Graf–Navratilova rivalry
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Steffi_Graf_Farewell_World_Tour_2000_trim.jpg/160px-Steffi_Graf_Farewell_World_Tour_2000_trim.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Navratilova-PragueOpen2006-05_cropped.jpg/170px-Navratilova-PragueOpen2006-05_cropped.jpg)
The Graf–Navratilova rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova, widely regarded as two of the greatest tennis players of all time. They met 18 times during their careers, and their head-to-head is even at 9–9,[1] with Graf having a 4–2 record in major finals but Navratilova having a 5–4 record in overall major matches (winning their last major meeting despite being 34 at the time). They contested three consecutive Wimbledon singles finals (1987, 1988, 1989). Notably, despite how even their rivalry was, the age difference between Navratilova and Graf is more than 12.5 years.
List of all matches
Legend | Graf | Navratilova |
---|---|---|
Grand Slam | 4 | 5 |
WTA Tour Championships | 1 | 2 |
WTA Tour Events | 4 | 2 |
Total | 9 | 9 |
Graf–Navratilova (9–9)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Round | Winner | Score | Graf | Navratilova |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 1985 | US Open | Hard | Semifinals | Navratilova | 6–2, 6–3 | 0 | 1 |
2. | 1986 | Maybelline Classic | Hard | Final | Navratilova | 6–3, 6–1 | 0 | 2 |
3. | 1986 | Virginia Slims Championships | Carpet | Semifinals | Navratilova | 6–2, 6–2 | 0 | 3 |
4. | 1986 | German Open | Clay | Final | Graf | 6–2, 6–3 | 1 | 3 |
5. | 1986 | US Open | Hard | Semifinals | Navratilova | 6–1, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(10–8) | 1 | 4 |
6. | 1986 | Virginia Slims Championships | Carpet | Final | Navratilova | 7–6(8–6), 6–3, 6–2 | 1 | 5 |
7. | 1987 | Miami Open | Hard | Semifinals | Graf | 6–3, 6–2 | 2 | 5 |
8. | 1987 | Roland Garros | Clay | Final | Graf | 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 | 3 | 5 |
9. | 1987 | Wimbledon | Grass | Final | Navratilova | 7–5, 6–3 | 3 | 6 |
10. | 1987 | US Open | Hard | Final | Navratilova | 7–6(7–4), 6–1 | 3 | 7 |
11. | 1988 | Wimbledon | Grass | Final | Graf | 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 | 4 | 7 |
12. | 1989 | Wimbledon | Grass | Final | Graf | 6–2, 6–7(1–7), 6–1 | 5 | 7 |
13. | 1989 | US Open | Hard | Final | Graf | 3–6, 7–5, 6–1 | 6 | 7 |
14. | 1989 | Virginia Slims Championships | Carpet | Final | Graf | 6–4, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 | 7 | 7 |
15. | 1991 | US Open | Hard | Semifinals | Navratilova | 7–6(7–2), 6–7(6–8), 6–4 | 7 | 8 |
16. | 1992 | Zurich Open | Carpet | Final | Graf | 2–6, 7–5, 7–5 | 8 | 8 |
17. | 1993 | Pan Pacific Open | Carpet | Semifinals | Navratilova | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 | 8 | 9 |
18. | 1994 | Pan Pacific Open | Carpet | Final | Graf | 6–2, 6–4 | 9 | 9 |
Famous matches
1986 US Open semifinal
In semifinals of the 1986 US Open, in the most anticipated match of the tournament,[2] No. 1 Martina Navratilova prevailed over 17-year-old and No. 3 Steffi Graf with a scoreline of 6–1, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(10–8). The match was suspended with Navratilova leading 4–1 in the first set and resumed the next day. Navratilova saved three match points in the epic spread over two days.[3][4] With her win in the final, Navratilova became the first woman in the Open Era to win a major after saving match points en route.
1987 French Open final
In the final of the 1987 French Open, No. 2 Graf defeated No. 1 Navratilova to win her first Grand Slam title with a scoreline of 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 in what was considered a changing of the guard.[5] Graf overcame a 3–5 deficit in the final set to eventually win it 8–6.[6]
1988 Wimbledon final
In the final of the 1988 Wimbledon No. 1 Steffi Graf defeated No. 2 and six-time defending champion Martina Navratilova with 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 to win her third slam title on her way to the Golden Slam that year. Navratilova had a 7–5, 2–0 lead before Graf won 12 of the last 13 matches, breaking Navratilova in all of her last 7 service games. Graf’s win is considered by many as the best performance ever of a female tennis player.
1991 US Open semifinal
In the semifinals of the 1991 US Open, No. 6 Navratilova beat No. 1 Graf in an epic, winning with a score line of 7–6(7–2), 6–7(6–8), 6–4, in what is considered one of the greatest matches in US Open history.[7] She would ultimately lose the final to Monica Seles.[8]
Breakdown of the rivalry
- Hard courts: Navratilova, 5–2
- Clay courts: Graf, 2–0
- Grass courts: Graf, 2–1
- Carpet courts: Equal, 3–3
- Grand Slam matches: Navratilova, 5–4
- Grand Slam finals: Graf, 4–2
- Year-End Championships matches: Navratilova, 2–1
- Year-End Championships finals: Equal, 1–1
- Fed Cup matches: None
- All finals: Graf, 8–4
- All matches: Equal, 9–9
Set tallies
Graf | Set score | Navratilova |
---|---|---|
1 | 8–6 | 0 |
2 | 7–6 | 5 |
4 | 7–5 | 2 |
4 | 6–4 | 2 |
2 | 6–3 | 7 |
6 | 6–2 | 6 |
3 | 6–1 | 3 |
0 | 6–0 | 0 |
22 | Total sets | 25 |
224 | Total games | 232 |
See also
References
- ^ "Ten great tennis rivalries". The Independent. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
- ^ Nathan, David E. (1986-09-04). "U.S. Open Moment". UPI. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Navratilova Pushed To Limit Before Ousting Upstart Graf Archived August 1, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, SunSentinel [Florida, U.S.], Jim Sarni, Sept. 7, 1986.
- ^ Marshall, Ashley (2020-04-17). "Turning Points: Martina Navratilova saves match points to edge Steffi Graf at 1986 US Open". Retrieved 2023-09-08.
- ^ Tignor, Steve (2017-06-05). "30-Love: Thirty years ago, Steffi and Martina's unsung rivalry crested". Tennis.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Williams, Roger M. (1987-06-07). "GRAF TOPPLES NAVRATILOVA IN FRENCH FINAL". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ Curtis, Jake (2013-08-31). "Ranking the 10 Greatest Matches in US Open Tennis History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Araton, Harvey (1991-09-08). "TENNIS; Seles Bolts Past Navratilova to Win U.S. Open". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- v
- t
- e
- Peter Graf (father & former coach)
- Pavel Složil (former coach 1986–1991)
- Heinz Günthardt (former coach 1992–1999)
- Title-winning/medal-winning doubles partners
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Steffi_Graf_backhand.jpg/150px-Steffi_Graf_backhand.jpg)
- Rivalry with Martina Navratilova
- Rivalry with Gabriela Sabatini
- Rivalry with Monica Seles
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