Graf–Navratilova rivalry

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

The Graf–Navratilova rivalry was a

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

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

1986 US Open semifinal

In semifinals of the

after saving match points en route
.

1987 French Open final

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

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

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

  • 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

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

References

  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. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2024-02-01.
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