Steffi Graf vs Martina Navratilova 1989 US Open Final Highlights

[@pasimaenpaa2360]

These ladies knows how to play tennis. Both simply worlds best. And this is what i called tennis.

[@Dark0blivion]

The thing I really appreciate about Martina is how respectful she is as a competitor. She would never hesitate to clap or say "too good" on an opponent's nice shot. You could tell that she really enjoyed competition.

[@zeddeka]

I think some of it in this match was a bit of a nervous tick. She'd done a lot of work with Billie Jean king about ways to deal with pressure and "enjoy" it more. Martina as always was a very, very competitive person. Her real emotions come out at the end of the match I think.

[@carrerau7138]

Navratilova was not beyond smearing opponents in press conferences and interviews.

[@zeddeka]

Unfortunately, she could be very unpleasant off court. Her comments a few years ago about Conchita Martinez being an example.

[@mturbin]

`I completely agree. A wonderful display of sportsmanship from one of the fiercest competitors in women's tennis.

[@stephenmeitai7622]

Not only Her. Steffi did Samething

[@juster3.146]

Steffi Grafs footwork was incredible for all of her career.

[@erondo]

I believe this is one of the best matches ever played. it's fantastic! Full of winners!

[@banhong252]

So nice and quiet when they played. Obviously great tennis as well. Graf is my favorite tennis player of all time.

[@jaysouth4564]

Two magnificent tennis legends. Love their all court plays.

[@joeyconvery2055]

Monica beat up both Steffi and Martina. They still have the bruises. 😆

[@LDVTennis]

@@joeyconvery2055 Between Monica and Steffi, the most lopsided scores are 6-0, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-1. Steffi won both matches. Monica still has ZERO Wimbledon titles.

[@joeyconvery2055]

@LDVTennis Monica only played Wimbledon 3 times before the stabbing... Steffi played Wimbledon in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and finally won in 1988. Of course Monica would have won Wimbledon if she never left the tour...she was only 18 years old in 1992. She was an amazing prodigy and dethroned Graf. 16 year old Monica beat Steffi in 3 Major finals as a teen..beating Graf in straight sets at the French Open and at the Berlin Open. Monica is the GOAT! Poor Steffi. 😆

[@LDVTennis]

@@joeyconvery2055 ... Just because Steffi won Wimbledon on her 5th attempt does NOT mean that Monica would have won on her 4th or 5th attempt. It does NOT work that way. Steffi was the better athlete and shotmaker, attributes that made her the better player on grass. ... To you, Monica is the GOAT. Poor you!!! To everyone else, Monica has ZERO Wimbledon Titles, ZERO Calendar Grand Slams, and ZERO Golden Slams. ... Oh yeah, she also made women's tennis look bad by moaning and overeating. 🤣

[@joeyconvery2055]

@LDVTennis Monica's greatest strength was her incredible mental toughness. Graf was very weak mentally. From May 1990 til Jan 1993, Monica WON 8 Majors..and she was still a teen. Steffi LOST 9 Majors during that same time period....again, LOST 9 Majors! Steffi was terrified of Monica..because Monica beat her up good. 😆 🤣

[@swatimohite2407]

Love to see both of them play. What amazing players were they. Miss their game

[@sanderslongdrive]

WOW thirty years ago. I would never have seen a glimpse of this without KZbin.

[@kjbennie9245]

Yep. I was a youngster when watching this! I remember too! Like it was yesterday. The following yr, Pete Sampras won 90' US open. I remember that as well

[@user-be5qg7mr1s]

This volleying skills are unmatched. Paired perfectly with Martina lefty serve. Graf also a legend in her own right.

[@shriramrs1808]

How many times martina appreciates steffi during the match.. amazing sportsmanship

[@gk891]

What she said afterwards in the press conference makes me wonder how sincere she was being though.

[@fuckurbody]

gk891 what did old fart say

[@gk891]

@@fuckurbody According to Sports Illustrated, Navratilova said "Regrettably, Navratilova refuses to acknowledge the champion's mettle, her superior competitiveness. In a graceless postmatch interview, she said that she herself had not played well and that Graf "swings for the fences...was lucky...hit so many unbelievable lines...hit a ball going to the rafters until it swirled in." Thanks, Martina. You all done now?"

[@cfhar080591]

@@gk891 That to me was more of a heat of the moment situation. Martina for the most part always spoke highly of Steffi.

[@benrusher581]

Why say 'too good' so many times? Dunno, felt a bit disingenuous to me. Don't think she liked being beat up. (who does?)

[@MrPink-zw4ho]

Steffi was pure grace and power. The best and most fun to watch.

[@gunterhubschen5385]

Was für ein Match! 😍 Großartig!

[@WorldwideWyatt]

Both of these ladies were just incredible. This was the era when women’s tennis really became competitive. That whole generation of players took the game technically to where it still is today.

[@francescobattisti9926]

this was the era in which women's tennis was more interesting than male tennis. this is the tennis we used to love. then it all changed. I think that most of the interest was due to a player like Navratilova, coming from two eras before. Very fashinating.

[@GowriShankar-sv2xu]

One of the finest and greatest matches I have ever watched. Fabulous !!!!!!thanks for posting...I don't think we can witness any thing like this with the current generation players or any one in future...true sportsmanship from both the Legends

[@Apostle1978]

Agreed, they really try to market eye candy these days.

[@murali2787]

Martina is true legend for her sportsman ship. Those were the times when the power tennis era just began...

[@alansach8437]

What was amazing about Graf is what she was able to accomplish in a 16 year career. Evert played professional tennis for 19 years, Serena for 27 years and Navratilova for 32 years. If you have equally good players, it only makes sense that the one who plays longer will accomplish more things, but Graf had the shorter career and yet still holds many records, and is within striking distance of many others. Who knows what she could have done had she played 19, 27 or 32 years? She also achieved everything she did, in that 16 years, while contending with Evert (10 times, late in Evert's career), Navratilova (16 times) and Monica Seles. All players regarded as among the best of all time.

[@NN-zf7np]

Also depends whether your body and athleticism can be maintained. Navratilova is easily 1 generation / 1.5 gens older than Graf.

[@AlbanyConcierge]

Navratilova played 21 years in singles.... where did you get 32 years from? and in that 21 years, she accomplished most of her achievement within the first 12 - 15 years (basically all of her slams singles, doubles and singles and doubles records). Also, in that 21 years, Navratilova didn't play 12 Australian Opens and 8-9 French Opens. I'm not sure what you're getting your information

[@carrerau7138]

@@AlbanyConcierge Martina played her first professional match in 1973 and her last one at Wimbledon 2004.

[@pgarciaAP]

But Graf had her main rival sidelines. Think of how many LESS grand slam tournaments she would have won.

[@prakasher82]

That's a typical text book form of tennis, amazing to watch both legends playing..

[@jay_kulina]

This match was oozing SKILL from both sides! So beautiful to watch... haven't seen this kind of tennis since the Henin-Capriati match in 2003.

[@hill4252]

One of my favourite matches, two legends, classic match up, thankyou!

[@andrrrandrrr9335]

hill 42 what about Graf vs Venus? Wimbledon 99

[@hill4252]

@@andrrrandrrr9335 yep that's a classic match too, shame there isnt highlights on here

[@andrrrandrrr9335]

hill 42 hill it was but somebody report or removed the highlight....

[@00708046]

I agree ... 2 greats !

[@UmeshaNomad1975]

Beautiful memory...I am from India...in 1989 I was 14 years old. I watched all these matches live. Those days were nostalgic.. congrats to u from my KZbin channel. The olden days were golden days.

[@hichamwork1542]

I can’t even believe these skills founded in this period from these two players . It’s unbelievable

[@theotheodoropoulos9858]

This is one of my favourite Grand Slam women finals ever!!!!

[@brandonkeisler86]

THIS is what I call tennis.

[@LinusFeynstein]

Coach of the titans

[@LinusFeynstein]

Clash

[@ΚωνσταντινοςΚαραλης-ω8ψ]

This is what i call badminton

[@oops9437]

@@ΚωνσταντινοςΚαραλης-ω8ψ 🤣🤣🤣

[@ΚωνσταντινοςΚαραλης-ω8ψ]

@Max E Actually i mean it in an ironic sense,that compared to seles and williams sisters power tennis,it is pretty boring,and less demanding.

[@anupray9125]

A fantastic match. Strategy, play, counter response- all superb.

[@eddiecheung7795]

Years went by, Steffi, you are the best? Miss seeing her on the court.

[@alexj590]

2022..re-watching this match that I was glued to as a teen. Steffi has such an awesome style of tennis, timeless!

[@sunnydays5742]

Both are great champions. Martina truly loves the sport and Steffi game was like a gazelle running in the woods. Both legends of tennis

[@rsb512]

Two of the GOATS right there. Steffi was the fastest ladies player ever with the best forehand and Martina was the greatest attacking and volleying player ever in women's tennis.

[@MrPernell27]

And the 2 best athletes

[@anthonyzarate9807]

This was not fair for the fact that Martina was 33 and at the tail end of her career (IMO past her prime) and Graf was 20 and in he absolute physical and mental prime. Remember, she won the GOLDEN SLAM in 1988! Martina won 17 of her 18 Major singles titles by 1987. She was able to still win 1 more Wimbledon in 1990, but that is just because she was so DOMINANT on grass! Remember when she played against Connors? Boy did Connors have his hands full in the 1st set! He eventually wore her down but she really did make him work.

[@stephenwright1476]

....aside from Court.... of course

[@jjackson59100]

@@stephenwright1476 ... She won seven of her eleven Australian Open titles before the open era. She was great, for sure, but I don't see her as the greatest. Besides, it's hard to compare players from different eras. The all-time greats were great, period.

[@ag358]

@@anthonyzarate9807 would you please note that conners was given 1 serve only and she could hit in the doubles alley. Big difference

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

I loved watching tennis during this era. All the strategy - whether or not to come to the net, passing shots, impossible angles, lobs, drop shots, etc. Once the equipment changed and it became nothing more than two players standing at the baselines grunting and whaling away for interminable exchanges until one finally made an "unforced error". That's when they lost me.

[@paigehere5176]

The way this is not true, I can tell when someone's living in that 90s nostalgia bubble and doesn't really watch tennis today

[@paigehere5176]

@GoTeam What do I need to back up? " ItS TrUe" Is backing it up? This nonsense generalization of bitter old people who don't even watch the product today and feel the need to compare everything? Speaking of rubbish maybe you hear yourself and why are you taking it so personally this isn't even a dig at anyone here lmao maybe the shoe fits

[@Ornacia29]

Steffi Graf was an incredibly smart player

[@edisonmorgan9199]

i guess im asking randomly but does any of you know a method to log back into an instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my account password. I would love any tricks you can give me!

[@tobywade776]

@Edison Morgan instablaster :)

[@edisonmorgan9199]

@Toby Wade Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@edisonmorgan9199]

@Toby Wade it worked and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my ass!

[@tobywade776]

@Edison Morgan You are welcome :)

[@marisoldiaz8058]

When Tennis was Beautiful, Miss you Steffi👏👏👏♥️♥️♥️

[@cjlopesmartins]

Also love these classic games but I think tennis is still beautiful

[@renzoboatellirenzob8453]

And miss you Martina, wonderful serve and volley

[@cjlopesmartins]

Oliver McCall top players they always have some signature moves. It may end up a bit less spontaneous I agree

[@bohumilhumpolik189]

J99

[@americanwoman445]

It got political

[@steelermia]

martina had sick volleying skills .. made it look so easy .. almost nonexistent on today's women's tour

[@TitanFind]

Because the nylon string revolution completely changed the game, reducing the value of net play considerably.

[@wonderlandian8465]

Why women's tour? Outside of Fed nobody in the mens tour volleys as well as Martina either

[@steelermia]

@@wonderlandian8465 this is true yes

[@acsaiyanbalce4610]

Wonderlandian She’s my fav female tennis player of all time! I really love it when she plays mixed doubles paired with one of the Bryan bro’s! She taught em everything she knows!!

[@patricioc7407]

Martina tenía el medio guañaño

[@eze6285]

Love everything Martina does with a racquet. Beautiful game!

[@guyinsf]

Me too and I also love how she applauded her opponent's winners with her racquet and hand. She did that a lot!

[@ken2181]

Slice backhand in todays game wont cut it unfortunately

[@robertopayao4728]

The point at 10:56 = Perfect example of the why Steffi has the Best Footwork in Tennis

[@MartinJohnZ]

When the ladies knew how to serve, played their backhand with 1 hand, weren't afraid to come to the net, and DIDN'T SCREAM THEIR LUNGS OUT!

[@smokescreen2146]

Seles dominated Graf

[@raghavavd]

i second that..

[@smokescreen2146]

@Michael Nemeth why do you think there was a stabbing fool

[@brunoampm1]

These girls play like men, better than 99% of male tennis clubers

[@smokescreen2146]

@Nepoleon Khwairakpam you're a fool. Seles was just starting out when she had those losses. She began DOMINATING Graf later on in every match.

[@sudiptabrahma2631]

Tennis of high quality. Legends of their era.

[@tomgraham6071]

A testament to Graf's survival skills, as well as all the other obvious abilities. When you look at the beauty of her play in that first set, you wonder how Navratilova lost that match. You also may ask whether Navratilova tired a bit, mentally as much as physically. Her game style meant she in some ways had to really focus hard as she had so little time to make decisions. To do that for three sets against someone who forced you to position the ball perfectly because of their speed and power, must have been a tall order.

[@happyherbert1984]

Serve + volley all the time is exhausting, so she may have let down her game in the third set. Couldn't wind it down because she's to aggressive and eager to attack...

[@tomgraham6071]

@@happyherbert1984 yep, I think Navratilova was caught to some extent between two eras. She learned her game with wood, when if you wanted to be aggressive you had to come forward as you couldn't as easily hit winners from the baseline. Coming forward was therefore in some ways less risky than trying to hit winners from deep positions with small racket heads. When the rackets changed, to begin with she was playing against players who had also trained with wood, so it didn't make much difference as they hadn't learned to use the extra power at their disposal. But then when Graf came along, Navratilova was suddenly a player without an aggressive baseline game who was forced to come forward to win points, and that meant a huge amount of lunging and diving against powerful returns and big groundstrokes. Against Evert it was always a case of toying with each other in positional play for her to engineer a chance to approach. There was less time to do that when the players who'd learned aggressive baseline games came along. That must have been tiring on the knees and the mind as everything happened so quick. On top of that she played doubles. It pains me to say but I don't think Martina could have played like that today. She'd have needed to make life easier for herself with more flat, powerful serves and flat, powerful baseline winners.

[@markuse3472]

Thank you for the video displaying my girl Stefanie Graf's amazingness.

[@torbenm2375]

The Navratilova glasses WILL come back one day as part of Hipster culture in Berlin.

[@co9971]

ha they have

[@akkirawat07]

I would have watched this video evn if it was for 3 hrs ! Pure class

[@drasuarezgastro]

Que hermoso verlas de nuevo, los ídolas de infancia ♥️🙏🏼💪🏼

[@srenbechmann1662]

Sadly no one plays like these two nowadays, so much skill and finess, especisally from Martina.

[@CrookedRain49]

Her vollying is absolutely sensational!!

[@andyplummer6982]

Thanks for posting! Great highlights, beautiful tennis by both. Miss the court-level perspective too.

[@josephrocha142]

This is when tennis was great to watch. Extremely talented players using the right equipment to show off their skills. Their is actually strategy going on instead of the mindless banging of the ball that you see in today's game.

[@fundhund62]

True. Tennis has made a backwards development since the 1980´s.

[@eddiegreen352]

No shot in tennis is mindless. They all are hit with intent to accomplish something. If you played you would know that. Js

[@paigehere5176]

Because of change in racquet technology and strings. What do you want them to do?

[@ronaldinan2619]

Ms. Serve and volley and very quiet. No grunts, no shouting. You can't hardly find nowadays.

[@hazori3231]

I mean they also hit 50 kmh faster on every stroke than in this match.

[@hill4252]

@@hazori3231 heavier racquets here for Graf and Navratilova than these days, the girls now would scream even louder with the effort to use them, it's just a shouting match these days

[@deepakmahajan4978]

Osaka n andreescu recent champs changing the trend. Future is bright

[@markuse3472]

* you CAN hardly..

[@markuse3472]

@coffeeinthemorning Yes, all non-sportsmanship and dishonest, the screaming and howling.

[@jerrysmith8436]

This is for me what makes utube fantastic. If its clean and out there 2c utube has it. Serve and volley baby, the way tennis was made to be played. Not so long ago, but it was the good ole days of tennis. Thanks for the upload.

[@sevillecumine9684]

Best Ladies Tennis ever played back in the day ❤️

[@sliceserve234]

so many beautiful tennis points, both women showing off so many incredible shots

[@umarharith7234]

Steffi produced many awesome top spin backhand passing shots in the match.... really miss those in her later matches in 1990s.

[@gk891]

Her topspin backhand kind of disappeared after she broke her thumb in early 1990. She still hit it every now and then but not nearly as often and not nearly as well. Even Steffi's backhand passing shots that were slices were much better back then.

[@umarharith7234]

@@gk891 Yeah I guess Steffi was not the same player after the ski accident. Then Monica came along with her mental strength.

[@gk891]

@@umarharith7234 After that accident, she started hitting her backhand much closer to her body than before. It was also a shorter motion which made it go from a hard and vicious slice backhand into a short and choppy one. During that time, two shorts of hers kind of disappeared: her down the line slice backhand and her topspin backhand. In 1995, she at long last amended the extension issue with her backhand and her down the line slice backhand came back in full force. But her topspin backhand never came back to the extent that she used it back in the 80s.

[@umarharith7234]

@@gk891 Steffi also did hit many top spin backhand during rallies in the 80's. If only she was able to produce top spin backhand down the line many many more while she was on tour in the 80's and 90's, she might be able to beat Monica, Martina and others much easier.

[@gk891]

@@umarharith7234 Her slice backhand was very effective though. I remember Seles once said that Steffi's backhand never got the credit it deserved in terms of how tough it was. At the 1995 U.S Open final, Steffi hit some topspin backhands against Seles but it didn't always work very well. In the commentary booth, Navratilova said that Steffi really needed to be careful with that topspin backhand because it wasn't the right shot to use against Monica because it bounced higher. And that Steffi was better off slicing the ball as it stayed much lower through the court. It was the right shot to use against net rushers though.

[@arnieus866]

I enjoy having Martina back Tennis Channel. She adds a lot.

[@karlmckinnell2635]

No grunts and screams 😮. Absolutely beautiful 😊.

[@joeyconvery2055]

Monica beat up Martina and Steffi. 😆

[@rajusaha855]

@@joeyconvery2055 Steffi beat Monica with 10-5 h2h. And a 35 years old grandma Martina was good enough to beat peak Seles 7 times from 1990-93. Even before the stabbing Martina did beat Seles in France. Lol🤣🤣🤣

[@joeyconvery2055]

@@rajusaha855 Martina beat the hell out of Steffi...and then Monica came along and beat the hell out of Martina and Steffi. Poor Martina and Steffi. 😆

[@carrerau7138]

@@joeyconvery2055 Seles holds several #1 player records: 1) Worst slam final defeat ever (26 16 to Graf, Wimbledon 91). 2) Worst H2H against any opponent (2-5 vs. Graf). 3) Loss to the oldest player (Navratilova aged 36 years and 2 months, Paris 93). 4) Loss to the youngest player (Capriati aged 15 years and 4 months, San Diego 91). Her slam count is vastly inflated due to the Graf Blackmail Scandal.

[@joeyconvery2055]

@@carrerau7138 Blackmail scandal. 😆 😆 😆 Steffi was terrified of Monica...so terrified that Steffi wore diapers every time she played Monica. Monica scared the crap out of Steffi. Poor Steffi. 😆

[@pradheeprk5507]

Never thought I will have chance to watch it again after 32 years. That time I am 10 year old boy. Now a middle aged man

[@ThiagoSilva-xm2wy]

Women’s tennis hasn’t improved lately...these two women were incredible. ❤️

[@MrBjorn6]

You guys are delusional if you think this level is better than today level. The @usopen Semifinals 1991 Between Graf vs Navratilova and Seles vs Capriati, was at the time seen as the highest level semifinals ever played. Those matche are is so many levels below the women's semifinals at. US open in 2020. A totally different level of power and athletic playing .

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

Modern racquets allow players to put a lot more power and topspin to their shots, they can hit rockets from the baseline. Was not possible back then.

[@svitolinaspet6346]

@Max E I'll be fair Pulling off a few upsets does not automatically mean winning multiple slams and those upsets were in smaller tournaments. Date would of probably won nothing big even in her prime for even if she were to make it deep she'd have to face Serena a lot of the time Steffi would of dominated but she struggled a bit against big hitters like Pierce and this era being full of them it wouldn't of been the cakewalk you're making it seem. It got even tougher post 2017. No Serena fan but she's still a good server and ball striker which makes her somewhat of a threat but it's not that easy as she wouldn't be struggling the way she is.

[@svitolinaspet6346]

@Max E Again, how does beating them on off days in smaller tournaments correlate to winning 7 matches in a row at slams? And taking a set off Venus in the 2010s is not impressive as she was struggling with Sjogrens and honestly almost anyone was beating her. Big hitters because of Davenport and upcoming Serena and Venus. It took SV and Sabattini a lot of meetings to string together some wins. Pierce was inconsistent but when on was dangerous, now think of a generation with several big hitters and servers at the same time. It wouldn't of been easy. See Steffi is the greatest of all time. She had all the tools for survival even today but to say other women of the 90s were better players is simply not true, better how? Weak serves, loopy forehands? (The racquet technology isn't that vast as Venus was hitting 125 mph aces in 1998 as a teenager) These are the kind of players 2010s Serena would of feasted on A literal dream for her. Garbine, Kerber and other girls may not have been that consistent but when on were always dangerous they've denied Serena of slams on a lot of occasions. She's literally struggling so much now. That's not even counting the 2000s where for example players like Henin beat her 3 times in a row at slams or Venus denying her of Wimbledon titles or the Clijsters USO fiasco.

[@paigehere5176]

Not these same stale arguments again lol

[@ytangel7263]

Amazing final between two of the best female tennis athletes of all time battling for the 1989 US Open. Serve & Volley vs. Baseline Power! Steffi’s forehand winners were fire 🔥 especially at 5:20 and 10:56. Amazing how powerful her forehand winner was against Martina’s difficult lefty slice serve swerving into her right hip. Steffi’s lightning speed and footwork allowed her to run around and hit her famous forehand from the extreme backhand corner. I know it’s all about her athleticism, timing and effortless technique. I can’t help but compare Steffi’s godly forehand to powerful forehands today where you can see how much effort current players exert to generate power while taking advantage of racquet and string innovations. I wonder how Steffi’s forehand, which is the greatest forehand ever, would look in the modern game with all the racquet/string technology. Combined with her athleticism and uncanny accuracy, it would be a more heavier and deadlier forehand! Her backhand slice was the best ever too! No one, not even current players today (with the exception of Roger Federer), can hit a knifing slice like Steffi. With racquet/string innovations, it would be “Death by a Thousand Cuts”! If I could put both Steffi and Serena in the same era (either in the late 80s to mid 90s or in 2000s at their very best), I’d go anywhere to see the Greatest Forehand vs. the Best Serve battle it out and compete for grand slam titles!!!

[@joeyconvery2055]

Monica beat up Steffi. 😆

[@joeyconvery2055]

@Max E You probably think I hate Steffi...and I Do Not! I like Steffi....she is an amazing athlete and tennis player.. I don't understand why you won't give any credit to Monica for beating up Steffi. 😆 Have a nice weekend Max.

[@dharmendravignaendra6052]

Enthralling match and incredible tennis skills from two great champions of the game played with good sportsmanship.

[@atmanandn4960]

Truly good see tennis those days So wonderful to see Steffi Graf she was entering tennis and Matin Navratilova was at end are career what good admiration she giving to Steffi Graf during the match wow really great we use see matches worth watch thank you who has uploaded 🙏🙏🙏

[@jackreacher9531]

Just love Steffi Graf. She can serve and volley, too! Awesome tennis. Steffi Graf - you are simply the best! 😘

[@88feji]

Sorry but Graf was known by fellow players to be cold and unfriendly during most of her career .. just look at her handshake with Martina at the net, Martina pats her on the shoulder but Graf was kind of cold to her ... thats why I never warmed to Graf during those days, she was really mechanical and unfriendly looking then ... now she's a lot nicer though ..

[@gk891]

@@88feji Steffi was shy and aloof. But many of her haters seem to like to claim that she was cold back in the day. But I recall an interview from a few years ago (which I can no longer find unfortunately) that Lori McNeil said that she and Steffi were always friendly with each other and they still see each other often years after they retired. A lot of Steffi haters also like to make a big deal over how she gave quick handshakes. But that's how handshakes were back then. It was just a procedure whereas today it's all about putting on a big (and IMO fake and superficial) show. I remember at the 1989 Australian Open when Graf defeated Sukova, the two shared a very quick and abrupt looking handshake. But the two of them were laughing and chatting with each other during the trophy presentation. At the 1995 Birmingham event where Zina Garrison defeated her long-time friend McNeil, their handshake was just that. And there were no smiles, hugs, or kisses. In 1988, Navratilova was openly complaining to other WTA players in the locker room about someone needing to stop Graf. It seems to me that Martina set the tone for stand-offish interpersonal relationships with Steffi in spite of her attempts to display something different when it came to her handshakes. After this match, she also said some things in the press conference that indicates to me that her display of good sportsmanship wasn't exactly all that sincere. According to Sports Illustrated: "Regrettably, Navratilova refuses to acknowledge the champion's mettle, her superior competitiveness. In a graceless postmatch interview, she said that she herself had not played well and that Graf "swings for the fences...was lucky...hit so many unbelievable lines...hit a ball going to the rafters until it swirled in." Thanks, Martina. You all done now?"

[@gk891]

@Max E I wonder why the Western public loves the shallow superficiality so much.

[@joeyconvery2055]

Little did Steffi realize that in less than a year, a young teenage phenom named Monica Seles, would dethrone Graf and become the new World Number 1. Monica beat up Steffi pretty good. 😆

[@carrerau7138]

@@joeyconvery2055 Less than a year? What indeed was less than one year away was the nasty Graf Blackmail Scandal which changed tennis history. Steffi in her 1989 form most probably would have won a second Grand Slam in 1991 otherwise.

[@Ineddiblehulk]

People love to say steffi only won because she was playing ‘over the hill Martina’ - for context, Martina here is the career equivalent/same age as 2014 era Federer, 2017 era Nadal and 2019 era Djoker.

[@carrerau7138]

In 1989 Navratilova had the 6th-highest winning percentage of her career. Between June 1989 and April 1990 she had a 67-3 win/loss streak. Those 3 losses all were against Steffi, in all Martina won a set. If that is not peak….

[@ericlopez9107]

I always thought that was AMAZING! Graf starts her serve holding TWO balls in one hand....she must have big hands! If her first serve is in, she plays the point holding the extra ball in hand! Would be impossible for a two handed backhand player!!!

[@kisonsl6659]

WOW!

[@weekendhacker]

Some players used to hold the 2nd ball in their hand and chuck it behind them if unneeded but now that is against the rules and called a let.

[@Kevinsf]

wow. and all these years of being a Steffi fan and I did not notice that. that is amazing.

[@ericlopez9107]

@@Kevinsf I grew up loving her style in late 80's early 90's....enjoyed all her battles against Navratilova, Seles, and Sanchez Vicarrio!! 😁

[@markuse3472]

DAYUM, good eye. I never saw that, never seen it, until just now. I don't think the announcers or commentators ever really pointed that out. I wonder if Steffi is the only one who's ever done that.

[@ricobhi]

I love hearing Martina call the shots during the match that she's playing! You can hear her saying "That's too good" a few times on some of Steffi's winners 😁😁😁

[@ipiap]

She constantly did that.

[@thomasmccann9384]

She was always respectful of her opponents great shots.

[@severinschlieffen9593]

great sportswomanship

[@nickhorgan4349]

@Max E no way. it was sincere. the shots were too good!! wish players still did that

[@gk891]

@@nickhorgan4349 When you look at what Navratilova said during the press conference afterwards, I very much question her sincerity.

[@prabhanshushekharsinha7221]

.. epitome of beauty and skills !

[@tomschmitz5745]

INFINTELY WAAAY WAY MORE EXCITING AND INTERESTING THAT ANY WOMAN'S MATCH TODAY!..

[@saurabhchakrabarty7362]

Bcuz they are two of the greatest female players of all time! Have you seen ALL the matches that were being played during that time on the tour between ALL players?

[@NOTHEOTHERGUY]

And quieter, too! No shrieking!

[@drtrouble3899]

Bullshit!!

[@rickbateman2401]

If you believe that you’ve never seen Wei or Andreescu play. I’m not taking anything away from either of these greats but the days of bash and smash are pretty well over with players like Andreescu who can pound away from the baseline with the best of them but also has a great fineness game with the drop shots, slices and lobs.

[@tomschmitz5745]

@@rickbateman2401 okay, so you named 1 player andreescu, i'm talking about the totality of the entire women's game.. where's the serve and volleyers, does andreescu willingly take the net, does she have a great volley or overhead? it's to the point that if a player has a one handed backhand or slices her backhand occassionally they are seen as having "variety" .. it's ridiculous for the 99% most part...what's even worse, is they don't even TRY to work on their games, or even TRY to change a losing game and strategy! they are so homogenized that they keep on playing the same way stroke after stroke, point after point and wonder why they lose a match! plan b? plan c? nope!...in closing, give me a great match from the 70's and 80's and 90's over today's matches anyday..

[@kazuakigabychan8147]

Martina Navratilova is the most complete female tennis player ever, regardless of the number of Grand Slams won. Awesome power and skills.

[@gk891]

Navratilova truly has some of the best hands I've ever seen. It's a great combination to have both amazing athleticism as well as stunning touch and feel for the ball.

[@kazuakigabychan8147]

@@gk891 I feel if she had tried earlier in her earlier career, she could have won the largest number of Grand Slam titles, but to me, she's my female NO1 and the male NO1 is by far Roger Federer as far as the most complete male player goes.

[@tommyandersson6464]

Amazing players both of them

[@marctravismba]

Arguably the best volley in history vs. the best forehand in history. Such fun to watch. But Steffi was really the changing of the guard, being one of the first to be able to neutralize the aggressive chip-and-charge tennis mastered by Martina. Steffi's forehand, knifing slice, and occasional-yet-effective topspin backhand brought in a new era. And her game was so clean. She constructed points brilliantly, disguised her shots well, and ran like a deer. She literally had no weaknesses. I have no doubt that if she played today, she'd still be #1.

[@americanwoman445]

Tennis is no longer a thinking game

[@ChrisTheKing172]

Its a different game, full of extremely powerful hitters... the racquets back then enabled some really well put together points....nowadays, its im gonna hit right thru you....Seles ushered in the modern game we see today, that's why Graf struggled so much against Seles (still a winning record against her)

[@Sonsbitchesall]

Her backhand was her weakness

[@gk891]

@@Sonsbitchesall I thought her backhand was her greatest strength. I love the way it skidded off of the court and put players off balance.

[@broncoguy4862]

@@americanwoman445 Horsesqueeze. Strategy and thinking will always be a component in any sport. Period.

[@richardprice7763]

Steffi Grafs serve was a thing of beauty...

[@carrerau7138]

I still have a poster of her on my wall, capturing the split second when the ball has reached its highest point after her ball toss - her blue eyes to the sky, her ample boobs stretching the fabric of her shirt, the muscles of her tanned and toned legs visibly at work. The most beautiful view in sports of all time!

[@sameersingh3282]

BEAUTIFUL AND ATTRACTIVE GAME...... BOTH PLAYERS IS ENERGY FULL STAMINA FULL PRACTICE FULL STRONG FULL AND POWERFUL..... IN THIS POSITION, WINER IS WONDERFUL.........

[@LilyYadhy80]

wooow, excellent players. I don´t know which choose. Really both was so great. :D

[@paragsrivastav4236]

Hi lily can we friend...

[@musarra195]

So different and fun to watch

[@kawai99100]

Now I remember just how great those days were.

[@Freezin_blue]

0:34 Oh God, imagine if Steffi had used that deadly topspin backhand throughout her carrier more...

[@Rune8119]

She did pretty well with a slice BH,so…

[@miguelbarahona6636]

Her BH slice was the weapon that aligned her game towards her massive forehand.

[@eileengorman2927]

Two fantastic tennis players.

[@johnmac9572]

Great to hear the ball being hit - one of the pleasures of watching tennis , denied us today by the screaming amazons.

[@gloriaevans6359]

Yessssssss

[@kritti1]

So true

[@tonybennett4159]

Yes, it's bliss to see a women's grand slam match without screaming, screeching or assorted weird noises. It's why, in the men's game for instance, no matter if his tally is overtaken, Federer will be the most loved of the big three.

[@anthonyzarate9807]

bennett actually, I don't mind the grunts and noises...but it's not something I like either. It doesn't bother me either way. I pay attention the great play! I appreciate the nuisance and chess matches that go on inside the game. IMO, they same people who are bothered by grunts and screams are the same type who can't watch a great movie because the camera keeps moving or their is something in the background distracting them. Also, while I respect Federer a ton, he is beloved because tennis is a white players sport and he is white. Don't get me wrong, he is one of the best players ever and even a better person, but Rafa is just as good a person and just as good a player!

[@tonybennett4159]

@@anthonyzarate9807 One who was loved and highly respected was Arthur Ashe, a black player and a great role model for any tennis player of any colour. Same for the much loved Yannick Noah. Same goes for Federer nowadays and Gael Monfils or Felix Auger Aliassime. They are liked because of their style of play, I would argue, and skin colour is becoming less and relevant. Rafa is a magnificent player with an iron will and an ability to bulldoze even great opponents, but purely as a matter of taste, I prefer those mentioned above because of their flair and finesse.

[@Darkswordz]

It was great seeing Steffi figure out how to beat the serve & volley. Once she neutralized that, Martina really didn't have many other weapons to hurt her with.

[@jdfagen]

Martina had a beautiful net game unmatched by any woman player. It's funny; I rooted against her early in her career only to pull for her later as a slight underdog :).

[@atulshah4697]

Steffi, my all time favourite!!!really, we missed you!!!!

[@tonyrich6725]

Love both of these ladies!

[@xtctrader1467]

Back when tennis was worth watching. Style and graceful.

[@kalevala29]

that's good tennis. glad to be able to watch it again

[@marianagaoka9687]

Wow, Martina Navratilova really enjoyed tennis. She also smiled at Steffi's great winning points.

[@nursondewind6227]

Great match. Martina N was a force, those volleys were a thing of beauty. Graf was of course Graf.

[@srinithyamanavalagan1918]

I like both players but I most like steffi graf.my mother die hard fan of steffi. Steffi win my mother goosebumps reaction.my mother presented me one second hand wood tennis rocket me I never forgot. Because my mother loves steffi graf

[@stefoct31]

Awesome resolution on this clip thanks love seeing Steffi at the net and imposing her top spin backhand such a shame she didn't use this weapon more in 90s but with her skiing accident such a shame but she hardly came to the net I guess bc of the baseline hard hitters seles and crew. Graceful clip a long gone era. Ps doc from love boat wants his glasses back hehe.

[@surajes549]

Quality of then women tennis is much higher than of todays. Placement of shots, footwork, passing shots are excellent, comparable with mens tennis

[@robertopayao4728]

That inside out Graf forehand all the way out of doubles alley is just ridiculous. At 5:19, she anticipated the serve but the swing was still so late and she was off the court and the ball passes Martina and it was still too good. Graf, the best women's tennis player, in my opinion. On a side note, if Martina had an even bigger serve along with her excellence at net, she would've won the most GS ever, that volleying skill is sick and unparalleled and it is unfortunately nonexistent.

[@ongoldenponds]

Roberto Payao the one she hit at 2:55 is just sick MN looked stunned!

[@zeddeka]

I suppose the thing with the classic serve volleyers is that a lot of them deliberately didn't go for the biggest serves. Like Stefan edberg and pat rafter, Martina hit her serves with a lot of spin to allow her time to get to the net. The idea wasn't to hit an ace, but to get an easier first volley.

[@marce2409]

the best two ones ever to play this sport. Bravo!!!!!

[@andrewmoores7166]

So much better than anything we see from the women these days.

[@footfault1941]

I'd not deny improvement in women's game today. Levels rose considerably & play styles are changed accordingly. These two players are exceptional. As you felt @Andrew Moores, their skills make me feel as if they were machines. Net play by Martina is simply unbelievable. Even so, how Steffi finds space to maneuver her racket. Backhand down the line was so sharp & precise. The only option for Martina is send her appreciation. A great scene overall!!

[@TitanFind]

Not really.

[@drtrouble3899]

Nonsense!!! says who? you? I like fast moving game. this is way too slow to watch. like power and speed.

[@marciamathieu4441]

what, that slow and lame tennis, u giving joke, either u blink or u joking

[@rushrush1209]

You won't see a serve and volleyer at Navratilova's level in the women's game again. Or even Hana Mandlikova's level. Graf would love today's powerful racquets.

[@alansintim7762]

Such a superb performance from both players

[@ronlippitt]

I love that Graf would play with the second ball in her hand when she hit her first serve. You NEVER see players do that these days. And her inside out forehand was a revelation for women's tennis. But I will always love the Navratilova net game. I'm still sad racquet technology took that part of the game away from modern tennis.

[@rlgnoles1]

@ronlippitt The tool is never more important than the one who yields it!

[@clint1285]

I saw this guy in my league hold second ball in his hand a couple years ago so I started doing it. makes match go along faster. Lol...

[@cornel999]

i always held two balls on the first serve, since i started in the early 70's. so much more convenient than always stuffing a ball in your pants, and then retrieving it for a second serve. probably the main reason i never switched to a two hand backhand. but my backhand was never as good as Steffi's.

[@iliasdf2595]

Amazing ..check out Martina vs Steffi in the earlier us open like 86/87 ..a young Steffi coming through .both amazing players

[@Sanctified57]

Great tennis. Both wonderful players.

[@georgebeierberkeley]

Somehow they played without shrieking. I do miss that.

[@rlgnoles1]

NOT Seles, the greatest player EVER who was cheated from the greatest career by Peter.

[@broncoguy4862]

@@rlgnoles1 Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@americanwoman445]

@@broncoguy4862 It's supposed to be a dignified sport.you want grunting, watch football

[@paigehere5176]

I hope you got the likes you needed

[@borisk57]

legendary! graphite rackets be damned; they ruined the poetry of elegance and beauty of serve-n-volley on hard courts... obsession with power denies us the grace of the game. thank you for posting!

[@TitanFind]

Graf and Navratilova are using graphite racquets here.

[@bharatimisal138]

aftr sooo many years i m watching this match again to learn th backhand shorts amazing legend both r!!!

[@kaaunhall7781]

I can see how Serena game almost resembles steffi's staying at the baseline using power with versatility and angles. But she is also lethal at the net.... both Martina and Seffi were great players who abilities have changed the game of women's tennis

[@tonybennett4159]

Unfortunately, their ability to hit the ball without added sound effects has NOT been followed.

[@kaaunhall7781]

@@tonybennett4159 clearly something that has changed a developed into the world of tennis as the men do it as well. It give you strength to fight in rallies!

[@tonybennett4159]

@@kaaunhall7781 There is no physiological proof that making a horrible racket aids shot making. Martina Navratilova once said that part of a tennis player's armoury is in listening to the sound made when an opponent hits the ball. It gives that little bit more information about the speed and the spin. She maintained, therefore that hiding that information was tantamount to cheating, which I have some sympathy for. Here on youtube, you can see a match where Dimitrov beat Federer, two beautiful stylists playing amazing tennis with only the crack of the ball on their racquets being heard. That is why, I think, that history will show that those two are loved while Nadal and Djokovic are admired.

[@kaaunhall7781]

@@tonybennett4159 clearly you dont play tennis

[@tonybennett4159]

@@kaaunhall7781 I played for almost 50 years winning the odd trophy here and there, but only at club level. Nice try, though.

[@PremKumar-oy9qt]

Great navratilova and beautiful Steffi of our time.both are great player.

[@Seeumcha]

Crazy serve and volley skills.

[@gk891]

Yes, Navratilova had amazing hands and incredible reflexes.

[@हिन्दूसनातनधर्म-फ5ण]

@@gk891 Yes. He was a great player

[@helmeteye]

What an epic match. Both these girls were awesome.

[@irisgutfeld9681]

More sportsmanship back then

[@mercury4001]

Will always be remembered for the way tennis ought to be played... GOAT on tye basis of longevity alone... the great Navratilova

[@bhavyagodara8495]

Steffi graf, martina navrotilova, sanchez, monika seles, sabatini those were too good players and Steffi was special