Was Steffi Graff really THIS GOOD?

[@c.d.macaulay66]

What most people don't realize is that Stefi had Olympic track runner speed. Having seen her in person a number of times (including two US Open finals against Martina) I saw her win the last leg of the Golden Slam. That forehand was a club. She bludgeoned opponents with it. And her serve was overpowering as well. P.S. She has GREAT legs too.

[@shanechua8040]

THIS. Most folks just saw her big FH and serve. However, it was her athleticism and great footwork and movement which enabled her to play her greatest shots. There are many other players with huge ground strokes and serves but few had her level of athleticism.

[@netfun8087]

To this day I miss seeing Graf on the tennis court. Beautiful game.

[@pueraeternus111]

For me, it's her elegant sense of athleticism that stands out. She ran like a gazelle and her slice had a butterfly motion. Every time she hit that rare topspin backhand, it was a thing of beauty. Although people say her backhand was her weakness, she used it to set her opponent up for the kill using her legendary forehand. Having won 22 grand slams before even her turning 30, Injuries were what eventually ended her career.

[@stevyyjay85]

Graf was 17 when she won the FO in 1987. Her birthday is on June 14th. The finale of the FO in 1987 was on June 7th. So, she was 17 at the time.

[@arnaudnieuwoudt5211]

I loved watching her play. Her movement across the court was like ballet, smooth and fast. And that forehand was a marvel to enjoy

[@rajusaha855]

Graf is the GOAT. She had the most dominate 10 years period by any tennis player (male or female). In those years she won her 21 of 22 slams, 94 WTA titles (that's more than Serena's whole career of 73😱😱), ranked 377 weeks at no 1, finished 8 of the 10 seasons as no 1 (no 2 in other two seasons), winning 90% of the matches in every season except in 1991 (when she won 89% of her matches), winning golden slam, quadruple career slam & having 90% winning rate in each 4 surfaces (hard, clay, grass & carpet) in those period. Truly amazing. Little wonder she has the highest peak Elo rating ever by any women in history with massive 2601 in 1990 (source:- tennis abstract).

[@wimzswimz9843]

Sorry, Novak djokovic has owned 420 weeks of no. 1. That means 377 is no longer enough to make it everlasting

[@rajusaha855]

​@@wimzswimz9843sorry, I am talking about women's tennis not men. In WTA, she still has the record.

[@wimzswimz9843]

@@rajusaha855 Okay sorry. I'm just telling the truth

[@JordanjamesX]

I can't believe the narrator ignored Graf serve. Graf serve a huge weapon. Most women struggle to hold serve but Graf didn't have that problem.

[@theire483]

Her serve was not that much of a weapon... According to those that played her most, her biggest threat was her forehand, and speed... That is it. Oh; they also mentioned her return of serve.

[@mohawk393939]

@@theire483 I'd say it's the third best serve of all time in the women's game behind Serena and Lindsay Davenport. Powerful, highly consistent and accurate. Other women have had, at times, more powerful and dominant serves but nowhere near as consistent so if you take it as a whole over an entire career it's right up there.

[@theire483]

@@mohawk393939 agreed, only for serves, I would place Venus above Graf and Davenport.

[@chrisknowles7889]

Agree. And should also have covered her backhand, which was surely the best slice backhand ever in women's tennis

[@mohawk393939]

@@chrisknowles7889 100%, can't believe some people think of it as a weakness, absolutely not - even Seles said it was the shot she struggled most with against Steffi due it skidding through and so low. Her forehand was so good because of her backhand, it set up her forehand constantly and never broke down, relentless and dependable

[@Perebynis]

She was. Her footwork and forehand are still outstanding. Still textbook stuff.

[@selvanjebaraj]

Steffi greatest player ever

[@alvingilmore5485]

Monika is actually PRE STABBING

[@xaviercrain7336]

Not just because her two losses to Aratnxa was about her losing more than Arantxa winning the match…and unlike Serena there was consistency of the greatness of players around her…no Monica’s for Serena, no Martina Navratilova or Chris Everett

[@curtissmith2655]

You forgot to mention Monica in your Graf is the best. Monica was better and we all know if she hadn't gotten stabbed your story would be a lie.

[@xaviercrain7336]

@@curtissmith2655 wrong…Steffy always beat her on grass as is it not interesting you want to say she is the best as a fait a complit on à Wimbledon vidéo…she was better at the French but not at US Open of Wimbledon…so get ur story straight and the numbers are on steffy’s side not on monica’s

[@selvanjebaraj]

Monica cannot match steffi graf steffi is greatest of all time greatest forehand , great slice backhand powerful serve greatest athletism monica only power hitting . Monica is a great player undoubtedly but she can't compare with steffi graf

[@carrerau7138]

In October 1988 Steffi held all the major tennis titles: 1) FedCup 87 2) YEC 87 3) AO 88 4) FO 88 5) Wimbledon 88 6) USO 88 7) Olympics 88 (FedCup 88 was played in December 1988). The greatest sports woman of all time. Period.

[@nocode61]

She was truly outstanding during that time, displaying incredible skill and athleticism on the court. I often found myself rooting against her simply because she seemed unbeatable. It was a rare sight to see her not clinch victory in any tournament. Additionally, her sportsmanship was noteworthy, as she maintained a polite demeanor on and off the court, contrasting some of today's players that screams on court all the time. It's fair to say she's among the greatest of all time, if not the greatest of all time.

[@piloyvind1222]

Of course she's the GOAT, the best of all time. She make the Grand slam and the golden olympic in 1988. No one can achieve this remarkable and unique accomplishment.

[@matthewa8713]

Novak broke Steffi's record of total weeks at number one last year!

[@wimzswimz9843]

That's right. In WTA, steffi graf's record remains eternal in WTA category since 1997 while djokovic holds the most record of no. 1 with 425 weeks. Because graf's 377 weeks of no. 1 isn't enough to make it eternal, then how will djokovic's 425 weeks of no. 1 record be able to make it eternity?

[@keithwatson7434]

@@wimzswimz9843 Dumbass statement lol Why can't Djokovic's record be eternal just because Graf's record wasn't? When the record piles up higher, it will only get harder to break. What's so hard to understand?

[@funkyguy99]

He would be the best female tennis player if only he identified as one. 😂😂

[@Slippy6582]

Best tennisplayer of all time... Strong on EVERY pitch, that was her secret weapon, because normally a player has a favorite pitch like sand f.e.

[@paulbreheny4815]

i miss watching her play . i know everything has to come to an end but i just wish she would have gone a couple of more years longer and probably won a couple of slams more. Although i think Agassi had a lot to do with that

[@JorgeCarlosGómez-r9n]

The Grand /Golden Slam at the age of 19, made it look easy, then did not fall from the top, she stayed there for a good next decade, say, 95% of the time either finals or semis, wichever the tournament. Find how many losses in the Quarters or prior; they may fit in one hand.

[@tenisunamiradadiferente4493]

The wta finals are more important, finish with the Golden Slam.

[@valerieboots3229]

Also take into account time scales. 1987 to 1999. Only 12 years. How long did it take others to achieve their tallies of Grand Slams? A lot longer

[@monica012077]

Uploader skipped over 1990 to 1993. I wonder why? 🤔 😂🎾 And any you slice it, 23 GS having defeated all your rivals on court > 22 GS having your #1 fan stab the #1 player to change the odds in your favor. I'll be forever grateful to Serena running around pregnant putting Graf and her career out to pasture.

[@keithwatson7434]

That's not how things work. You lose every GS you don't play. No one should get bonus points for lacking longevity.

[@markstar6056]

She is a legend in tennis

[@Praise-Him2]

There can be more than one GOAT..Court, Steffi, Serena, Navratilova, Evert, (Seles if she wasn’t stabbed) definitely should all share this title. ❤

[@yussepig6629]

Evert and Navratilova joint GOATs then Serena and Seles

[@raffaelecafiero3608]

Depends. If you interpret GOAT as Djokovic fans do 😁 , GOAT is the most efficient and winner player😏. In this case Graf is the GOAT, so Is (unfortunately😥) Djokovic. If you talk about playing style, Navratilova definitely Is the best player of all times. His net play was unbelievable. I watched just yesterday a video of her against Connors. Connors had to struggle to win.

[@curtissmith2655]

Your wrong, did you see what Monica did to Steffi at the 93 Aussie open, pure power. I have never seen anyone play Steffi that way.

[@TheNathanj2009]

It shows how much the surface matters. On the high bouncing rubber hardcourt in Australia Seles is 2-0, Graf’s slice sat up and her serve and forehand were less effective. But Seles never beat Graf on fast courts, indoors or US hardcourts and she won precisely 3 games against Graf in the two matches they played on grass. It was actually clay they were most evenly matched Seles scraping through 10-8 at French in 92 and the previous year Graf winning another close one in Hamburg.

[@RealisticAndTrue]

186 consecutive weeks at number 1, and 1988 season.... yea she is Roger Federer of female tennis.

[@keithwatson7434]

Which means she is nowhere near the greatest in women's tennis, because Federer is nowhere close to being the greatest in men's tennis.

[@RealisticAndTrue]

@@keithwatson7434 Well longest uninterupted hold of the number 1 spot = Federer, greatest season back to back no less 2005/2006 = Federer, most invincible player ever 24 streight tournament finals wins = Federer, most dominant player ever 2 different GS 5x in a row wins, and best player on both those surffices 2/3 65 streight wins grass, 56 streight wins hard court = Federer, most skilled player ever, has every shot you can imagine and then some = Federer, biggest impact on the sport = Federer, yeah he is the greatest player EVER, and Steffi is as well

[@poxmanful]

roger federer was the steffi graf of mens tennis

[@DavidJohnson-yq4nz]

Greatest of all time for sure Thrilling to watch also

[@ricardagottschalk_duran2677]

Yes she was !!!

[@jeremyredding2251]

Not 377 consecutive weeks. And not the longest any player spent as No 1 (Djokovic).

[@GottdieEhre]

Djokovic: His period ist diminished by maintaining No 1 during Corona-period... The years 2020-2022 were not compararable to any other period.

[@jacksongreene3687]

@@GottdieEhre Djokovic lost weeks because of covid because they froze his weeks and he didn't more weeks because they didn't give him his points for winning Wimbledon, so no. He still went over 400.

[@GottdieEhre]

@@jacksongreene3687 No, some months ago I read in a newspaper during a #1 period that the ATP continued ranking would favorite ND. By using normal criteria he would not be #1. In addition - blocking Russian players leads to irregular conditions.

[@jacksongreene3687]

@@GottdieEhre Well wherever you read it , *it's wrong* . He would have been #1 for the entirety of 2020 where he lost 22 weeks. Then he was banned from playing AO 2022 and USO 2022, as well as other tournaments in US and Canada. Then when he won Wimbledon in 2022, he did not get his 2000 points which cost him more weeks at #1. He should have at least 435 to 440 weeks at #1 that was taken from him so your information is incorrect.

[@wimzswimz9843]

When djokovic beat graf's 377-week no. 1 record, i would think that 377 weeks actually aren't enough to make it everlasting. But the problem is ATP should never be interfered with WTA. Otherwise, he would be asked whether he ever played WTA or not.

[@jamesb821]

Yes she was………pure class.

[@johncraftenworth7847]

Ana Ivanovic most beautiful player of all time, but Graf most beautiful player that dominated the sport

[@williamwatson5871]

When did she win junior Wimbledon?????

[@geothermal7999]

She’s a true GOAT!

[@dingribeast]

Thirty years back i was doing me selfies looking at her and pictures.

[@karl-heinznoe9960]

Graf 377 weeks number 1 were not consecutive ! as told here !! -but only in here whole carreer ! The most weeks for female tennis ! But Djokovic has more weeks number 1 -he has 400 weeks in moment !

[@wimzswimz9843]

Novak djokovic has 420 weeks of no. 1

[@karl-heinznoe9960]

@@wimzswimz9843 Graf did end tennis age of 29 !! At age 29 Novak had much less weeks ! I said it for woman s tennis !!!

[@wimzswimz9843]

@@karl-heinznoe9960 That means 377 weeks are no longer enough

[@karl-heinznoe9960]

@@wimzswimz9843 Serena could not top it-I think no woman will top it -perhaps Iga !?

[@wimzswimz9843]

@@karl-heinznoe9960 Iga may be provided that he won't end up like martina hingis

[@geometro9598]

Not 377 consecutive weeks as number one, but it was 186 consecutive weeks which is a record shared with the GOAT Serena Williams.

[@jigsterify]

Serena is NOT the GOAT. She is behind Court in GS titles and well behind Evert and Navratilova in WTA titles. Let’s not forget measuring greatness by the number of GS titles is a relatively recent thing. Back in the 80s it was WTA titles and top players regularly skipped the French and AO

[@rajusaha855]

Serena didn't hold any important all time records except in prize money. She didn't have most grand slam, most WTA titles, most weeks at no 1 or year end no 1 (like Graf), best winning streak, best winning percentage, most dominate single season (like Martina had 86-1 in 1983 or Steffi magical year of 1988), she neither won calendar slam or golden slam. USA biased media just publicized her so much because she is American & she is black. That's the truth.

[@johncraftenworth7847]

definitely she not close to number 1 of all time. Graf won the most majors per year played :O@@rajusaha855

[@TheHexagram1976]

at 4:06 she is holding the racket in her left hand, didn't know she was ambidextrous

[@antonyriojan2232]

She was not good! She was fantastic,fabulous,divine

[@Shensir]

Steffi is the GOAT 👍❤👍

[@wimzswimz9843]

Having 377 weeks is very spectacular. But, cuz of novak djokovic who broke her record up to over 400 weeks after almost 26 years old last year, that record is no longer enough to make it everlasting. I do know that WTA should never be compared with WTA, but when djokovic broke that record, i'm afraid that djokovic's temporary 418-week no. 1 record would be broken someday.

[@88feji]

Any video that lauds Graf's achievements without mentioning Seles's stabbing is historically dishonest.

[@poxmanful]

and she retired at 30 ,,,,, could have won so many more titles

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

Monica Seles is great " shadow " above her career .

[@pedroferreiradoamaral7248]

No. She was even better!

[@carrerau7138]

Who is Graff? A contemporary of Navritalova and Sales?

[@toms9864]

No. Steffi Graff really wasn't that good. She was beaten regularly a young girl, Monica Seles, who was 4 years younger than Graff. Monica at the age of nineteen already had 8 grand slams when she was stabbed.

[@johncraftenworth7847]

Common in women's tennis for players to peak young and fizzle out, like gymnastics, figure skating. Weight gained, speed and athleticism lost. That's what it is to be a woman. Graf amazingly strong and fit for a full grown woman, clearly the greatest tennis career of any woman, and the most majors won per year played

[@johncraftenworth7847]

graf most slams per year played and quit at ~30 years, yes the best career ever. straggling on for titles is like Hank Aaron hanging around to break Babe Ruth's homerun record. Not a better career or homerun hitter than Ruth. Understand??@tobiasisback4605

[@rajusaha855]

​​​​​​@tobiasisback4605 well greatest career doesn't mean a player have to leads in all categories 😂😂. Yeah Steffi doesn't leads in all categories but she is top 3 or top 5 in all categories. MJ who often considered have the most decorated career in NBA doesn't leading in every categories either. Frankly if you asked me to choose a career from Chris, Martina, Steffi & Serena (ignoring Court's career as I stick to open era only) i definitely would choose Graf career over them. 30 years ago I definitely could have chosen Martina career. But in today's context when singles is far giving more important than doubles i chose Graf career over Martina. A 22 slam still 4 ahead of 18 slam (in today's time 20 slams is considered a GOAT standard), Graf has also most weeks at no 1 & years end no 1 (another important metric in today's time, even Djokovic openly admits that). Graf also had quadruple career slam & more importantly golden slam (even despite the GOAT in men's tennis Nole badly wanted that). Speaking of Serena, yeah has 23 slams but she didn't have any other important all time records like golden slam or even calendar slam, weeks at no 1 etc otherwise I would rather choose Serena's career over Steffi despite being a huge Steffi's fan. So if i turned pro today I would choose Djokovic career in men's tennis & Steffi's career in women's tennis without any seconds thought. Note- that's is not the answer of my GOAT debate.

[@rajusaha855]

​​​@tobiasisback4605 well I have no issues against Court but many of her 11 A.O came in extremely weak field, otherwise if she had 11 Wimbledon & us open titles then I or even today's many critics & pundits would rates her as GOAT or atleast at no 2. Of course it's not her fault that many of her rivals didn't play there. As far as Martina vs Steffi goes Steffi level of competition was far superior than Martina. In fact Martina competition from 1982-86 was weak, Chrissy becomes tired after dominating tennis in 70's when Martina struggle. Clearly Evert proved to be an easy opponent for newly improved athletic version of Martina who totally playing different tennis. Same way as Evert totally struggle against Steffi (losing last 8 matches with just one set win). As tennis evolved massively 16 years old yet to be matured Graf literally taking Evert apart before winning her first slam. Peak Monica was way better opponent for Steffi than peak Evert for Martina because of her power & weapons that Evert never had. Graf is the GOAT because of her versatility capable of dominating on all surfaces. She had consistency, versatility, dominance. As for longevity was concerned she was still no 3 when she retired. Martina lacks versatility, Evert lacks peak dominance & Serena never had the consistency but Steffi had it all. That's why I put Steffi at no 1, Martina at no 2 & either Court or Serena at no 3( Serena have the edge). And if I turned pro in today's world i rather have Steffi's career over anybody although Court had amazing numbers but I am only talking about open era tennis.

[@rajusaha855]

​​@tobiasisback4605well Navratilova won slams & yec against Kathy Jordan, Garrison, Sukova, Jeager (while lost to Hanika in 1982 WTA finals😂😂) while Evert won her slam against Jausovec, Ruzicki, Turnbull, Shriver lol😂😂. Atleast Graf faced near peak Martina, ASV, Sabatini, Novotna, Seles, Davenport & Hingis in slam finals. So no comparison there.

[@maxit7177]

If Seles hadn't been stabbed, she would have won much less. Great athlete, great professional but with technical limitations (reverse)!

[@TheDiana1]

You have to laugh at all these Graf fans making EXCUSES as to why she is the GOAT lol!!!. What a load of UTTER RUBBISH!!!. All the top olayers INCLUDING Graf played singles, doubles and mixed doubles. So when considering who is the GOAT, you need to take EVERYTHING into consideration!!!. Martina won a WORLD RECORD 9 Singles titles at Wimbledon, 367 MAJOR SINGLES TITLES AND 377 MAJOR DOUBLES TITLES and 56 GRAND SLAM TITLES way more than any other player!!!. Court's titles mean very little as very few if any top players wenf to Australia to compete. Graf was 12 years YOUNGER than Martina yet Martina still beat her in Grand Slam Singles titles and mosf important of all, Martina and Chris Evert played with WOODEN RACQUETS!!!. If you take away Graf and Serena William's power they would have won NOTHING!!!. There's nothing to be discussed here, Martina is the GOAT and the question to be discussed is who would be SECOND!!!. 😊

[@88feji]

Also, a high portion of Court's slams were before the open era .... the period before open era was less competitive, there were less motivation to train or spend money to travel , lower international participation etc .....

[@wimzswimz9843]

377 is no longer enough cuz that record was broken by novak djokovic up to his 420th week

[@TheDiana1]

@@wimzswimz9843 we're talking about female players ya muppet lol!!!.

[@florianbecker9343]

Unfassbar Steffi... deine Forhand

[@florianbecker9343]

Diese Beinarbeit... Beste Tennisspielerin, die es bis heute gibt. Komm jetzt

[@florianbecker9343]

Unfassbar

[@curtissmith2655]

I agree she is good so is Monica and had Monica not gotten stabbed by a German fan of Steffi's we would be talking Monica is the best.

[@marco_solimene]

Steffi was phenomenal but the greatest female player of all time was Martina Navratilova. Period.

[@thomassonefors9281]

Nope! I respect your opinion but Steffi was better. She took women's tennis to a completely new level. Navratilova was of course a great athlete and Steffi changed the tennis and created whet has become standard today.

[@jeremyredding2251]

Martina won more titles, but Graf had a highing winning percentage, won the Grand Slam, spent more weeks at No 1 (in a significantly shorter career), and had a winning record (or at least a non-losing record) against all her biggest rivals. Martina can't say that, as she has a losing record to Seles. Edge to Graf.

[@thb1091]

@@thomassonefors9281 Absolutely. Steffi (along with Monica) was the pioneer of modern Tennis (I'd argue across both the women's and men's sides). She was the first player to risk errors to go for winners from the back of the court, the first player to use the serve as an offensive weapon rather than to merely get the ball in and/or rush the net, and the first player to cover ground and turn defence into offence. She laid the foundations for everything that has followed. Martina may have been dominant, unbeatable at times even, in her time, but she played the game as it was; Steffi revolutionized and modernized it. Martina was a great/innovative athlete for her time; Steffi took athleticism to another level and redefined what was possible on the court.

[@carrerau7138]

Most GOAT polls say otherwise. Actually I don’t know even one in which Martina is ahead of Steffi. Not one.

[@MrBjorn6]

​@@carrerau7138Serena, Graf Navratilova. Tennis is an evolving sports and each generation should be getting better

[@cyriljacob4839]

Yes she was magnanimous in her achievements , especially after stabbing Seles using another person, she climbed higher in career. 😂😂

[@flash-uj6ly]

Marion bartoli had belief in herself that Steffi Graff as a great tennis player doesn't have even being world no.1 to win Wimbledon. Wimbledon is a grass court tournament and therefore amongst the medium surfaces. which means medium rallies dictated by serve and therefore less exertion of energy during a point and shorter matches in general. you get value for your shot! fat and short or tall and thin! when you play 3 sets against 5 sets for men, it is always an advantage. Marion Bartoli played a more strategic than a grind type of tennis in tournaments. good volleying skills as compared to Steffi Graff even in execution. Marion Bartoli had the belief that she could win and in contrast to Steffi Graff who believed that Bartoli would wear herself down and just lose(not that they don't have to play, just that they had to hang in there long enough for her to break down). Most of them slightly underestimated what she was doing in tournaments. She was an inexperienced player by that point who had proven herself as a former top 10 player. Her winning was really a surprise i.e out of the blue with already having made the finals twice but her consistency was questionable. She had unique two handed forehands and backhands. That was easy to replicate and master but once mastered it was going to be lethal. That was what spectators saw in tournaments of Marion Bartoli to a great extent. at Wimbledon 2013 she had some luck from the draw as 15th seed. she never played a top 10 player en route to her victory. the finalist she played: Venus Williams had already beaten Agnieszka Radwańska en route to the final. Venus Williams was playing her best but was probably worn out a lot by her battles with Agnieszka Radwańska and others. Venus Williams was in the form of her life but Bartoli had the luck of the draw. Regardless of whether your fat or not, if you make your shots even Steffi Graff may not be able to return it at Wimbledon. so if you are playing near perfection and having consistency with your shots then you are playing on a level field. then speaking of fat, technically Marion Bartoli may be classified as fat, yet she was the most successful female tennis player. Bartoli wasn’t really playing a specific style and really had weakness in tournaments and most of her shots had some vigor in it that Steffi Graf generally doesn't necessarily have. Here return games were spot on and had more errors and more importantly she can get Steffi Graff to errors first. all in all, this was a victory that was easily replicable or Bartoli after this mediocre run. She had belief and luck along with inexperience that allowed her to win her only Grand Slam. Marion Bartoli was dubbed as unfit and fat. She still made it to Grand Slam finals. Even in her Wembdon win 2013 she wasn’t fit. Marion Bartoli is an inspiration. It was really a fluke because Bartoli won by dropping sets and beat a few top 20 players along the way. Winning by dropping a set means you played really close to perfection along with dropping the level enough that allowed anyone to comeback and take a set from you. being fat may seem a hindrance, but is a limitation if you want it to be one. Honestly calling her fat in tournaments is really justifiable because she wasn’t thin but fat is really appropriate. And yes, tall and lanky players like Steffi Graf don’t always win , especially in the topsy turvy women’s tour. slightly fatter players can generate more power than extremely thin and tall players like Steffi Graff.

[@kevinfed668]

That's a senseless and baseless comparison. Bartoli won 1 slam which was a total fluke against a nervous and abject Lisicki while Graf won 22 slams. Enough said. Seles would still be a fair comparison but certainly not Bartoli, "fat and ugly".

[@flash-uj6ly]

Marion Bartoli is a better Tennis player than Steffi Graf.

[@andreasmissiroli6915]

Bullshitt

[@marksinclair383]

Don’t be ridiculous.