US Open Finale 1989 Steffi Graf - Martina Navratilova

[@philipstormer3165]

This slice, this forehand, this woman. She was the perfect tennisplayer. I miss these times so much.

[@gentlemanjim480]

I miss Martina and Chris. Don’t miss Graf.

[@nicolapascoli4580]

With a real backhand in topspin, Steffi could have been really unbeatable! Too much slice. Martina was complete, great great player. I was a Steffi 's fan, but great respect to Martina

[@carrerau7138]

@@gentlemanjim480 Did Steffi beat your faves too often? 8-2 H2H against Evert and 9-6 H2H against Navratilova post-1985.

[@gentlemanjim480]

@@carrerau7138 Typical Graf fanboy. Drawing an arbitrary line (post-1985) so you don't have to acknowledge that Navratilova has a positive head to head against Graf generally and at grand slams. So you just pick a time after which the head to head favours Graf, presumably because Steffi was too young before. You can equally say that Navratilova was past her prime later. Besides, I don't care about H2H in assessing Graf. Nobody doubts she was an incredible player - Graf's 1988 was probably the most dominant year ever played by a tennis player. I just didn't like Graf as a person. Arrogant, terrible behaviour with zero empathy shown after her fan stabbed Monica Seles. Cold German woman. I don't miss her.

[@carrerau7138]

@@gentlemanjim480 Drawing the line in the year one player turned 16, yes. Navratilova does not have a positive H2H against Steffi. Steffi is definitely the least arrogant of the all-time great players. And I loved how she showed empathy for the Serbian Screamer after the stabbing. No wonder Steffi is still the most popular female tennis player of all time. Your countrywomen are far behind. Which drives people like you crazy. GREAT!

[@vdbdg]

Compared to the final we've just seen at Wimbledon, this is on a much higher quality level

[@francescobattisti9926]

come on. this was tennis. two or three generations in a match. no comparisson.

[@1002l]

its the power that makes the difference. those serves would be eaten up nowadays.

[@eddiepearce5307]

I am sure Martina served & volleyed MORE in this match than the entire 127 women matches combined at Wimbeldon this yr. Sadly the game was better and more fun when there was a contrast of styles. Now just its just baseline bang away. Thanks for posting GREAT VID

[@MarioBeart]

For me these two remain the two greatest ever in female tennis. The elegance, the technical skill, the talent and mental toughness. Just legendary ladies.

[@Murali_bala13]

Yes and the contrasting styles made it fascinating tennis 2 watch

[@NYSKNYSK]

Agreed!!

[@NotSettlingForSecondBest]

Chris Evert was also right up there in terms of mental toughness and skill.

[@susanford2388]

Chris Evert & Billie Jean King have you ever heard of them or seen them play?

[@susanford2388]

@@NotSettlingForSecondBest Chris Evert & Yonne Goolagong were baseline players. Martina Navratilova changed the face of tennis, Billie Jean started that change with her style.

[@fabiofanucci]

Nice memories. Beyond the greatness of the two players, there was the magic of the two different styles of play. Baseline vs serve and volley very often meant epic battles.

[@susanford2388]

Martina Navratilova was a net & volley player whereas Chris Evert was a baseline player. My most memorable Wimbledon semi final was 1981 Jimmy Connor vs. John McEnroe, it was truly epic. You did not want either to lose. it was more like a final. John McEnroe went on to win & beat the 5 time Wimbledon winner Bjorn Borg 1976-1980.

[@shihlin1]

@@susanford2388That loss (2nd year in a row) sent Borg into retirement

[@susanford2388]

@@shihlin1 I think the 1981 loss against McEnroe was Borg's last appearance at Wimbledon, whether it was his last appearance on the Tennis World Stage I do not know. I thought Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe & Jimmy Connors were all brilliant & always worth watching. I also think Navratilova changed the face of women's tennis, the baseline players had to change their styles to keep up with Martina Navratilova.

[@ianwilliamson2980]

steffi was best of them all .nobody else could have come back that way on martina .

[@gentlemanjim480]

Martina - Steffi head to head: 9-9. 5-4 at grand slams. Even though Martina was not at her best anymore, 12.5 years older than Graf. In her prime, she was better than Geaf

[@rajusaha855]

There is a caveat there. First of all Martina first 5 wins came against pre prime Steffi. Since 1987 it's Graf who leads their h2h 8-4. Then 16 of their 18 matches took place on fast courts which favoured Martina rather than Steffi. Infact after her lost to Steffi in 1987 French open final she was clever enough to skip clay court tournament & rebound ace court in Australian open which favoured Steffi more. Had she not skip those surface during Steffi's peak then their h2h could have been different. And last but not least the reason Martina fare well against Steffi & Monica because she was a late developer. The same age when Graf won the golden slam & Monica dominated the tennis world, a fat & chubby Martina lost to pregnant Margaret Court in Wimbledon 1975😂😂, struggle against granny Wade, BJK , Evonne Goolagong & was Evert bunny. In fact a prime 24 years Martina in 1980 lost to 37 years old granny BJK then lost 3 consecutive times to 15 years old kid Andrea Jeager. Evert double bageled Martina in 1981 Amelia islands but then Martina drastically improved her game. Had Martina give it all in 70's then couldn't hang around with peak Steffi & Monica. Understand

[@mcvicarross7]

​@@gentlemanjim480Steffi's got the best Slam win ratio, she won her 22 across only 12yrs, that's off the charts impressive! Won her 'Golden Slam' whilst only 18/19 at the time, records are always there to be shot at & broken but in some of Steffi's feat's it really is hard to see them ever being eclipsed! Don't see Martina's 9Wimbledon titles being surpassed either, 2 greats of the Women's game.

[@ranjittyagi9354]

@@rajusaha855 You have quite a lot of information about many players. Impressive. What year did you start following tennis? Thank you.

[@shihlin1]

Steffi also had her chances against Martina in the 87 final here as well, but she was fighting a cold and was not 100% physically in the final. To Steffi's credit she did not use that as an excuse

[@dcfunhouse]

I don't begrudge old timers that say Margaret Court is the women's GOAT, or the younger set that think it is Serena or maybe will be Iga in a few more years. For me, though, Steffi set the standard and will always be the greatest woman's player of all time. It's a combination of her talent, her competitive fire, her elegance, her class and her humility. Likewise, I put Roger at the top of the men's GOAT list, but understand why Laver, Connors, Sampras, Borg, Nadal or Nole would be some else's pick. Who knows, 10 years from now we all may agree that it's Bublik.

[@carrerau7138]

For many people criteria like elegance, class and humility are not a part of greatness. Sad!

[@ranajungbahadur7733]

If only Seles wouldn't have been stabbed by a crazy fan of Graff......there wouldn't be any debate on who is /was the female GOAT. At the same time, I have always been a great admirer of Steffi, Navratilova, and Serena. They have set standards that every tennis player would want to achieve !

[@carrerau7138]

@@ranajungbahadur7733 I agree. If Selles had been playing in the mid-90s when Graf peaked again (and won 10 slams) even the most fanatical Serenna supporters wouldn’t be able to deny that Steffi is the GOAT.

[@nursondewind6227]

@@carrerau7138 but then again...Steffi ain't winning 10 majors with Monica around without the stabbing. We all know this.

[@carrerau7138]

@@nursondewind6227 Steffi won only 6 slams in Monica‘s absence.

[@sabueso32]

Steffi’s footwork probably is the best ever in women’s tennis.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@sabueso32. Although Graf's footwork on a tennis court overall was excellent, her footwork on the rare times she hit a topspin backhand was not proper footwork because she almost invariably hit that shot from a semi-open stance instead of hitting it properly with a closed stance. The lightweight and powerful graphite rackets allowed her to still hit the topspin backhand effectively (e.g., against Navratilova when Navratilova came into the net) despite her improper footwork on that shot. The best footwork in women's pro tennis that I have ever seen was Chris Evert's and (after she got herself into outstanding physical fitness condition) Navratilova's.

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

@@michaelbarlow6610 Real pro comment . Bravo .🙂

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@@aleksandarfrick2656 Thanks for the compliment!😀

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

Thanx . I love Navratilova winners on net - they are like cherry on ice cake. Little masterpieces . Love Steffi too but Seles scandal ( Graff fan stub Monica behind the back ) is a shadow on her career .

[@mathewhorodner2000]

@@aleksandarfrick2656 pretty bad performance by Martina; she completely fell apart at the end of the second set

[@jamesc7019]

Love watching Steffi beat Martina

[@abradfordajb]

So nice to see a serve-and-volley master at work again. Ah .... the good old days.

[@paulman1970]

I've never seen a player run around their backhand as much as Graf.

[@ytangel7263]

No one, not even current or past great tennis players, has the speed, agility, and athletic grace like Steffi Graf! Look at Steffi hitting the greatest powerful forehand ever at 10:40 🤩 👏 Steffi literally ran around one of the best, if not greatest, lefty serve of Martina N. and powered a forehand winner through Martina. Even players today would have a difficult time running around a severe lefty ‘hook’ serve and executing a return on the extreme ad/left side of the court both clean and powerful. Sure current players can run around a lefty serve but it would not look good. It would look like a messy shot with arms flailing away along with matching grunts. So rather than hit an awkward run around forehand, they would hit a stretching backhand return. Ok maybe Roger Federer 😌 could pull off a runaround shot with athletic grace but Steffi’s iconic forehand complemented with her athleticism is unmatched, no rival, consistently executing those inside-in or inside-out runaround forehands, forever known as the greatest forehand ever!!! Another great forehand just for fun at 19:20!

[@airkuna]

And body..i would've licked it🎉

[@MrX-wd8cm]

Bullshit, Graf is the most overrated WTA champ I ever seen and boring too and lived in a weakass era.

[@Kelsyg]

Get a grip game has moved on she would struggle to get a game against any woman in the top 50

[@bellazoe1]

I was a ball boy for graf in the late 80s. She is the standard for women’s tennis

[@vikramsoondur6891]

@@Kelsyg Your thinking is so simplistic and devoid of imagination it's actually humorous.

[@ekafardiani1073]

Martina Sabatini Jana novotna is a tennis player with the same playing style. Steffi Graf is the hardest tennis player to find, look at how Steffi Graf moves to guard the court.

[@carrerau7138]

My God, how Steffi MOVES! ❤

[@magnetmac1]

She moved great

[@rajusaha855]

Small trivia:- With that title Graf become the first & only tennis player male or female either in open era or pre open era to successfully defended all 4 slams. And she did its twice in her career. Amazing 🙌🙌🙌. Absolute GOAT.

[@francescobattisti9926]

navratilova could win this match. a couple of shots. less emotional, and she could win.i tink it tells a lot about the entire story

[@rajusaha855]

@@francescobattisti9926 but she didn't win the match. Did she? She again chocked. Martina had the tendency to lose matches in third set. Mentally she was not as strong as Graf, Seles & Serena.

[@francescobattisti9926]

@@rajusaha855 and she was not that young

[@MachoDefeaters]

@@francescobattisti9926 and she was not too old to win another Grand Slam as she did it 10 months later at Wimbledon. She was lucky Zina beat Steffi that year. Can u imagine if Steffi didn’t exist Martina would have 22 GS under her belt, but we’re not living in shoulda coulda woulda isn’t?

[@francescobattisti9926]

@@MachoDefeaters shoulda coulda don't work at all. You are right.

[@bobard463]

Graf Navratilova match up never disappooint !

[@briqtrader2296]

Opponents really "punish" Graf's backhand thinking it to be the weaker shot... but she still could use it to setup her punishing forehand ❤

[@francinezane4076]

Loved that 3rd set Steffi just dominated ❤❤❤ so fast it's amazing just watching her move.

[@shihlin1]

@@francinezane4076 Graf totally popped Martina's balloon after Navratilova was only two games from winning the match in the second set

[@kevincollins4682]

That was so nice to watch, who I believe was the greatest female player in history, to get that come from behind win over Martina. I loved all those passing shots when Martina came to the net 🥅!! 🤗

[@thomasmagnum3588]

And all Martina could do was watch the ball fly past her as she shouted “too good”!

[@tobiast5908]

This was just such a high quality match and up for grasp until very late in the 2nd set. Not many players in wta history would ve beaten navratilova on that day . Graf hang in there and made the going tougher and tougher but the 2nd set was decided by a few crucial points as is often the case. Great navratilova showing in the first two sets. She didnt lose the 2nd, Graf won it. In the third set graf dismantled her. Such a picture book performance.

[@laviniaparisi9154]

Steffi and Martina, the biggest than all the times.

[@Grateful1118]

Martina facing a natural athlete and knew her domination was over a year before at Wimbledon.

[@paulkramer4176]

i certainly remember watching this match. What great players they were. Probably even beat most players today. Remember these were not the same strings or racquets that we have today either. Martina's ability to come to the net is much better than any today. But there ARE new racquets and the endurance of the modern player makes them pretty tough too. Fun to watch these old matches.

[@Xm-zp1fw]

I think it is safe to say that the players from today would beat the players from the past if they would play with the same equipment. It is just that the techniques and training methods have advanced. If you look at football from the 70's it is much slower and less body contact than today. However Martina and Steffi have been heros of their times and have played remarkable tennis. Their successes speak for themselves. That meaning if Steffi and Martin would have been born in the 90's they would be dominating women's tennis today for sure because of their talent, dedication and mentality.

[@funkyguy99]

​@@Xm-zp1fwI would disagree. I've played with Steffi's Dunlop racquet and it is far harder to wield than the modern racquets of today. It's heavy, less spin, racquet preparation has to be early and perfect, and you have to be extremely fit. Most players today would have to resort to crafting point than hacking winners which requires a lot more skill. How many of today's players can volley like Navratilova or hit a knife like slice BH like Steffi?

[@MirjanaLfan]

Martina still playing so well at this late stage of her career but Steffi stayed tough this match.

[@carrerau7138]

1989 was one of Navratilova's peak years. Only in 1982-86 she had a better winning percentage. 1988/89 Martina was the best #2 player of all time.

[@MMaarrkkBB]

This match is better than anything today’s game produces, ladies or men.

[@carrerau7138]

The men always played better. But these two were simply more watchable. Comparable to Feder and Nadal only.

[@TheVerbalVolley]

Martina should have won this match. I remember a famous quote from the great Ted Tinling about this match. He said, "Martina saw vultures flying above her that weren't there."

[@carrerau7138]

But Steffi was there. And Martina knew about Steffi's comeback qualities (FO 87, Wim 88!!). No player in the history of the sport turned around so many slam finals as Steffi.

[@zeddeka]

Ted Tinling also once said about Martina "She goes from arrogance to panic with nothing in-between". Martina has been notorious for her chokes and mental collapses earlier in her career, but seemed to have cured it in her dominant period. From 1987 it started to creep back in and there were a number of matches where she was ahead but couldn't finish it (Martina said years later that with hindsight she'd been burned out 1987 - mid 1989): 87 French Open final - served for it and started serving double faults. Steffi said afterwards that she "felt sorry" for Martina 87 Eastbourne against Sukova: up 5-0 in the first set and ended up losing in straight sets 88 Wimbledon final: up a set and a break and lost. 88 tour finals: lost to Sukova again after being up a set and twice up a break in the second set 89 Australian Open: lost to Sukova yet again after serving for the match twice 89 tour finals: very nearly lost to Monica Seles after being up a set and 5-1 in the second 91 US Open against Graf - choked massively in the final set but got away with it because it was Steffi who was going through her burn out phase

[@RoamHockey]

am I the only one who loved Steffi's trademark bounce right before receiving?? Leylah Fernandez always does it now

[@carrerau7138]

Everybody loved the view of Steffi receiving serves.

[@carrerau7138]

Imagine this - in 1989 Steffi had a 86-2 win/loss record but just two years later (1991) she was down to 65-8.

[@rushrush1209]

Maybe the hottest US Open ever. Martina once said that if you asked Steffi to play tennis on bubble gum, she would've been great on that surface. But I think this is one match Martina thinks she let slip away.

[@Clem_Fandango11]

That horrible backhand low slice is a killer used by Graf. Somthing you see in the mens game more than the womens today. She really was some player.

[@theotheodoropoulos9858]

One of my favourite matches ever!

[@M.EngelhART]

Graf And Becker Made The Second Grand Slam Double After Wimbledon This Year.

[@theotheodoropoulos9858]

@@M.EngelhART I know, I'm a big fun of Steffi👍👍👍

[@beakalin3923]

This was tennis at the highest level. You don't see that anymore today, this technical perfection, this footwork and athleticism. And one more thing: No groaning!

[@williamjimmie6781]

You must be having a laugh mate!!! No way are you comparing the technicality of modern players with this. Just say you hate the groaning and that's it.

[@carrerau7138]

@@williamjimmie6781No one would compare the technical abilities of Navratilova/Graf with today‘s players. It would be cruel towards today‘s players.

[@paigeloomis]

You actually see more technical perfection, footwork and athleticism in today’s tennis. It’s because everyone nowadays is getting the exact same training and plays the exact same way, resulting in very boring tennis. There was more variation in style back in the day; way more entertaining.

[@carrerau7138]

@@paigeloomisWho of today‘s players has a footwork that comes close to Steffi‘s? Who of today‘s players can volley like Martina?

[@paigeloomis]

@@carrerau7138 I never said that today’s players are better than the likes of Martina and Steffi. I’m just making a general point about the physical ability of today’s players. I’d rather watch Steffi and Martina any day- not boring.

[@svkscorpio]

Martina just ran out of steam in the last set.

[@zeddeka]

This match following a pattern that Martina had really since 1987, where she got ahead in big matches but couldn't finish it. Some examples include: *1987 French Open final - up 5-3 in final set against Graf *1988 Wimbledon final - up a set and a break against Graf *1988 Tour Finals - up a set and twice ahead a break in the second against Sukova *1989 Australian Open - served for the match twice against Sukova before losing *She also very nearly lost to Monica Seles at the 1989 tour finals after being well ahead.

[@lenwelch2195]

But whenMartina lost it was always close . Two open finals 7-6 in third three French finals - lost by one service break.lost 3 open matches 7-6 or 7-5 in last two sets ( Austin 7-5,7-5 in 1979, mandlikova 1980~ 7-5,6-4,19787-6,7-6,82 shriver,1-6,7-6,6-2,, capriati 7-5,6-4 Wimbledon 91. Mandlikova 7-5,7-6 Australian 1987. List goes on. Very seldom that when Martina loses , loses big in straight sets. Never really happened. Evert beat Navratilova in Los Angelo’s 6-1,6-2 but there is no tape of the match.

[@zeddeka]

@@lenwelch2195 that's not the point I was making. The matches I listed were ones where she specifically threw away a match winning lead, and from 1987 onwards. Years later, Martina said that she had been burnt out from tennis after 1986. This most probably affected her results.

[@carrerau7138]

@@zeddeka I don’t think Navratilova ever threw away a match against Steffi. Steffi always wrestled it out of Martina‘s hands.

[@zeddeka]

​@@carrerau7138I think the 1987 French Open was a good example. Martina started throwing in double faults all over the place as she started to choke, famously on match point down. Even in this match, the commentators were waiting for Martina to choke when ahead, which she did. He game definitely did go off as she got nearer victory in the second set.

[@carrerau7138]

@@zeddeka The main reason was that Steffi became better. You Steffi haters are nauseating: A) Evert couldn‘t play under the AO roof in 88 B) Navratilova choked in 4 slam finals against Steffi C) Sabatini choked in the Wimbledon 91 final D) Seles wasn‘t allowed to scream in the Wimbledon 92 final E) Novotna choked in the Wimbledon 93 final F) Sanchez choked in the FO 96 final G) Hingis choked in the FO 99 final H) Seles lost for 10 years because of a minor stab wound I) Evert was too old anyway J) Navratilova was too old anyway K) Hingis was too young anyway L) Sabatini always choked 😂

[@zeddeka]

Steffi does look sluggish here at times. No doubt still feeling the effects of her very tough semi final against Sabatini when she started to cramp.

[@chris-tg1hv]

I wish the women competed today with the grace these two did. No exuberant fist pumps or yelling of, "Come on!"

[@jbm8167]

Everyone talking about Graf but to me this is a testament to Martina’s greatness instead - even aged 33 she nearly beat a Graf who was at her peak. I think Navratilova at HER very best would be more than a match for peak Graf. Once Seles was gone, Steffi never had a rival like Martina did with Evert

[@carrerau7138]

Martina was 32. And 1989 was among her best years ever. If it weren‘t for her 3 final losses to Supersteffi in Wimbledon, the USO and the YEC she would have had a 70-match winning streak between June 1989 and April 1990. This is the very rare case of two all-time greats both fighting each other at their peak. Truly a golden era!

[@airmaxxxer]

Martina never played better tennis as in Wimbledon 1988 and in the 1989 saison against Steffi. Young Graf triggered the best out of her - cause nobody was challenging the way Graf did.There was a reiging empress who was domininating, beeing a class of her own. And there was this young girl who came closer and closer. They had amazing battles in 1987 in Wimbledon and at the US Open. For me the Wimbledon final1988 (on Navratiovas most favorite surface )is one of the best matches ever played. It was a real shot out of highest quality. i remember Martina saying after: its the legs .she is reaching balls that no one else can reach. After her loss in 1989 Martina gave Graf a chain that she had worn all the last years. She said: i lost against a better player today.

[@ekafardiani1073]

​@@airmaxxxer This is not a compliment but a fact on the tennis court. Steffi Graf was very lucky to be present in the era of Navratilova and Evert. Steffi Graf is elegantly feminine but murderous.

[@francinezane4076]

😂😂😂😂 ok honey God you people give steffi credit for nothing. 😂😂😂😂

[@TB-zt6hs]

When the WTA was more fun to watch, less irritating squealers and were not baseline bots

[@susanford2388]

The wonderful Martina Navratilova changed the face of women's tennis. She is a power house.

[@carrerau7138]

Never watched Margaret Court?

[@fwcustoms5997]

Immagine what monster forehand Steffi plays now with a modern Racket and strings

[@jl3322]

Love the HD Quality

[@sridarasri7160]

My super playerGraf

[@CarlosEmilioEsq]

Steffi . . . and those slices . . . and those scrunchies. ❤

[@gatesurfer]

Is that a topspin backhand from Steffi? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her hit that many.

[@hyperthreaded]

Yeah there's a couple of those. She should've played the shot more often, it looks beautiful!

[@PATRIARCA173]

Que grande era Steffi

[@tommysfather]

My favorite female tennis player of all time - Steffi Graf that is!!!!!!. The other on I am not too crazy about.

[@shihlin1]

Steffi also had her chances against Martina in the 87 final here as well, but she was fighting a cold and was not 100% physically in the final. To Steffi's credit she did not use that as an excuse

[@sliceserve234]

the sound of the ball off of both competitor's racquets is a thing of beauty to tennis players

[@rajusaha855]

Graf at her absolute peak. We hardly see that kind of matches now in WTA tour. Now we have so many brainless ball basher that made the game boring.

[@raghavavd]

absolutely very well said raju saha..

[@mattstyles1244]

Actually I've seen her play much better!

[@bryguy0111]

Graf in 93 would kill this 89 version..

[@markjames1127]

I stopped watching women’s tennis. Even Iga is uninspiring to me.

[@jm7804]

So her absolute peak was at 20 years old? That explains why she only won 3 of the next 13 slams after this very match. It took a knife to deal her back into the game. Washed up German if not for a madman.

[@LDVTennis]

The outcome of this match is nearly symmetrical to that of another match ten years later (1999): another Martina, down a set 4-6, a second set score of 7-5, and a third set score of 6-2. 🤔

[@michaelschwab9806]

This match was on Martina's racquet,this just proves that tennis is more of a "mental" sport than only "physical"

[@shihlin1]

Martina was two games away from winning the match, but couldn't close it out. Steffi won 6 games in a row and put the kabob over Martina's almost 5th U.S. Open title. Amazing display from Graf in raising her game -- including winning volleys -- when she was down. She was one win short from another calendar grand slam repeat

[@carrerau7138]

Steffi never won 6 games in a row in this match.

[@AlphaBravoCharlie777]

Steffi Graf was Muhammad Ali of Tennis

[@dystopian..]

Grafs toss was mocked for a long time due to its height and hitting many on the down but hey, if it ain’t broke…

[@markdecena4559]

They also mocked her late forehand technique and her weak slice and yes if it ain’t broken ….😊

[@carrerau7138]

Who mocked that??😂🤣

[@dystopian..]

@@carrerau7138 the list is long. Commentators, especially ex pros. Most coaches train to hit on the apex not the down. You ok now Karen?

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Martina was and remains my favorite tennis player, male or female. Just liked her power and style, on and off the court. Probably the two best women ever facing off here. Be super interesting to watch peak either facing off with peak Serena (all equipment being equal). Unlike the men from the 80s, the level of play here seems as good, and as athletic, as what we see among the top women today.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@nicholasschroeder3678. The men's pro tour during the 1980s was MUCH MORE competitive than the Federer, Djokovic and Nadal era! From the mid-1970's thru the mid-1990's, there were no less than 10 all-time great players competing at or near the top of men's pro tennis including Borg, Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, Vilas, Wilander, Becker, Edberg, Sampras and Agassi! By contrast, there have only been 3 all-time great players during the current, irrefutably weakest era in men's tennis history - Federer Djokovic and Nadal and no others! AND, the current era has 0 serve-and-volley players! So the current era in tennis is completely bereft of any diversity of playing styles! The level of play displayed by the great players of the 1970's thru the 1990's was a superior level of play because at that time the game had not been cheapened to the extreme extent that it has been cheapened in the current era! The cheapening of the game back then was the regrettable introduction of the graphite technology in tennis equipment (unfortunately allowing it to replace the wood and metal rackets which were real tennis) which , as Connors accurately pointed out, elevated the players' games a full level above their actual abilities, but the game has been cheapened even more since then by the deplorable introduction of the lubricated strings, larger Type3 tennis ball, harder Type1 tennis ball, the abandonment of the lightening fast indoor supreme court carpet surface and the recent abandonment of the fast DecoTurf2 hard court surface at the U.S. Open and the alteration of the composition of the grass courts at Wimbledon in 2001, all of which have combined to wrongly and unfairly favor baseline play over net play and have resulted in the current era players' level of play being artificially elevated an addition half-level to a full level above their actual abilities which means that the current era players are playing at least a level-and-a-half to 2 levels above their true abilities!!!!

[@carrerau7138]

@@michaelbarlow6610 I don't think you know what "all-time great" means. Players like Vilas, Becker, Wilander, Connors and Edberg may have been great. But "great" is not "all-time great".

[@PraiseChrist4Ever]

Stefi over Serena all day

[@magnetmac1]

If Serena isn't better than Graf then you would not have mentioned her name.

[@carrerau7138]

@@magnetmac1I think he mentioned Serena because several pathetic Serenatards still claim that their fave was greater than the GOAT. Thankfully their voices will become quieter and quieter in the coming years and finally vanish.

[@rajusaha855]

Steffi is the GOAT.

[@magnetmac1]

@@rajusaha855 Of course some consider Steffi as the GOAT.

[@飛鳥京-v5g]

懐かしい。魅力ある両選手でしたね。

[@原博昭]

Great match

[@jackhowie7031]

When I was young, my brothers and I wanted to run like Sanchez-Vicario and hit a "get out of jail for free" backhand like Graf

[@josephrocha142]

Why can't women play like this anymore? Is it the rackets? Today's women's tennis is boring in comparison IMO.

[@carrerau7138]

Modern rackets destroyed the beauty of women's tennis.

[@lidiarte]

There has never been another Martina

[@carrerau7138]

Wrong, Martina Hingis!

[@gcmacyman]

That was the time when players didn't scream like a bunch of idiots while hitting every ball. They focused on playing and conserving their breathing instead of shouting which is down right stupid. Just play tennis and keep the theatrics out of it.

[@bettinahansen7630]

Well said!

[@rudihambaallah6913]

Saat ini permainan tenis begitu bagus dan vatiatif. Atheletenya juga sangat piaway dalam memukul bola.. Berlari dan penempatan.

[@angelatanurdzic7508]

❤❤

[@cyrilh7232]

C est superbe !

[@lwh7301]

Two of the homeliest women players at that time.

[@carrerau7138]

Steffi homely?? 😂😂😂 You surely must have special tastes…. Gay maybe (not that there would be anything wrong with that!). For red-blooded heterosexual men Steffi was one of the hottest players of all time. She is mentioned in all “sexiest-players-of-all-time“ polls. The legs, the T&A, the golden hair, the blue eyes, the sensuous mouth with that famous smile - she had it all.

[@lwh7301]

@@carrerau7138 Don't forget the big nose and the zero personality.

[@carrerau7138]

@@lwh7301I look at a lot of other body parts a woman has. You will learn when you become older, boy… 😂 And I better do not want to know what kids like you mean by “personality“. Steffi is generally considered to have been one of the most charismatic tennis greats ever in the women’s game.

[@lwh7301]

@@carrerau7138 You're hard up, kiddo. Look up what charisma means before using the word.

[@carrerau7138]

@@lwh7301 People like you think Serena was charismatic, I‘m sure.

[@stanleywecker1068]

Ja, das ist sehr gut!

[@carmeloguadagno2170]

Da 4 a 2 secondo set un set a 0 a favore navratillova butta uno slam al vento questo il mio parere mai dare ad una come la graf la possibilità di entrare in partita perché poi è finita e la navratilova purtroppo la fatto ed ha perso

[@carrerau7138]

Steffi took the chance. She wasn't given it.

[@carmeloguadagno2170]

Martina 18 slam singolo vinti ma almeno 4 5 buttate al vento da vinta come questa

[@carrerau7138]

Steffi winning 11 of the last 13 games. Yeah, really thrown away. You maroon.

[@tanthiennguyen9308]

Finden Sie Medizin Erfinder Spannend Geschichte nach Stabilitäten auf der Füssen brauchen............................?

[@KhNanao-n4i]

Among 4 Grandslam. US Open seems to be the most slowest ball travel. Australian Open and French Open seems ball travel faster

[@carrerau7138]

FO's clay and then AO's ReboundAce surface were considerably slower.

[@susanford2388]

When you are playing left against right handed you are always playing to their forehand.

[@carrerau7138]

No.

[@robertavies1969]

WTA should not post tennis vids, as we can all see how bad things have got , it is boring now, without any variety in the game,

[@ranjittyagi9354]

I might sound pessimistic but it feels like all the good things are just disappearing before our svery eyes. I feel no charm in tennis players these days. Don't even know most of them. However, take me back to the 90's and second half of the 80's and I could rattle off name after name. 😆

[@carrerau7138]

@@ranjittyagi9354 Today's players all look the same with their hair-do. And they all are -ovas.

[@ranjittyagi9354]

@@carrerau7138 True. Faces with next-to-zero expression. Rude, no respect for anyone, including themselves. I feel a bit sad that I wouldn't be watching tennis as I used to back then. However, charm seems to have gone from the sport. Thanks to all the older players who gave me good times. ❤️ Having something to fall back on is way better than nothing. I am now 47. 🌞🙏🏻

[@s190309]

This was the match when Navratilova was dethroned and Graf became the new queen. I was expecting Monica Seles would succeed the throne until she was stabbed in a game

[@liamhen]

Martina was dethroned well before this match.

[@carrerau7138]

Steffi had been #1 for more than two years and won the Golden Slam in the year before.

[@rushrush1209]

I would say the 1988 Wimbledon, because grass was Martina's favorite surface and it showed the massive improvements Graf made to her backhand.

[@LOLONO666]

i always thought that Navratilova should have played in the men team

[@carrerau7138]

There must be some weird men in your family… 😂

[@andreaselleri400]

La fine della Navratilova

[@carrerau7138]

Martina would win Wimbledon in the next year. And beat Steffi twice, at the USO 91 and in Tokyo 93 (at age 36).

[@rolfbernserke4735]

Before the “I’m wearing shorts” era of Martin

[@ArnoldDelville]

So many unforced errors. Unbelievable.

[@savapantic8735]

I’m so happy this serve/volley non sense is over. Sick and tired of seeing players forcing run to the net even on 2nd serve or even with a bad prep shot…

[@brianmac7036]

Different gravy

[@Tennis_player_sean]

😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@tanthiennguyen9308]

Bitte nehmen Sie Platz & Papiers um der Menschlichen denken Bitteschön

[@xwind1970]

?

[@yeahr2343]

今はラケット性能良くなったから

[@johnschmitt8046]

This was the coming end to Steffi's reign. 90-91 Which was then extended by a Graff Fan......

[@carrerau7138]

Steffi‘s reign was interrupted by a nasty blackmail scandal. Sadly crime is a part of life.

[@joeyconvery2055]

​@carrerau7138 Blackmail scandal?😂😂 You sound foolish. Give credit to Monica ....deep down I know you want to.

[@carrerau7138]

@@joeyconvery2055 Foolish is to suggest that a minor stab wound caused Seles‘s downfall. 😂

[@magnetmac1]

@@carrerau7138 Nothing measures up to, or comparable to, an athlete that got literally stabbed and removed out of the picture to help another athlete regain dominance.

[@carrerau7138]

@@magnetmac1 The aftermath of a minor stabbing is certainly less taxing than an ongoing scandal in which you and your family are drawn through the gutter. Seles would have ended her career under such a pressure. Whereas Steffi would have played again after the stab wound had healed (which was in a few months). I know that it is hard for you Yankees to accept that a forinner is the GOAT. But that‘s the way it is.

[@NOTHEOTHERGUY]

Graf changed her skirt at 6-5 in the 2nd set, and changed her luck! If Martina had won this, I would have puked. Graf definitely preferred to pass Martina down the line. I'm surprised Martina didn't pick up on it.

[@bobard463]

Haha You can hear that if she changed her skirt at this moment "it make you feel she believes (there s gonna be a third set)

[@airkuna]

Navratilova looked like a serial killer secretary😮😂😂🎉🎉

[@carrerau7138]

Serial killers even have secretaries now? 🤔

[@airkuna]

@@carrerau7138 i didn't say she is a secretary of a serial killer..i said she is like a serial killer secretary!

[@carrerau7138]

@@airkuna That is the same.

[@airkuna]

@@carrerau7138 no it's not.. can't u speak English?

[@carrerau7138]

@@airkuna Longer than you.

[@imansyahkemalimanirzhan9941]

Never smile in playing 😂😂😂 graff

[@smftrsddvjiou6443]

Navratilova, weak forehand, weak backhand, poor forehand volley, she would be in the top 100 today.

[@carrerau7138]

What about Kimiko Date?

[@rajusaha855]

Players like Sabalenka, Guaff will not be top 100 back then either with those racquet.

[@imansyahkemalimanirzhan9941]

Smile please 😂😂. Graff too serious.😅

[@GoettingenundUmgebung]

🙂👍🏻 Grüße aus Göttingen 👍🏻🙂

[@tanthiennguyen9308]

Ich bin Dankbar an jeder Kommissar .....................!

[@AKADAMAK]

この時代はラケット破壊をする選手はいましたか？ いつからメンタルの調整でラケット破壊をする様になったか分かる方はいらっしゃいますか？

[@michaelbarlow6610]

Yeah Graf won this U.S. Open match against Navratilova and deserved the win because she played better, but Martina won 4 out of their 5 U.S. Open matches dominating Graf at that major on a surface that was equally favorable to both players' games! So the bottom line is that Martina was and remains the greatest female tennis player of the graphite era with Steffi a close second!

[@JD-jc8gp]

your opinion

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@@JD-jc8gp . The evidence - that Navratilova dominated Graf 4-1 on a major surface, the DecoTurf2 hard courts at Flushing Meadows, that was equally fair to both players' games strongly supports my opinion! Case closed!

[@JD-jc8gp]

@@michaelbarlow6610 compelling

[@mattstyles1244]

Hang on one moment....Graf won 5 US Opens to Martina's 4. That may swing the pendulum back Steffi's way?

[@michaelbarlow6610]

@@mattstyles1244 Not in the least! The issue is not how many U.S Open Women's Singles titles Graf won compared to Navratilova because that is a product/result of not just U.S. Open matches between them, but also who they played against in the finals of that major. The key decisive/definitive stat in determining which player was better Graf or Navratilova is that on a major surface - the fast DecoTurf2 hard court surface at the U.S. Open, a surface that was equally fair to both players' games - Navratilova's serve-and-volley game and Graf's power baseline game, Navratilova dominated Graf 4-1 (80%). They only played one match against each other at the French Open which Graf won, and 3 times at Wimbledon (1987, 1988, 1989) on the faster, pre-2001 grass courts which favored serve-and-volley over baseline play, and Graf leads Martina 2-1 there because in 1988 and 1989 Navratilova was slightly past the peak of her prime. They never played against each other in the Australian Open.

[@Cosmicsmallbarell]

Note that no one of them shouts after the shoots....real tennis players, not what we have today.

[@magnetmac1]

Shouting after a shot is show of competitive drive. It doesn't make an athlete less of a real player.

[@ramadhanmubarak9180]

TO GRAFF... SMILE PLEASE

[@carrerau7138]

Sexist a bit?

[@michaelbarlow7777]

@carrerau7138. It is idiotically stupid on your part (which, truth be told, is not the least bit surprising at all) to erroneously assume that I don't know the difference between a great player and an all-time great player! I clearly DO know the difference! I have forgotten more about tennis than you will ever know about the game!

[@teddyzamba1396]

Navatralova is so inferior to Graf, it is not even close.

[@carrerau7138]

No, it is close. The two best players of all time.

[@teddyzamba1396]

@@carrerau7138 Martina, a HUGE choke, that's what she does best. But, the girls game is filled with choke artists, so if you keep the girl out there long enough, she will crumble, and Martina was a saltine cracker.

[@carrerau7138]

@@teddyzamba1396Where did Martina choke here??

[@albertosanti9607]

ma tutta sta bravura la navratilova? mah

[@MARLOWE274]

サーブ以外は素人並み

[@carrerau7138]

Have you ever held a tennis racket in your hand, boy?

[@MARLOWE274]

@@carrerau7138 I am Chris evert

[@tanthiennguyen9308]

Ich bringe keine Grauen Anatomie ausführen treffen an der menschlich Lebend Fliessband Werbungen machen bitteschön