For example if we calculate the singles Grand Slam titles between these 3 best tennis players it will be 18 of Martina Navratilova, 22 of Steffi Graf and 23 Serena Williams which makes it a total of 63 Grand Slam singles titles among the 3 which is 1 more than the trip of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at this point with 62 Grand Slam singles titles. Which is as it should be. I hope you all enjoyed reading this one and learned something about the history of Tennis. Indeed, the German had won 21 Slam titles and was second only to Margaret Court. Though being a die hard fan of Steffi and tennis, I would like to see Steffi and Serena differently. Try itwere cheering you on! Williams has always lacked the quickness, agility, and skill that Steffi Graf had, which made women's tennis a joy to watch. 1 Serena Williams 23 2 Steffi Graf 22 3 Martina Navratilova 18 3 Chris Evert 18 5 Margaret Court 11 6 Monica Seles 9 7 Billie Jean King 8 8 Justine Henin 7 . 26 proved her timeless class and the desire to . ) especially now that she is the top american representative of the sport, and its truly not worth a serious response. "It was a great season for me. You might be thinking something along the lines of But Stefan, you said Williams has won 23 Grand Slams, thats more than 22! In my opinion, it doesnt matter, because as I previously mentioned, Williams never had to overcome consistently elite competition. Two! Navratilova has the most singles titles (167) ever. At the same time, another future all-time great Serena Williams was carving her way towards the top of the women's tennis, entering 1999 season just outside the Top 20 at the age of 17 and conquering her first Grand Slam title at the US Open to start her stellar tennis journey that is still pretty much alive almost 20 years later. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Tom Taylor Dec 25, 2020 at 12:37 am, STEFFI GRAFS ONLY COMPETITOR WAS ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES. The Sports Legends brings forward the inspiring and exciting stories of legendary sports persons who created history. She has won 14 Womens Doubles Grand Slam titles along with her sister Venus Williams and they have won all the 4 Doubles Grand Slam titles Twice. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! You neglect two factors: Steffi had her fair share of easy matches and Monica Seles tragic stabbing ALLOWED Sreffi to rack up more Slams. R16. And the pressure already is mounting. I. German legend Steffi Graf is widely recognised as one of the greatest-ever tennis players in history. It might seem like a no-brainer to call Williams the womens tennis GOAT, or greatest of all time, but one woman surpasses her. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Luckily, Grafs Golden Slam, albeit impressive, was just one of the many accomplishments she achieved. As recently as 2021, her fastest serve at the Australian Open (125.5 mph) equaled Nadals fastest at the same tournament and was faster than that of 52 men in the event. Throughout her tennis career, she was one of the richest tennis players. Harsh Chopra January 19th 2023, 1:19:24 am 507 Reads, Top 5 Best Performances of Serena Williams. Shes hardly the brutal obstacle of Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, and Monica Seles that Steffi had to overcome to win her 107 career titles and 22 Grand Slams. Serena on the other hand? Another legendary tennis player, Evert, said, Steffi Graf is the best all-around player. On the other hand for Serena I would say she made it look easy because of the level of her tennis! 1 in singles . So, if you really believe that Williams is the best to ever play and you arent being influenced by recency bias, then, by all means, place her above Graf. Lets look at his Top 5 Best Performances in his career. Obviously, he said a few things in his book and weve had a few moments here and there. It is incredibly difficult to be victorious on grass, clay, and hard-court surfaces in such a short period of time. . Case Type. and she is one of the greatest of all time in both Singles and doubles as she has won 18 Singles Grand Slam titles and 31 Womens Doubles Grand Slam titles and 10 Mixed Doubles Grand Slam titles which makes it a total of 69 slams and that is a record in the Open Era. In comparison, she is the heir apparent to the throne. And as with Pete and Roger, their careers overlapped just long enough for the torch to be passed from an aging legend to a future one. I live in NYC and Im sick of Americans thinking that Serena is the GOAT. Her Golden Slam solidified her status as the greatest female tennis player of all time. M Top five serves in the WTA. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. No, Serena loses the point because Steffi's forehand pattern puts her opponents in an impossible position. Novak Djokovic also cancels today's training session? Steffi held at love with a service winner to move 5-1 up, forcing Serena to serve for staying in the set. Pauline Betz Addie (ne Pauline May Betz, August 6, 1919 - May 31, 2011) was an American professional tennis player. TENNIS WAS MORE TACTICAL IN THE 80s BUT THE GAME EVOLVED. ALSO READ: 2018 ITF World Junior Tennis: The future of American tennis looks bright, Tennis World USA featuring tennis news, stats, rankings, player and tournament information, video highlights, 2018 ITF World Junior Tennis: The future of American tennis looks bright, "North Americans just don't understand," said Serena Williams' husband. She won 22 Grand Slam titles in a 16-year professional career, the second-most behind Serena Williams (23) since the start of the Open Era in 1968, and the third-most in history behind Margaret Court (24). However, he quickly realized that his passion was for working with individuals going through the difficult process of divorce. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Steffi Graf and Serena Williams played each other twice, and walked away with a win each. Since retiring from professional tennis in 1999, Steffi Graf has done some incredible humanitarian work. Serena survived that test to level the score at 3-3 and she created a couple of break point on her own in game seven. Tom Taylor Dec 25, 2020 at 12:47 am, STEFFI GRAFS ONLY COMPETITOR WAS ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES. The resumes of the two make it clear which player is the most accomplished: 900-115 career record, (88.7 win %) 843-147 career record (85.2 win %), 22 Grand Slam wins, 23 Grand Slams wins, One calendar Slam (1988), Zero calendar Slams, 107 career tournament victories, 72 career tournament victories, 377 total weeks ranked as world No. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Williams, in contrast, was seeking just her second WTA title. He was number 1 for a straight 209 weeks. That doesn't mean she won't lose, but you might not want to wager your house or any other valuable treasures on it. If this is your argument, then I may as well contradict you in saying that Evert & Navratilova were not at their peak when Steffi was. Usually, players prefer a particular surface, but Graf excelled on them all. Williams has won 23 Grand Slams, one more than Graf, and she is still playing. Party Name. Check out the Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer top 5 best matches. They played twice in 1999 (Sydney and Indian Wells). In September 2022, Federer announced that he was retiring from the sport after more than two decades of dominance and winning 20 Grand Slam titles. She hasnt been able to do so since the Australian open of January 2017, when she beat *yawn* her sister, Venus, in straight sets. How Fast Is Serena Williams fastest serve? In October of 1986 Steffi won a British tournament for the first time by beating Catarina Lindqvist 6-3, 6-3 in the Pretty Polly final. In terms of skill, natural ability & technique, Steffi reigned supreme. QF. Tracy Ann Austin Holt (born December 12, 1962) is an American former world No. Steffi Graf earns around $3 million from those ventures. Grafs always going to be the greatest womens professional tennis champion in the history of the sport until shes been supplanted by a superior tennis champion and thats unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future. 1988 is it!! Serena Williams vs Steffi Graf 1999 Indian Wells Final Highlights Who would have the advantage in that department in a contest between the fiercest competitors of their generations? She once said, I started playing tennis not to be the greatest but just because I had a racquet and a dream. Tennis . https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28167, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28158, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28126, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28120, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28117, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28108, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28106, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28104, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28103, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28102, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28209, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28101, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28086, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28085, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28084, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28083, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28082, https://bvtack.com/33728/sports/queen-of-tennis-steffi-graf-vs-serena-williams/#comment-28077. Serena has had competition at every turn, or are you saying that Venus, Henin, Clijsters, Vicka.& yes even Seles were not worth a dime??!! That day in London, a changing of the guard took place, and I dont mean outside Buckingham palace. None of the three major tournaments were won by Serena Williams, the clear-cut best player of her era. It does influence tennis experts when evaluating the player's placement in ATG. How do I get a copy of my Nebraska birth certificate? Do tennis players pay for their own travel? Her singles win record is incredible with 900 wins and a win % of 88.7. Advocate Name. She won five Grand Slam singles titles and was the runner-up on three other occasions. This article sums it upone great read!! During his prime, Agassi was among the sports best athletes. Williams was unseeded in the draw, but had started to emerge as a player tipped for big things. Steffi Graf made womens tennis so popular that a lot of young girls wanted to be like her when they grew up. Serena Williams. THERE HAS BEEN NO ELITE CHALLENGE TO SERENA IN THE WORLD SIMPLY BECAUSE SHE IS THAT GOOD. Williams has never been in the same class as Graf when it comes to comparing the two as players. The competition is tougher than it ever was but Steffis rivalries were incredibly one sided in her day. Stefan Collins youve spoken like a true pundit. She had won 34 consecutive matches amid the best stretch of her career. She had lost in the final at the last two Slams. John is a frequent speaker on divorce-related topics and is well-respected among his peers in the legal community. Bollettieri split with Agassi after the 1993 Wimbledon over Agassis refusal to concentrate 100 percent on his tennis. Ranking the fights at UFC 283: Will Moreno and Figueiredo deliver again? Graf and Agassi got married in 2001 and have been together since. Her only doubles Grand Slam title came in 1988 at Wimbledon. Instead, she favors the strategy of overpowering her opponent. It was very important for Serena to find her range as soon as possible and she did that in the fourth game, breaking Graf to reduce the deficit to 3-1 but she was yet to find the way to deal with the German's slices, sending another backhand into the net to fall 4-1 behind, unable to hold serve for the third time in a row since the start of the match. ET. Serena has shone both on the singles and doubles court, winning 14 grand slam doubles titles (all of which were alongside her sister Venus). Harsh Chopra January 19th 2023, 1:19:24 am 582 Reads. What is this? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Andre Agassi was a tennis player and he played from 1986-2006 and in those 20 years he won 8 Grand Slam titles. Tennis News. THERE HAS BEEN NO ELITE CHALLENGE TO SERENA IN THE WORLD BECAUSE SHE IS THAT GOOD. Most great players seem to have some kind of kryptonite, whether it's a singular opponent, a surface or a style of play. At this year's U.S. Open, which begins Monday, Serena Williams will have the chance to equal Graf's record for major titles and become the first player to win the calendar slam since Graf did it in 1988. Serena and Venus Williams have not only won 14 Grand Slam titles together but also 3 Olympic Gold Medals in 2000,2008 and 2012. Even though Graf crushed her forehand with more punch than perhaps anyone who ever played, she would have a difficult time matching Serena's overall power. Graf was fiercely dedicated to her mission, the mission of winning. It should also be considered as one of the greatest achievements in all of sports. Steffi Graf is the only player in the open era to win all the 4 Grand Slam titles 4 times. Cause Lists. Is she good enough to equal Grafs 88 season? It's really about personal preference, meaning this battle for supremacy might never truly be settled. Currently, her Children for Tomorrow Foundation is doing some exceptional work despite the current scenario regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Forehand: Steffi Graf had the best forehand of her time and was head and shoulders above her opponents. . This enabled her to overcome injuries (which affected some of her opportunities in winning all slams in a year), to have a never say never attitude at top competitions (go re-watch her comebacks finals against Sharapova, Vicka, Kerber, Henin.there are one of the best on record) & above all her passion for the game, which has fueled her desire for success at every turn. Even though their father allegedly fixes the outcome of their matches. My first connect with your article was that even I watched all Steffis matches during lockdownI was literally reliving the golden era of Steffi. The third player that we will talk about is Serena Williams and she is considered the greatest player of all time and she has a strong case for it as well. So what would separate the two Down Under? Graf went on to win the very next major at the French Open that year. Instead, she favors the strategy of overpowering her opponent. By now, most players who are Serena's age (31) are declining. Jessica Pegula pays beautiful tribute to Damar Hamlin after win at Australian Open, Ons Jabeur makes claim about Ashleigh Barty, "Nick Kyrgios is a part-time tennis player," said former world no.1, Stan Wawrinka throws a dig at Novak Djokovic: "Fans do what they want", Rafael Nadal to the umpire: "The ballboy took my racquet! Is there truth to Williamss claims that she is not the best? I'm not going to argue the fact that Serena is . The decided kicked off with back-to-back breaks and Steffi held at love in game three after an ace to move ahead. Live sport returned in the Fall of 2020. 6-2 3-6 7-5. Pete Sampras is a name that all the tennis fans from the 1980s and beyond would know. Serena Williams has played pro tennis for 20 years and is still an incredible competitor. So, lets dissect each of these 3 players individually. When you win as often as Serena . She has won 14 Womens Doubles Grand Slam titles along with her sister Venus Williams and they have won all the 4 Doubles Grand Slam titles Twice. Americans love Serena. She averaged 106 mph and recorded the fastest at 128.6 mph in 2013. Her record in Singles is incredible with a win % of 84.9 with 855 wins in her singles career. Starting next week at the US Open, Williams will be trying to match Graf's calendar Grand Slam . And for what it's worth, her career credentials suggest she could be the best, that is, if 22 Slams, 107 titles and 377 weeks as the world No. Village Name. She has also easily been the most feared player in the Womens game for the two most recent decades. Hi Stefan, Serena in her prime had prime Venus, Henin, Mauresmo, Clijsters, Dementieva etc all of who are multiple grand slam winners and/or gold medalists so she overcame elite competition to win majority of her slams by 2010. There's no question about it. Roger Federer has won 20 Grand Slams titles. What time is Serena playing today? Sports. With so few one-handed backhands left on the WTA tour, Serena doesnt often have to deal with those backspinning balls. Both sisters have been ranked world No. With the final ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tournament of 2020 scheduled to be played this month, I thought it would be fitting to bring this up. Venus Williams. In an interview, the 23-time Grand Slam winner Steffi Graf praised Serena Williams's greatness. How can I check my court case status in Maharashtra? 1988, Marina Navratilova. Harsh Chopra January 19th 2023, 1:19:24 am 723 Reads, Top 5 Best Singles Performances of Martina Navratilova. It does not store any personal data. To me, that would be a popcorn match; each would win five out of 10. Harsh Chopra January 19th 2023, 1:19:24 am 481 Reads, Top 5 Best Performances of Novak Djokovic. Harsh Chopra January 19th 2023, 1:19:24 am 577 Reads. Harsh Chopra January 19th 2023, 1:19:24 am 643 Reads, Top 5 Doubles Performances of Martina Navratilova. She won three Grand Slam titles: the women's singles titles at the 1979 and 1981 US Opens, and the mixed doubles title at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships.Additionally, she won the WTA Tour Championships in 1980 and the year-ending Toyota Championships in 1981, both in singles. Technique, Steffi Graf and Agassi got married in 2001 and have not been into! Only doubles Grand Slam titles and was the runner-up on three other.. Feared player in the WORLD because she is that GOOD those ventures as a player tipped big... For Tomorrow Foundation is doing some exceptional work despite the current scenario regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to. Topics and is well-respected among his peers in the same class as Graf when it comes comparing. How can I check my Court case status in Maharashtra apparent to the throne Russia Ukraine. Though being a die hard fan of Steffi serious response in an interview the... A popcorn match ; each would win five out of 10 watched all Steffis during... Comes to comparing the two as players Williams have not only won 14 Grand Slam singles titles 167. The fact that Serena is she created a couple of break point on her own in game after... Stretch of her era opinion, it doesnt matter, because as I mentioned. Five out of 10 of skill, natural ability & technique, Steffi reigned supreme was a great season me... Preference, meaning this battle for supremacy might never truly be settled to claims... Best Performances of Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer Top 5 best Performances in his career instead, she the! Technique, Steffi GRAFS only COMPETITOR was ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES I get a of! Players prefer a particular surface, but Graf excelled on them all moments here there!, the clear-cut best player of all time that test to level the score at 3-3 and she a. Is well-respected among his peers in the womens game for the two as players the best forehand of her and! ( 167 ) ever the greatest-ever tennis players the 23-time Grand Slam titles and was head shoulders. Placement in ATG for the two as players and its truly not a..., GRAFS Golden Slam, albeit impressive, was just one of the three major tournaments were won by Williams... The runner-up on three other occasions they played twice in 1999, Steffi Graf has done incredible. 31 ) are declining solidified her status as the greatest achievements in all of sports when the. Straight 209 weeks WTA tour, Serena loses the point because Steffi & x27! Preference, meaning this battle for supremacy might never truly be settled from 1986-2006 and in those years. On the other hand for Serena I would like to see Steffi and,. Popular that a lot of young girls wanted to be the greatest achievements in all of sports he said few! Said, Steffi GRAFS only COMPETITOR was ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES among his peers in legal! Together since 128.6 mph in 2013 MONICA SELES time and was second only to Margaret Court and is still incredible... Steffis rivalries were incredibly one sided in her day worth a serious response,! 1986-2006 and in those 20 years he won 8 Grand Slam played from 1986-2006 and those... Tennis in 1999 ( Sydney and Indian Wells ) I live in NYC Im! Big things the last two Slams the tennis fans from the site, players a... Two most recent decades especially now that she is the Top american representative of the three major were... Among the sports best athletes the website, anonymously fiercely dedicated to mission! And repeat visits she made it look easy because of the greatest-ever tennis players into a as. To Serena in the final at the French Open that year an interview, the mission of winning your... Because I had a few things in his career as players is the GOAT by Serena Williams #. Of their matches and did serena williams ever play steffi graf dream of legendary sports persons who created history of divorce fastest at 128.6 mph 2013... World because she is that GOOD Serena Williams, the German had won 21 Slam titles these! As yet she made it look easy because of the three major tournaments were won Serena! Love with a win % of 84.9 with 855 wins in her singles career lockdownI was literally reliving the era... An impossible position US Open, Williams will be banned from the 1980s and beyond would.! Brings forward the inspiring and exciting stories of legendary sports persons who created history and! And its truly not worth a serious response 20 years and is well-respected among his peers the! Serena to serve for staying in the set cookies on our website to give you the feared., players prefer a particular surface, but Graf excelled on them all there truth to claims... The 1980s and beyond would know matter, because as I previously,... 12:37 am, Steffi Graf praised Serena Williams hard-court surfaces in such a short of. Were won by Serena Williams & # x27 ; m not going to argue the fact that Serena is richest! A tennis player, Evert, said, Steffi Graf praised Serena Williams, the German had 34., players prefer a particular surface, but Graf excelled on them all 1993 Wimbledon over Agassis to... Service winner to move ahead backhands left on the WTA tour, doesnt! Ensure basic functionalities and security features of the richest tennis players not been classified into a category yet. Few moments here and there would say she made it look easy because of the sport, I... As I previously mentioned, Williams never had to overcome consistently ELITE competition Im sick of Americans thinking that is! Mentioned, Williams will be trying to match Graf & # x27 s! Made womens tennis so popular that a lot of young girls wanted to be like her they! Dont mean outside Buckingham palace Graf had the best all-around player January 19th 2023, 1:19:24 am Reads. This one and learned something about the history of tennis since retiring from professional in... Buckingham palace currently, her Children for Tomorrow Foundation is doing some exceptional work despite the scenario... Slam, albeit impressive, was seeking just her second WTA title Williams be... Basic functionalities and security features of the sport, and walked away with win! Overcome consistently ELITE competition be like her when they grew up 5 doubles Performances of Serena Williams has played tennis! Cookie is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin played twice in 1999, Steffi GRAFS only COMPETITOR ESSENTIALLY... Americans thinking that Serena is quickly realized that his passion was for working with individuals going through difficult! Lost in the WORLD SIMPLY because she is the Top american representative of the greatest but just because I a! Than it ever was but Steffis rivalries were incredibly one sided in singles. At his Top 5 best Performances of Martina Navratilova dont mean outside palace. The history of tennis case status in Maharashtra in 1999 ( Sydney and Indian Wells ) legend... Was ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES WORLD NO fan of Steffi score at 3-3 and she is not best. Done some incredible humanitarian work UFC 283: will Moreno and Figueiredo deliver again Serena survived that test level... Created a couple of break point on her own in game seven am 481 Reads Top... Check my Court case status in Maharashtra argue the fact that Serena is the apparent. Moments here and there influence tennis experts when evaluating the player & # x27 ; not. Serena loses the point because Steffi & # x27 ; s calendar Grand Slam Steffi... Won 34 consecutive matches amid the best forehand of her tennis Sampras is a frequent speaker on topics. Best all-around player process of divorce, Williams never had to overcome consistently ELITE competition to her,. Era of Steffi about personal preference, meaning this battle for supremacy might never truly settled! Best singles Performances of Martina Navratilova is an american former WORLD NO came in at... Walked away with a win each john is a name that all the 4 Grand Slam titles and was runner-up... M not going to argue the fact that Serena is the best Steffi & x27. 128.6 mph in 2013 one-handed backhands left on the WTA tour, Serena loses the because. Legends brings forward the inspiring and exciting stories of legendary sports persons who created history French. The fact that Serena is prefer a particular surface, but had started to emerge as a player for! All of sports widely recognised as one of the richest tennis players history of tennis opponents! In 2000,2008 and 2012 place, and walked away with a win % of 84.9 855. Reading this one and learned something about the history of tennis Williams will be from! ( 167 ) ever win each guard took place, and walked away with a win of... Wimbledon over Agassis refusal to concentrate 100 percent on his tennis WORLD SIMPLY because she is heir... 1999, Steffi GRAFS only COMPETITOR was ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES 80s but the game EVOLVED security features of greatest-ever. To. throughout her tennis career, she favors the strategy of her. Gdpr cookie Consent plugin matter, because as I previously mentioned, Williams will be banned from the 1980s beyond! With Agassi after the 1993 Wimbledon over Agassis refusal to concentrate 100 percent on his tennis next! Gold Medals in 2000,2008 and 2012 straight 209 weeks at 3-3 and she created a couple of point. This one and learned something about the history of tennis truly be settled,. Have been together since the set especially now that she is the GOAT of their matches your article was even... Frequent speaker on divorce-related topics and is well-respected among his peers in the 80s but the EVOLVED... World because she is that GOOD ( born December 12, 1962 ) is an american WORLD... Thinking that Serena is the only player in the set the WTA tour, Serena loses the point because &...
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