Graf–Navratilova rivalry

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Steffi Graf (22 Singles majors)
Martina Navratilova (18 Singles majors)

The Graf–Navratilova rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova, widely regarded as two of the greatest tennis players of all time. They met 18 times during their careers, and their head-to-head is even at 9–9,[1] with Graf having a 4–2 record in major finals but Navratilova having a 5–4 record in overall major matches (winning their last major meeting despite being 34 at the time). They contested three consecutive Wimbledon singles finals (1987, 1988, 1989). Notably, despite how even their rivalry was, the age difference between Navratilova and Graf is more than 12.5 years.

List of all matches[edit]

Legend Graf Navratilova
Grand Slam 4 5
WTA Tour Championships 1 2
WTA Tour Events 4 2
Total 9 9

Graf–Navratilova (9–9)

No. Date Tournament Surface Round Winner Score Graf Navratilova
1. 1985 US Open Hard Semifinals Navratilova 6–2, 6–3 0 1
2. 1986 Maybelline Classic Hard Final Navratilova 6–3, 6–1 0 2
3. 1986 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet Semifinals Navratilova 6–2, 6–2 0 3
4. 1986 German Open Clay Final Graf 6–2, 6–3 1 3
5. 1986 US Open Hard Semifinals Navratilova 6–1, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(10–8) 1 4
6. 1986 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet Final Navratilova 7–6(8–6), 6–3, 6–2 1 5
7. 1987 Miami Open Hard Semifinals Graf 6–3, 6–2 2 5
8. 1987 Roland Garros Clay Final Graf 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 3 5
9. 1987 Wimbledon Grass Final Navratilova 7–5, 6–3 3 6
10. 1987 US Open Hard Final Navratilova 7–6(7–4), 6–1 3 7
11. 1988 Wimbledon Grass Final Graf 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 4 7
12. 1989 Wimbledon Grass Final Graf 6–2, 6–7(1–7), 6–1 5 7
13. 1989 US Open Hard Final Graf 3–6, 7–5, 6–1 6 7
14. 1989 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet Final Graf 6–4, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 7 7
15. 1991 US Open Hard Semifinals Navratilova 7–6(7–2), 6–7(6–8), 6–4 7 8
16. 1992 Zurich Open Carpet Final Graf 2–6, 7–5, 7–5 8 8
17. 1993 Pan Pacific Open Carpet Semifinals Navratilova 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 8 9
18. 1994 Pan Pacific Open Carpet Final Graf 6–2, 6–4 9 9

Famous matches[edit]

1986 US Open semifinal[edit]

In semifinals of the 1986 US Open, in the most anticipated match of the tournament,[2] No.1 Martina Navratilova prevailed over 17-year-old and No. 3 Steffi Graf with a scoreline of 6–1, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(10–8). The match was suspended with Navratilova leading 4–1 in the first set and resumed the next day. Navratilova saved three match points in the epic spread over two days.[3][4] With her win in the final, Navratilova became the first woman in the Open Era to win a major after saving match points en route.

1987 French Open final[edit]

In the final of the 1987 French Open, No. 2 Graf defeated No. 1 Navratilova to win her first Grand Slam title with a scoreline of 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 in what was considered a changing of the guard.[5] Graf overcame a 3–5 deficit in the final set to eventually win it 8–6.[6]

1988 Wimbledon final[edit]

In the final of the 1988 Wimbledon No. 1 Steffi Graf defeated No. 2 and six-time defending champion Martina Navratilova with 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 to win her third slam title on her way to the Golden Slam that year. Navratilova had a 7–5, 2–0 lead before Graf won 12 of the last 13 matches, breaking Navratilova in all of her last 7 service games. Graf’s win is considered by many as the best performance ever of a female tennis player.

1991 US Open semifinal[edit]

In the semifinals of the 1991 US Open, No. 6 Navratilova beat No. 1 Graf in an epic, winning with a score line of 7–6(7–2), 6–7(6–8), 6–4, in what is considered one of the greatest matches in US Open history.[7] She would ultimately lose the final to Monica Seles.[8]

Breakdown of the rivalry[edit]

  • Hard courts: Navratilova, 5–2
  • Clay courts: Graf, 2–0
  • Grass courts: Graf, 2–1
  • Carpet courts: Equal, 3–3
  • Grand Slam matches: Navratilova, 5–4
  • Grand Slam finals: Graf, 4–2
  • Year-End Championships matches: Navratilova, 2–1
  • Year-End Championships finals: Equal, 1–1
  • Fed Cup matches: None
  • All finals: Graf, 8–4
  • All matches: Equal, 9–9

Set tallies[edit]

Graf Set score Navratilova
1 8–6 0
2 7–6 5
4 7–5 2
4 6–4 2
2 6–3 7
6 6–2 6
3 6–1 3
0 6–0 0
22 Total sets 25
224 Total games 232

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Ten great tennis rivalries". The Independent. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  2. ^ Nathan, David E. (1986-09-04). "U.S. Open Moment". UPI. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  3. ^ Navratilova Pushed To Limit Before Ousting Upstart Graf Archived August 1, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, SunSentinel [Florida, U.S.], Jim Sarni, Sept. 7, 1986.
  4. ^ Marshall, Ashley (2020-04-17). "Turning Points: Martina Navratilova saves match points to edge Steffi Graf at 1986 US Open". Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  5. ^ Tignor, Steve (2017-06-05). "30-Love: Thirty years ago, Steffi and Martina's unsung rivalry crested". Tennis.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  6. ^ Williams, Roger M. (1987-06-07). "GRAF TOPPLES NAVRATILOVA IN FRENCH FINAL". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  7. ^ Curtis, Jake (2013-08-31). "Ranking the 10 Greatest Matches in US Open Tennis History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  8. ^ Araton, Harvey (1991-09-08). "TENNIS; Seles Bolts Past Navratilova to Win U.S. Open". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
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