influential players in the history of tennis |url=https://tennismash.com/2016/09/15/10-influential-players-history-tennis/ |url-status=live |publisher=Suzi Petkovski |date=15 September 2016 |access-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924073958/http://tennismash.com/2016/09/15/10-influential-players-history-tennis/ |archive-date=24 September 2016 |via=Tennismash}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Robin Finn |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/18/sports/on-tennis-graf-is-best-right-just-don-t-ask-her.html |title=ON TENNIS; Graf Is Best, Right? Just Don't Ask Her |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=18 August 1999 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709103457/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/18/sports/on-tennis-graf-is-best-right-just-don-t-ask-her.html |archive-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="grantland1">{{cite web |url=http://grantland.com/the-triangle/steffi-graf-serena-williams/ |title=The Shadow of Steffi Graf: Before Serena, Women's Tennis Had Another Unconquerable Force « |website=Grantland.com |date=27 August 2015 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507173757/http://grantland.com/the-triangle/steffi-graf-serena-williams/ |archive-date=7 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bleacherreport1">{{cite web |author=Jeremy Eckstein |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2651802-remember-what-made-steffi-graf-a-tennis-legend |title=Remembering What Made Steffi Graf a Tennis Legend |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=13 July 2016 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823062206/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2651802-remember-what-made-steffi-graf-a-tennis-legend |archive-date=23 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the year of Graf's retirement, [[Billie Jean King]] said, "Steffi [Graf] is definitely the greatest women's tennis player of all time."<ref name="King">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/18/sports/on-tennis-graf-is-best-right-just-don-t-ask-her.html |title=ON TENNIS; Graf Is Best, Right? Just Don't Ask Her |work=The New York Times |date=18 August 1999 |access-date=17 May 2011 |first=Robin |last=Finn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714100700/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/18/sports/on-tennis-graf-is-best-right-just-don-t-ask-her.html |archive-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2012, Tennis Channel picked Graf as the greatest female tennis player ever in their list of 100 greatest tennis players of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennischannel.com/goat/71.aspx |work=tennischannel.com |title=The list |access-date=24 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605022801/http://www.tennischannel.com/goat/71.aspx |archive-date= 5 June 2012 }}</ref> In November 2018, Tennis.com polled its readers to choose the greatest women's tennis player of all time and Graf came in first.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2018/11/goat-vote-steffi-or-serena-ten-went-one-way-you-went-another/78127/|title=GOAT Vote: Steffi or Serena? 'The Ten' went one way; you went another.|website=Tennis.com|access-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205193729/http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2018/11/goat-vote-steffi-or-serena-ten-went-one-way-you-went-another/78127/|archive-date=5 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="AP Century"/> When asked in a 2016 interview to name the greatest players of all time, [[Serena Williams]] answered Graf and [[Roger Federer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpu_st4ynLc&t=353s |title=73 Questions with Serena Williams &#124; Vogue |website=YouTube |date=28 July 2016 |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002162055/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpu_st4ynLc&t=353s |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2020, ''The Guardian'' polled its readers to determine the greatest female tennis player of the past 50 years, and Graf was the clear favorite, picking up nearly twice as many votes as any other player.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 July 2020|title=The greatest female tennis player of the last 50 years: the fans' verdict|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/04/greatest-female-tennis-player-graf-evert-williams-seles-navratilova|access-date=13 June 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613121922/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/04/greatest-female-tennis-player-graf-evert-williams-seles-navratilova|url-status=live}}</ref> Along with [[Boris Becker]], Graf is considered instrumental in popularizing tennis in Germany, where it remains one of the foremost national sports.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bernstein |first=Eckhard |title=Culture and Customs of Germany |date=2004 |publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, Connecticut|isbn=0-313-32203-1|page=47}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=René Denfeld |url=https://thetennisisland.com/2015/10/04/tennis-in-reunified-germany-then-and-now/ |title=Tennis in Reunified Germany: Then and Now – The Tennis Island |website=Thetennisisland.com |date=4 October 2015 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811230802/https://thetennisisland.com/2015/10/04/tennis-in-reunified-germany-then-and-now/ |archive-date=11 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/06/26/serving-her-country-a-grand-slam-may-have-brought-west-germanys-steffi-graf-fame-and-fortune-but-to-the-delight-of-her-countrymen-whove-watched-her-climb-to-the-top-she-remains-one-of-them|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140919064430/http://www.si.com/vault/1989/06/26/120093/serving-her-country-a-grand-slam-may-have-brought-west-germanys-steffi-graf-fame-and-fortune-but-to-the-delight-of-her-countrymen-whove-watched-her-climb-to-the-top-she-remains-one-of-them|archive-date=19 September 2014|title=Serving Her Country A Grand Slam May Have Brought West Germany's Steffi Graf Fame And Fortune, But To The Delight Of Her Countrymen Who've Watched Her Climb To The Top, She Remains 'one Of Them'|first=Curry|last=Kirkpatrick|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=16 October 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book ''The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century'', named Graf as the best female player of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chrisevert.net/flink.html|work=ChrisEvert.net|title=Exclusive Interview with Steve Flink about the career of Chris Evert|access-date=23 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405170700/http://www.chrisevert.net/flink.html|archive-date=5 April 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2020/04/celebration-navratilovas-multifaceted-legacy-no-simple-task/88211/|title=A celebration of Martina Navratilova's multifaceted legacy|website=Tennis.com|access-date=11 April 2020|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411103218/https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2020/04/celebration-navratilovas-multifaceted-legacy-no-simple-task/88211/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
Graf was voted the [[ITF World Champions|ITF World Champion]] in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 and 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itftennis.com/about/world-champions/women.aspx |title=ABOUT |publisher=ITF Tennis |date=6 June 2017 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530150949/http://www.itftennis.com/about/world-champions/women.aspx |archive-date=30 May 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> She was voted the [[WTA Awards|WTA Player of the Year]] in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, a record 8 times.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/70044/title/steffi-graf |title=Steffi Graf |publisher=WTA Tennis |date=17 August 1987 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604041015/http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/70044/title/steffi-graf |archive-date=4 June 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> She was elected as the German Sportsperson of the Year in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportler-des-jahres.de/index.php/wahl/ergebnisse |title=Ergebnisse |website=Sportler-des-jahres.de |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218001103/http://www.sportler-des-jahres.de/index.php/wahl/ergebnisse |archive-date=18 December 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Her unprecedented [[Grand Slam (tennis)#Golden Slam|Golden Slam]] saw her receive the 1988 [[BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year|BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsofworld.com/tennis/australian-open/1988-special-events-and-records.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070702205315/http://www.sportsofworld.com/tennis/australian-open/1988-special-events-and-records.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2007 |title=Special events and records at the 1988 Australian Open Tennis Tournament |publisher=Compare Infobase |access-date=13 January 2009 }}</ref>

In 2004, the ''Berliner Tennis-Arena'' was renamed ''Steffi-Graf-Stadion'' in honor of Graf.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tino Scholz |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/tennis-in-berlin-im-niemandsland-10684286 |title=Tennis in Berlin – Im Niemandsland |website=berliner-zeitung.de |date=3 March 2012 |access-date=3 June 2019 |language=de |archive-date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708193215/http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/tennis-in-berlin-im-niemandsland-10684286 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Graf was inducted into the [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]] in 2004 and the [[Germany's Sports Hall of Fame|German Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/stefanie-graf/ |title=Stefanie Graf |website=Tennisfame.com |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822012418/https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/stefanie-graf/ |archive-date=22 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://steffi-graf.net/adidas/ |title=Adidas |publisher=Steffi Graf |date=24 May 2017 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225232820/http://steffi-graf.net/adidas/ |archive-date=25 February 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In 2015, Graf was the recipient of the International Club's [[Jean Borotra Sportsmanship Award]].

In 2022, Graf was an honoree by the [[Carnegie Corporation of New York]]'s [[Great Immigrants Award|Great Immigrant Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steffi Graf |url=https://www.carnegie.org/awards/honoree/steffi-graf/ |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=Carnegie Corporation of New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-07 |title=Carnegie Corporation recognises Deloitte Global CEO Punit Renjen as 'Great Immigrant, Great American' – CNBC TV18 |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/carnegie-corporation-america-recognises-deloitte-global-ceo-punit-renjen-great-immigrant-great-american-14055312.htm |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=CNBCTV18 |language=en}}</ref>
==See also==
{{div col}}
* [[Graf–Navratilova rivalry]]
* [[Graf–Sabatini rivalry]]
* [[Graf–Seles rivalry]]
* [[List of female tennis players]]
* [[List of tennis rivalries]]
* [[Overall tennis records - women's singles]]
* [[Tennis records of the Open Era - women's singles]]
{{div col end}}

==Pickleball==
Graf and her husband both have taken up the sport of [[Pickleball]], playing as doubles partners and singles matches.<ref>{{cite web |title=What a Pickleball Slam with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf says about the sport – and tennis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6134503/2025/02/16/pickleball-slam-3-las-vegas-agassi-graf-tennis/ |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=17 February 2025 |access-date=25 April 2025 |last1=Eccleshare |first1=Charlie }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==External links==
{{sister project links||d=Q11662|c=Category:Steffi Graf|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{WTA}}
* {{Tennis Hall of Fame}}
* {{ITF}}
* {{BJK Cup player|new_id=8311bccf-1cae-4bce-9199-a7d495d915d4|id=800178014}}
* {{Olympics.com}}

{{Steffi Graf}}
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{{navboxes|title=Steffi Graf in the [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam tournaments]]
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{{Women's tennis players who won two or more Grand Slam singles titles in one calendar year}}
{{Australian Open women's singles champions}}
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{{Wimbledon women's singles champions}}
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{{navboxes|title=Steffi Graf [[Steffi Graf career statistics|Achievements]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Graf, Steffi}}
[[Category:Steffi Graf| ]]
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Andre Agassi]]
[[Category:Australian Open (tennis) champions]]
[[Category:French Open champions]]
[[Category:German emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:German female tennis players]]
[[Category:German philanthropists]]
[[Category:German women philanthropists]]
[[Category:Grand Slam (tennis) champions in women's doubles]]
[[Category:Grand Slam (tennis) champions in women's singles]]
[[Category:Hopman Cup competitors]]
[[Category:International Tennis Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:ITF World Champions]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for West Germany]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for West Germany]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists for Germany in tennis]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Germany]]
[[Category:Olympic tennis players for Germany]]
[[Category:Olympic tennis players for West Germany]]
[[Category:People from SoHo, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Laurel Leaf]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Mannheim]]
[[Category:Tennis players from Karlsruhe (region)]]
[[Category:Tennis players at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Tennis players at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Tennis players at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:US Open (tennis) champions]]
[[Category:West German expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:West German female tennis players]]
[[Category:Wimbledon champions]]
[[Category:WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players]]
[[Category:American female pickleball players]]