Wimbledon Finale 1989 Martina Navratilova - Steffi Graf

[@adamh7947]

Steffi Graf was absolutely lethal on grass. Her tactic of keeping her returns low to neutralize Navratilova's 1st volley attempts set up passing shot after passing shot for Graf, and forced a huge number of Navratilova volley errors. This was a great era for women's tennis. Both are champions.

[@DemaYuga-sx3kb]

She fell against seles. Seles dominated tennis when she first came out. Before she was stabbed which I still think to his day graf had a part of .. to better her career

[@adamh7947]

@@DemaYuga-sx3kb I truly hope that is not the case. Steffi Graf does not seem like the kind of person who would do that. Monica Seles was a great tennis player, it’s too bad about her career. She was one of my favorite female tennis players.

[@madgavin7568]

@@DemaYuga-sx3kb Why are peeps from Balkan countries so conspiracy minded? Steffi had a lot of obsessed male fans because she was the best in the world at Tennis and also happened to be an attractive and graceful woman. Men love beautiful and competent women, its little wonder some of them might take their obsessions a bit too far. As for Graf's rivalry with Seles, even at the peak of their rivalry Graf was a bit better overall and was clearly the better player on Grass. At no point was Seles even close to dominating Graf.

[@adrianciobanu5856]

​@@madgavin7568😂😂😂 but never agains her from fans of navra capriati novotna etc and etc o ithen seles fans

[@kevanbrown7620]

Graf had no part in that stabbing don't be ridiculous

[@ericlopez9107]

These were two INCREDIBLY ATHLETIC women!! It's difficult to find two tennis players with this kind of movement, agility, power and speed!! Not to mention a serve and volley style!

[@stylistxxx]

What a rubbish comment , they are 100 % more athletic NOW

[@timothychung4811]

The only difference was one was at the end of her carreer while the other has just started.

[@goldencalf5144]

Ash Barty

[@waqarghulam3548]

Only one of them is a woman

[@poshbo]

By the standards of the time, their level of power and athleticism was quite impressive. Both would be highly competitive if they played today

[@alanskowron9694]

How lovely to watch. No grunting ,no fist punching the air after every god dam point , those WERE the days my my friend.

[@jeroenvermunt862]

...yes, and no apologies after an unfortunate ball that touched the net, cool handshake in the end

[@dblog]

Boring

[@CorneliaStreet-h8e]

Seles existed

[@urbanprep87]

Boring

[@amicoz]

The golden girls of the golden era of tennis! Just love it.

[@goldenhand824]

Graf is the only human being win a golden slam! She’s the main reason I fell in love with tennis back in the 80s. She used to glide on the tennis court with such composure. What a treat it was to watch her! Thanks for all my forever champion!

[@mikerzisu9508]

She was hot too

[@gregeversole7579]

Until Seles came along...

[@joeyconvery2055]

Monica beat up Steffi pretty good. 😂

[@madgavin7568]

@@gregeversole7579 Graf was still the better player.

[@madgavin7568]

@@joeyconvery2055 10-5 rivalry in favour of Graf says otherwise.

[@yevshif]

Great quality, thanks!

[@RobertBriggs-rk7pp]

I’ve watched the ‘89 US Open final a bunch of times, where Martina loses from up a set and 4-2. I’d forgotten that she blew the 5-2 lead in the second set of this match. A real harbinger of her challenge closing out leads against Graf.

[@Richard-fq5he]

Unfortunately Martina was the Roger of the WTA. Despite her achievements she should have won more - at least 4 more slams. But mentally wasn't as strong as her strongest competitor.

[@Danimal1177]

Navratilova was the greatest all-around player ever - singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Graf was the greatest singles player ever. She retired at age 29 having won 22 singles' grandslam finals. Had she kept playing for another 4 or 5 years, I'm sure she would have ended with with close to 30 grandslam wins.

[@rajusaha855]

At the age when Graf won the golden slam, Martina was losing to pregnant Margaret Court, losing to BJK, Evonne Goolagong, Virginia Wade & was Evert' s bunny. Different player mature differently.

[@rajusaha855]

​@tobiasisback4605hahaha a prime 24 years old Martina lost to granny 37 years old BJK in Houston. Losing to 15 years old Jeager 3 consecutive times😂😂 & then beaten by Wendy Turnbull. Had Martina not skip clay court & rebound aces then the h2h would have been different story. Infact 16 of 18 matches between them played on Martina's favourite surface.

[@rajusaha855]

​​​@tobiasisback4605well Martina only played twice against Steffi on clay & lost both times & never played on rebound ace court of Australian open. So 16 of their 18 matches was took place on fast court that favours Martina more than Steffi. Graf leads Martina 4-2 in slams finals. Martina beat Graf in 1985 & 1986 us open when former was at her peak but Graf almost won their latter match in us open. Talking about their h2h Graf fared better against her old rival then Martina. Martina literally was a punching bag for top players in 70's losing to granny Court, King, Wade, Evonne Goolagong, was Evert' s bunny for long time. Infact even in her mid 20 she struggled against Tracy Austin & Andrea Jeager 😂😂. BTW we can't predict Graf outcome against Williams sisters because Graf retired at the age of 30. Remember even a past prime injured Steffi was good enough to strong next gen like Hingis, Davenport & Williams sisters. Graf wasn't someone's bunny or losing to 15 years old kid Jeager thrice in a row despite being a #1 player at that time.😜😜 Jeager is not a Seles or a Hingis like prodigy in tennis.

[@rajusaha855]

​@tobiasisback4605haha a peak Martina lost multiple times to Pam Shriver in us open, lost to the likes of Hanika, Wendy Turnbull, Kathy Horvath in slam. Zvereva thrashed her in French open 1988, the same Zvereva who got double bageled by Steffi 😂😂. So Martina had far more embarrassing losses than Steffi even in their prime.

[@rajusaha855]

​@tobiasisback4605Martina only beat them when they past their prime or faded away.

[@carrerau7138]

The two greatest ever! How beautiful women's tennis can be....

[@ddjr6673]

Two of the greatest ever - I would add Serena Williams for sure!

[@nrnoble]

At this stage, Navratilova was at the peak of her career, and Graf had just started hers.

[@ddjr6673]

@@nrnoble 1989 - true, but there was a feeling that something was shifting, for sure. Just incredible

[@lifeisyours8250]

Yes and no stupid squeeling when hitting the ball.

[@timothylee2772]

​​@@nrnobleNavratilova was past her prime in 1989. Graf was the rising star by that time coming off a career grand slam in 1988 winning all four majors.

[@KeyofDavid5778]

Steffi's movement was so amazing and her athletic ability and quickness is second to none even in today's game the women could learn a lot from watching her footwork and movement!

[@beecnul8r]

I remember how Graf would leap with both feet in the air to hit the ball! Amazing energy. Both great players.

[@SonjaWendhack1-yj1qk]

Das waren und sind für mich immer noch die besten Tennis Spielerinnen der Welt. Das war Tennis auf allerhöchsten Niveau. Danach begann Steffi Grafs unbeschreibliche Kometenhafte Karriere. Sie wird immer unsere Nr1 bleiben

[@carrerau7138]

Steffi gewann ihren ersten Grand-Slam-Titel mehr als zwei Jahre vorher, im Juni 1987 (French Open). Im August 1987 wurde sie Nr. 1 der Weltrangliste. 1988 gewann sie den "Golden Slam".

[@samsbookbook3425]

Will dir nicht zu Nahe tretten da ich das nostalgisch nachvollziehn kann. Das Tennis heute ist aber in allen Belangen "hochklassiger". Vom Material uber den Platz zur Technik.

[@heribertgolliasch9904]

Sie würden heute keinen Blumentopf mehr gewinnen.

[@carrerau7138]

@@heribertgolliasch9904 Steffi wäre heute deutlich die #1. Natürlich mit modernen Schlägern. Hast Du mal mit einem Dunlop Max 200g gespielt, dem Schläger, mit dem Steffi 1988 den Grand Slam gewonnen hat? Der hat nichts mit den heutigen Rackets zu tun. Da musste man den Ball wirklich genau in der Mitte der Schlägerfläche erwischen.

[@heribertgolliasch9904]

@@carrerau7138 Tut mir leid, aber ihre Rückhand nur mit Slice ist für heutige Verhältnisse nicht mehr ausreichend, denn schon Monica Seles hat diese Schwäche schonungslos aufgezeigt.

[@albertroundtree8546]

Steffi Graf was a joy to watch.

[@stonew1927]

Martina was too!!!

[@jeroenvermunt862]

@albertroundtree8546 To be honest, now that I look back at this after all these years, I notice how ugly Steff's strokes are in their movement. Still she is a great player.

[@carrerau7138]

@@jeroenvermunt862 Steffi's strokes are a thing of beauty in their movement, you clown. “Steffi Graf moves so beautifully, with such grace, you can freeze the TV frame and see that each position is gorgeous.“ (Troy Dobrin, ballet director, 2012)

[@kevanbrown7620]

​@@carrerau7138I agree 👍

[@sbaylard1]

When tennis was so much more fun to watch. And 2 ladies with 1 handed backhands and serve and volley. Beautiful 👍🏼

[@meitoli]

i think those backhand sucked badly. In fact they were awful and a waste

[@shashwatpriyadarshi972]

Two different styles Two different personalities Two different eras I must admit tennis was more interesting then than now

[@jeremyredding2251]

To think she beat Seles, Sanchez-Vicario, Evert, and Navratilova in four straight rounds is amazing. And that she lost only 13 games in the 8 sets she won in those four matches --- Wow! (Of course, she lost a tiebreak set to Martina in the final though.)

[@pablofrank2466]

Seles was 15 and it was her first year on the WTA tour, Chris Evert was 15 years older than Graf (and playing her last Wimbledon) and Martina was 13 years older. Hardly an even playing field.

[@jeremyredding2251]

@@pablofrank2466 Yeah, everyone knows Graf didn't play those 4 in the span of a week when each of those 4 were at their respective peaks. That's obvious. It's still spectacular that she beat 4 all time greats in a row with the loss of so few games.

[@CorneliaStreet-h8e]

@@jeremyredding2251It’s only face value though Graf still would’ve beaten them prime vs prime she’s the better athlete and more mentally strong.

[@rajusaha855]

​@@pablofrank2466age doesn't matter for Navratilova as she was a late developer. You have to remember a 35 years old past prime Martina beat peak Seles 4 times in 90's, so to say Martina past her prime in 1988 was absolutely stupid.

[@pablofrank2466]

@@rajusaha855 How many Grand Slam singles titles did Martina win after 1987?

[@theire483]

I was a great fan of tennis in the 70s, and I still am. Watched Graf and the rest. The more I watch the reruns, I am convinced by what Navratilova, Evert, and Davenport said. If you can manage to stay away from Graf's killer forehand, you had a chance. Having said that, you also have to limit your own errors too.

[@carrerau7138]

But how to do that, staying away from Graf's killer forehand? 🤔

[@theire483]

@carrerau7138 exactly... as Martina said, you have to try not to serve or hit in that direction. She didn't say it was easy or that you could. It was possible, though.

[@Apollo19713]

Great win for Steffi. The supreme champion. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🥰

[@shanechua8040]

The courts definitely played much faster in the 80s than they do now.

[@jujumusique1305]

It would have been better for women’s tennis for the courts to stay that way. The problem was the big servers on the men’s side making tennis unwatchable.

[@FlabbyTitmuss]

@@jujumusique1305Totally agree. The slowing down of the courts has been good for the popularity of the men’s game but has been bad for the women.

[@jujumusique1305]

@@FlabbyTitmussyup. There was a sweet spot for women’s tennis in the 90s that allowed for a huge diversity of game plays, many of which were rewarding. Think Graf, Navratilova, Seles, Sanchez-Vicario, Sabatini, Capriati, Novotna, Pierce, Martinez, Davenport, Hingis, Serena and Venus Williams. There was so much diversity in their games styles.

[@reddyuta]

dont forget the ball size increase,that was a bigger factor.

[@foxmulder2845]

The Serve and Volley Game was killed by the decision to slow down the Game in Wimbledon. I loved watching Rafter, Cash, Edberg, Becker and Stich against each other or against baseliners like Agassi, Lendl or Wilander. Today, we have the same Game at all Grand Slams. People hit the Ball from behind for Hours and Hours.

[@kevjao267]

didnt know she holds a tennis ball while she plays. GOAT!!!!!!

[@muriloborges9481]

Uau…never saw that…fantastic

[@MandyBeeDandy]

That's how we used to do it back in the day!

[@MZwing-nf3lv]

When she got her new coach Heinz Günthardt (after Pavel Slozil) in 1991, he made her stop that. From then on she had the ball kids throw her a new ball for her second serves. Back then there was no stupid "ball checking", i.e. getting three or four balls thrown to you and then you throw all but one back to the ground for the ball kids to pick them up again. A silly habit and complete waste of time.

[@christopherfleming7505]

I remember watching this. I was 14-year-old boy then. Guess who I was rooting for! I had such a crush on Steffi Graf in those days. 😂

[@robertmarlo6668]

Lol , you are among many other boys that time

[@sayresrudy2644]

why the 😂? and who cares @ this story?

[@novola1972]

You were rooting for Martina

[@carrerau7138]

@@sayresrudy2644 Steffi's sex appeal is one of the many reasons why she is the most popular female tennis player of all time.

[@ZATennisFan]

​@@carrerau7138Possibly the best pair of legs I've ever seen. Plus she has beautiful eyes and a really beautiful smile.

[@kevanbrown7620]

I was in love with Steffi Graf great player a legend and gorgeous

[@sergelu]

No yelling and no fists! What a delight

[@pueraeternus111]

Back when grass was real grass! '80s and '90s were the golden era of women's tennis.

[@GSTar1973]

Steffi Graf ist die beste Tennisspielerin aller Zeiten G.O.A.T

[@igorgrcic1366]

Fast wie Monika Seles. Fast

[@GSTar1973]

@@igorgrcic1366 wer ist Monika Seles 😉??

[@carrerau7138]

@@igorgrcic1366 Seles was a punching ball for the top players of the 1990s and early 2000s: 5-10 win/loss against Steffi. 5-15 against Hingis. 3-10 against Davenport. 1-10 against Venus. 1-4 against Serena.

[@tobiast5908]

Seles war limitiert. Auf Gras hat sie kein Land gesehen.

[@adolfinathamm5344]

Genou 🎉

[@paulluk7515]

The pace was incredibly fast considering it was 25 years ago, simply amazing!

[@mariadeolindarocha768]

35 years, you mean😂

[@paulluk7515]

@@mariadeolindarocha768 Oh yes, it was 35 years ago!

[@a6hiji7]

Cannot forget Graf's matches against Sanchez Vicario. Vicario had great pace and stamina. Graf had great opponents. Somehow women's tennis is not producing greats for quite some time.

[@syaisa698]

Steffi is the reason why i support germany in every sports event

[@PasqualeRobustini]

I wish today’s men’ top 10 could play a backhand like these two wonderful ladies can… this is the way tennis should be played!

[@squidjames7735]

lol ... watch the other Zverev get steamrolled by Roger when he tried that few years ago at wimby. also, watch Roger dominate another serve and volleyer Groth (one of my faves).

[@PasqualeRobustini]

@@squidjames7735 yes, but Roger is no longer playing - today no top 10 is using the one-handed backhand and frankly tennis has become boring 🥱 Roger was the last

[@tobyhart]

Significantly better tennis then the neverending baseline grunt-and-scream-athons now - power, subtle slices, killer passing shots and lobs, brilliant volleys - thats why i loved 80s tennis - far more assertive play and tactical nous. A pleasure to watch.

[@optimalperformanceconsulta5813]

Pure artistry and athleticism. This is what today’s game is missing.

[@dharmeshdavey7668]

Uff the times when I wanted Steefi Graf to win but given a choice now I would have want Martina to win . What an era , Agassi , boris becker and Steffy Graf made me fall in love with Wimbledon and obviously tennis.

[@1002l]

graf was the most beautiful sportsman or woman to watch play in any sport. so graceful and like a coiled snake. Could watch her all day long

[@Joonudschi]

Whatever shot Martina would pull, Steffi has the answer. This was the rise of Ms. Graf

[@Quassar1972]

For me Steffi its the GOAT.

[@paulaymericrodrigues9000]

The tennis volley of Navratilova❤❤❤Steffi the best athlete and the best forehand😊

[@mikerzisu9508]

Iga is better than both

[@rajusaha855]

​@@mikerzisu9508😂😂

[@wombat-b3h]

@@mikerzisu9508 even with the drugs she'd probably lose 6-1 6-1

[@philb.1502]

These are two of the greatest players of all time getting after it. Martina vs. Steffi. It doesn't get any better! I miss this era of tennis. To me, Martina is the GOAT of women's tennis!

[@kazeemadegboyegakola]

Serena Williams is the goat... She accomplished more than all... Open era record of 23

[@philb.1502]

@@kazeemadegboyegakola Serena didn't play the same level of competition as Martina, Steffi, Chris Evert, etc.

[@carrerau7138]

@@kazeemadegboyegakola Serena didn't win the Grand Slam. And she won only 30 % of the tournaments she played. Steffi won 50 %, Martina 42 %. Both against better competition.

[@rajusaha855]

​@@kazeemadegboyegakolagrand slam titles are not everything. Serena didn't hold any significant records in women's tennis. She didn't have most WTA titles, most weeks #1, most year end #1, most dominant single season, longest winning streak etc. Serena didn't won calendar slam either. If you checks her records in Wikipedia & compare them to Court, Navratilova, Evert & Graf then it's Serena who had the weakest resume. Outside of slams her records is not that impressive. Even her 23 slams record is just an open era records rather than all time which Margaret Court still holds with 24 slams. Tbh USA biased media like ESPN publicized Serena so much because she is American & more importantly she is black otherwise she wouldn't have that hype.

[@JohnTaylor-h4h]

​@@rajusaha855American Media rate Venus Williams above Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova. Both Henin and Sharapova are better players than Venus.

[@lorettacurzi8655]

Ho seguito al tempo alcuni incontri..mi hanno sempre affascinato le lunghe e belle gambe della Graf..il suo modo di spostarsi sul campo

[@kiore-w3y]

Never boring to watch like this kind of matches .

[@davidedwards6807]

I was in love with Steffi❤❤❤

[@carrerau7138]

She always had a certain magic about her....

[@overcamehim]

i love how respectful and gracious they are; great attitudes, not boastful, always smiling.

[@jc4388]

classic

[@tombarca100]

sorry.. Martina was cursing and grousing most of the match. Steffi just went about her business.

[@sokrates3900]

Both, Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova, were at that time the best tennisplayers worldwide. I remember when Graf defeated Navratilova the first time in the final of Berlin. Navratilova couldn't believe it, she was crying all the time, finally she arranged with her first loss against Graf.

[@sapphire3723]

I think that Martina Navratilova was so in tears because she was playing, and lost, in the presence of her family, which was very rare at the time of the Iron Courtain.

[@carrerau7138]

@@sapphire3723 No, her family sadly was not present. That was not possible back then due to the Socialist dictatorships in East and Middle Europe back then. However, they were watching the match on German television since they were living only 70 miles away from the German/Czech border. So close and yet so far. That thought overwhelmed Martina.

[@sapphire3723]

thanks for your information👍🏻

[@oyamadyosiba2938]

Back here during Wimbledon 2024 championships. Steffi Graf v.s Martina Navratilova were the best days on center court. Real legends

[@richardernsberger5692]

One big difference in this match, IMO, was return of serve: Graf's service-return game was much better than Navratilova's. Martina missed a lot of her chip returns and many of those that she got in were easy pickings for the Graf forehand. Two great champs.

[@mesabog2]

Graf was constantly running around her backhand on the second serve returns and crushing them...MN had no answer

[@whong120]

Steffi... her smile was hard to see, but super beautiful!!

[@redbunnytail9528]

Navratilova and Graf. That some serious, high level skill. Such contrast, too. They have this rivalry, and I like both of them, so I watch match and it just like blow your mind. If you not caught up in who have to win to suit you, you notice a LOT more.

[@gino3286]

Some serves of Mrs Graff were like men serves The last one is extremely impressive So much power Impressive

[@MarkWhitman-q3l]

Martina's serve was better than Graf's. Martina more a candidate for GOAT and she was on grass. Chrissie on clay. Then Graf third best

[@stonew1927]

Watching this a couple of things stand out: 1. Steffi often held an extra ball in her left free hand during play. You never see any other pros doing that. 2. How short most of the points were. Hardly any long rallies!! Both players super aggressive, but Martina especially rushing the net almost after every serve. The old serve-and-volley tactics are practically extinct in todays' modern game. 3. I love the steely face of Graff during the match. Hardly ever an expression of emotion. Only at the conclusion of the match when she won did she show any emotion, a happy smile.

[@SH-ji5fk]

We hardly see serve and volley game now days. It's more about power from baselines. These are truly great artists if tennis at display.

[@squidjames7735]

Watching these two play in real time = wowsa! Watching them play decades later = really?! The Williams sisters changed the WTA forever with their strength.

[@Dbdbe1]

You play according to the norms of the time. Martina and Steffi both themselves moved the game forward: nobody was as fit as Martina in the early 1980s and Steffi’s forehand and speed moved the game on in the 1990s. Don’t be rude.

[@rajusaha855]

Both Williams sisters didn't changed anything in tennis. In fact they made women's tennis vulgar 😂😂.

[@rajusaha855]

If you watch both Williams sisters matches in 2050 or 2060 they will look weak & slow by that standard. Okay.

[@carrerau7138]

Imagine this Steffi here with a modern racket....

[@CJZM7777]

Beautiful tennis. Nice contrast in styles makes it interesting to watch.

[@josephrocha142]

This is when women's tennis was fun to watch. You could see the spins, strokes, etc...today with the modern rackets it's just hit as hard as you can.

[@bradleybrazington385]

Would rather watch these highlights than the 2024 women’s final

[@mark11967AD]

Like how she aced her ass to finish things. After years of watching Navratilova bully many women this was very satisfying seeing her dispatched this way. Steffi had a great game and was very mature and mentally strong. And yes cute as well.

[@a6hiji7]

Navratilova was a great player. Graf's greatness is enhanced by the great worthy opponents she had.

[@gannesh2509]

Had watched this years ago... Lovely to see the pretty Steffi...she was just awesome...her looks & her game too

[@MikeSmith-go8wk]

I reckon these 2 could beat so many modern players. They whacking that ball

[@FRankH-b4t]

This so clearly video,how fast Graf! We not seen any other player fast like this today,

[@squidjames7735]

oh come on. swiatek would run rings around steffi. SW would blow her off the court ... unless the umpires and linesmen were biased as usual.

[@rajusaha855]

​@@squidjames7735Swiatek is not faster than Steffi. Peak Steffi with her GOAT FH & footwork with trash Serena. Serena was lucky that she didn't have to play another GOAT contender in slam.

[@madgavin7568]

@@squidjames7735 Swiatek is only ever beating Graf on Clay. On all other surfaces, its no contest.

[@wombat-b3h]

@@squidjames7735 Even with all the drugs in her system Swiatek would have no chance against Graf

[@rajusaha855]

​​@@madgavin7568even on clay, it will be hard for Iga to beat peak Steffi. Remember Steffi is a 6 time F.O champion there & played in arguably the toughest clay court era in WTA history while Iga is quite good on clay but she didn't have to face any top clay specialist.

[@petebest22]

Sheffi’s legs and how she’s moves does it for me 😛

[@seamushadron]

Due mostri sacri del tennis, bellissima partita da rivedere 😊

[@laviniaparisi9154]

Mi dispiace per le giocatrici attuali, ma io guardo ancora la Graf e la Navratilova! Questa era la classe, questo era il tennis!

[@gerardmackay8909]

My goodness there was no love lost between that pair, what an icy handshake. Check out by contrast the climax of the 1995 final when Graf beat Sanchez-Vicario and they embraced so warmly when Graf clinched it.

[@koyc8194]

Women's tennis was so beautiful then, unlike today's utterly boring baseline contest of unforced errors

[@temurichilajya7111]

а-h, o-h

[@sigurd-zt1qy]

Was für ein schönes Tennisspiel

[@OMDF01]

The next year [1990] Graf - in one of her worst matches in GS appearances - got defeated by Zina Garrison (!) in the SF, basically giving Navratilova her 9th (!) and last Wimbledon Championship.

[@pablotupone4190]

Martina' s best years were the 70s and the beginning of the 80s, but kept competitive during the late 80s and early 90s....

[@carrerau7138]

Wrong. Martina's 7 best years were 1982-86 and 1988/89. In 1988/89 it was Steffi who prevented Navi from dominating.

[@pablotupone4190]

@@carrerau7138 Martina won Wimbledon in 1990!

[@carrerau7138]

@@pablotupone4190 Because she didn't have to play Steffi in the final. Steffi missed many slam finals after the beginning of the Graf Blackmail Scandal - Wimbledon 90, AO 91, FO 91, USO 91. Before that she had made 13 slam finals in a row.

[@creativesoulP]

I had watched this match live on TV in 1989 , that time I was 12 and now watching it again in 2024 , I'm in my 40s now 😅😅😅

[@lwh7301]

Now that we know, our lives are complete.

[@gummiesrule88]

I like the way Graf would come over her backhand when Navratilova was at net. It wasn't all slice...

[@ambroseparangan5695]

THE GREATEST grass court player NAVRATILOVA VS THE GREATEST ALL court player GRAF. ❤

[@carrerau7138]

Navratilova played 33 slams on grass (23 Wimbledon, 8 AOs, 2 USOs) and won 12 of them. That is 36 %. Steffi played 14 slams on grass (all Wimbledon) and won 7 of them. That is 50 %. Serena played 21 slams on grass (all Wimbledon) and won 7 of then (That is 33 %). Margaret Court played 37 slams on grass (14 AO, 12 Wimbledon, 11 USO) and won 19 of them. That is 51 %. Even if you only count open era it is 8 grass slam wins of 16 played (50 %). Court is clearly the greatest grass court player ever. I would rate even Steffi higher than Navratilova.

[@carrerau7138]

@tobiasisback4605 Both Court and Graf are greater than all these Americans. Court had to say this: "But I always thought Steffi was the best. She was my favorite. She won the Grand Slam in 1988 (Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open) and I always loved watching her because of her athleticism and style.“ (Margaret Court, press conference Melbourne, January 2020)

[@peterhammer6915]

These matches between these two are the best I have ever seen played between two women. Serena vs Justine are second.

[@tomgraham6071]

Watching it now, Martina seemed to tire in that final set against the barrage of Graf firepower. Serving and volleying against someone so quick and so powerful must have really taken a lot of physical and emotional energy as everything was even more on fast forward than if she was running round the baseline - lunge, jump, drop, duck over and over. That service game she lost at 1-2 final set, when she missed those easy volleys (for her) looks like like loss of adrenaline and concentration after 2 sets of high intensity. Funnily enough, it was largely the same in the US Open final a couple of months later. It does make me wonder whether anyone could successfully play all out serve and volley like that in today's game as she was struggling to do it against Graf and Seles in finals and semis, never mind a whole draw full of players. People will say oh she was nearly 33 here and had lost a step but personally I dont think she had lost that much speed. I think it was more that the speed of the game had increased when she was playing the best.

[@KadesSelorejo-xm7tp]

Steffi Goat

[@MultiRedskins12]

Steffi Graf is still the hottest tennis player of all time! ❤❤

[@NaimaBoukhouf-vr7qm]

My two favourite women tennis players ❤🎉🎉🎉

[@dimeshgujadhur210]

Graf was the best 😂

[@halleck3]

Man, what would the world have done without Bud Collins' brilliant commentary? "Oooooh!" "Ahhhhh!" "Net cord!" "Whoaaaaaaaaaa!" "Ohhhhh!" "Net cord!"

[@nordattack]

Despite this loss Martina remains the most winning player in the history of tennis. More singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles of any Tennis player ever. 354 total titles.

[@Jmcs839]

Le niveau de tennis produit par ces deux super championnes est extraordinaire, enthousiasmant!👏 Et pour ma part, ma préférée est toujours Steffi, la plus grande tenniswoman de tous les temps! Revoir ses matchs est toujours agréable.

[@verahelenamaradei445]

Nada melhor que uma partida de 🎾 tênis. Quantos anos na quadra agora boas lembranças inesquecíveis ❤🎾

[@michaellowe5980]

Wow, two athletic women who actually look like women and are great sports. No one here is threatening umpires or line's women. Or playing the " i dont cheat cause im a mother " card.

[@squidjames7735]

aight, soi boi.

[@lunchien9516]

史詩級的對決啊～💖

[@Mr1gladiatore]

Imagine if these two got to play their prime years with the lighter aluminium rackets everyone plays with today. Stefi's forehand would be unstoppable.

[@krisna59]

Actually Steffi should got grand slan in 1989

[@tim72184]

They would crush modern players.

[@lanceb.]

Life changes and goes on. If these 2 greats played today, they too would be harder hitting. Techniques evolved with the equipment and training. To me, women’s tennis is very exciting today. We have players who can still offer variety, with added power. I often think of something I heard about race horses; never compare horses of different eras.

[@alburikak]

Graf kept the second ball on her hand that's insane, no one do that ever.

[@frantisek6485]

Toto bol tenis ! pri všetkej ucte dnešné dievčatá uz toto nedokážu nemaju ten draif, iskru,pohyb, je radosť na tieto dve DAMI pozerať nádhera je to lepšie pozrieť ako nejaky film

[@bobmalack481]

Andre Agassi made a wise choice marrying Steffi..both top drawer people being in their profession, and being charitible within noble causes in sacrafice and time. Robert at 69.

[@a6hiji7]

Strange that their children are not in tennis.

[@bobmalack481]

​Yes and no. How many siblings ​that try to follow their star parents footsteps attain the same level of success in their respective sports? very few. Will Bronny James be as good as Lebron James? likely no. More examples- Tennis- Peter Korda, his son? Baseball- Carl Yazstremski's son? Comedian Don Rickles daughter Mindy? (flop) Baseball- radio announcer Joe Garagiola, son Chris Garagiola for the Diamondbacks, Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt's son? (semi flop) Sometimes it's best to choose your own path in life instead of trying to copy your famous/talented parents in their field. Robert at 69. as@@a6hiji7

[@bobmalack481]

​@@a6hiji7Not really, many pro sports peoples parents suggest dont copy there footsteps cuz I'm famous at my sport, but pursue what YOU feel you want to do. There are top many cases where famous athletes sons or daugters flopped copying and were mediocre at there parents sucess. Robert at 69.

[@ahmedisa3723]

Thank you very much, but could you please upload the 1987 Wimbledon final between Graf and Navratilova? It's Graf's first final at Wimbledon

[@stephenmeitai7622]

I have the videos of Roland Garros 1987 Final between Graf and Navratilova. I also have the Finals between Martinez and Navratilova Wimbledon 1994 Final

[@johnrenehan7406]

Graf was like a battering ram on the tennis court ; with unmatched foot speed in the womans game . its little wonder she won everything

[@bobard463]

Thanks

[@charly1361]

Fabulosas campeonas LAS DOS!!! Un placer verlas prodigarse, lastima que en tenis no existe el empate, he disfrutado mucho este recuerdo, admiracion por AMBAS...

[@ZATennisFan]

You notice how many top spin backhands Graf hit.

[@TPR1977]

Sy liat ini...umur sy msih 10 thn saat itu....graft ajaib saat itu..

[@christopherwong1895]

I love that there is ZERO grunting, screeching and shrieking from either player as they hit the ball unlike the banshee sounds we hear these days 😅

[@wesstkilda]

Tennis nowadays is so Boring compared to when these two champions played. The variety, slice backhand and serve volleying made it entertaining! Now so many just stay at the back of the court and just rally it out, it’s a snooze fest!

[@EvonywithRamboo]

What days......... Steffi was the one.......

[@zolkiflee1194]

the quality is much better from nowadays women singles ladies..

[@DemaYuga-sx3kb]

Navratilova is my all time favorite next to seles and those two women are phenomenal

[@stephenmauriellomortgage]

That’s the GOAT 22 Slams before her 30th birthday and supplanted 2 of the All Time greats to breakthrough. I know Seles got stabbed and was off the court for 2 years. But Serena played in a horribly weak women’s field for the majority of her career.

[@rexgoodheart3471]

We'll never know how great Seles could have been because of that attack. All I know is that she gave the GOAT all she could handle.

[@carrerau7138]

Don't forget Steffi's reconstructive knee surgery at age 27. She had won 21 slams until then. Navratilova won 7 more slams after that age. Serena even 12. Steffi only one.

[@arb.369]

Queen's dual ❤❤❤

[@musicvideo5418]

Great players, both of them!

[@kibo3634]

When tennis champs were true personalities and tennis was a beautiful game.

[@sayresrudy2644]

always some dimwit with this rote nostalgic tripe

[@kibo3634]

@@sayresrudy2644don’t you have to go to bed? It’s already 8pm.

[@carrerau7138]

@@sayresrudy2644 In 50 years from now players will rewatch Graf-Navratilova slam finals. Swiatek-Sabalenka ones not so much.

[@pippodrugo]

I love you, Steffi...

[@a6hiji7]

Steffi be like "how much money do you have" 😂