I remember Eurosport were showing a boring Boris Becker match when this was on, the commentator was giving regular score updates and saying how well Majoli was playing, you could hear the crowd cheering it was so frustrating not to be able to watch it, eventually they did go to it to catch the last few games, thanks for these highlights 🙂
I remember watching this match at the time. Steffi wasn't really at her best, but a really fearless performance from Majoli. It's a shame that she never really fulfilled all the potential she had.
@@debraharris879 Majoli never beat Graf in her whole career. They played each other a bunch of times, but Graf won all of the matches in straight sets. Majoli beat Hingis in the 1997 final; this match is from 1993.
@Hearth And Soul I heard she was a big time party goer. It was hard to believe because I was high school aged and I was into my studies, playing volleyball and tennis. That's why I followed the WTA, they were my age playing tennis professionally. Which blew my mind lol.
Love Steffi Graff and/but am amazed at all she accomplished with 1/2 a backhand. I think a lot of her success speaks to her determination, fitness and yes a pretty good forehand. But the slice (only) backhand! Simply amazing.
ron macdonald Pretty good forehand? The best forehand of all time in the women’s sport! That slice backhand is a thing of beauty too. It is an underrated shot if you ask me. I think she could have come over the backhand more , but still an amazing shot.
As time went on, the topspin backhand became less necessary because there were fewer serve volleyers. But steffi's slice actually worked really well against baseliners. We've seen other players such as Lendl and Federer use the slice in a similar way. It can really disrupt an opponent's rhythm, it forces them to dig the ball out (difficult and tiring) and the end result is often a short ball mid court that can be easily mopped up with a forehand. If you watch old footage of Lendl playing the bolletieri players like Agassi and Courier, all he does is slice away with his backhand, and it drives them crazy. Roger Federer used to do something similar with Andy roddick. The slice backhand can be a great weapon if used intelligently, like Steffi, Roger and Ivan did.
I get the feeling she was probably too balanced as a person to have the mentality to be a great champion. A lot of the great ones have to become almost sociopathic - that kind of relentless will to win needs unnatural tunnel vision. I think Iva was just too nice as a person - she was very popular with many of the other players.
Andre D. To be fair, Iva Majoli was a largely unknown newcomer at the time, so organisers probably thought it would be a fairly uneventful match. She wasn’t even seeded yet (I don’t think!) and so she was not a player who was expected to reach the 4th round. That’s why it was probably scheduled for court one. As it turned out, Majoli never won a set against Graf in her whole career and this turned out to be their closest encounter.
Powerful shot making from both. Not many players could produce this sort of power in 1993.
I remember Eurosport were showing a boring Boris Becker match when this was on, the commentator was giving regular score updates and saying how well Majoli was playing, you could hear the crowd cheering it was so frustrating not to be able to watch it, eventually they did go to it to catch the last few games, thanks for these highlights 🙂
That was the much more boring Krajicek - Carlos Costa 5-setter (10:8 in the 5th). Becker lost in the R2 that year.
I remember watching this match at the time. Steffi wasn't really at her best, but a really fearless performance from Majoli. It's a shame that she never really fulfilled all the potential she had.
At least she got to win a grand slam. Just as many as gabby sabatini, jana novotna & conchita martinez …
Yes I liked her, surprisingly as she had the audacity to beat Steffi. She went on to beat Hingis in the final didn’t she?
@@debraharris879
Majoli never beat Graf in her whole career. They played each other a bunch of times, but Graf won all of the matches in straight sets. Majoli beat Hingis in the 1997 final; this match is from 1993.
Thanks again for your upload.
Nice power from Majoli. Such a talented player who never reached her true potential. Too many great players got in her way.
Well at least she won a slam
@@nchong2569 I remember that day. Majoli played some great tennis to win the FO 97.
@Hearth And Soul I heard she was a big time party goer. It was hard to believe because I was high school aged and I was into my studies, playing volleyball and tennis. That's why I followed the WTA, they were my age playing tennis professionally. Which blew my mind lol.
Just noticing how much Venus & Majoli sound alike when they strike the ball.
Yup! I've always liked Majoli's grunt too.
I noticed it too!😀I like Iva's grunt more though!
I remember well Majoli in 1993.She made me forget a bit about Monica's absence... she remembers me Monica...
Iva Majoli was a players of great talent, but she didn't reach completely to express its.
Love Steffi Graff and/but am amazed at all she accomplished with 1/2 a backhand. I think a lot of her success speaks to her determination, fitness and yes a pretty good forehand. But the slice (only) backhand! Simply amazing.
ron macdonald Pretty good forehand? The best forehand of all time in the women’s sport! That slice backhand is a thing of beauty too. It is an underrated shot if you ask me. I think she could have come over the backhand more , but still an amazing shot.
@Illya Kuryakin Thank you...please don't tell the tennis police!! (lol) Graf
As time went on, the topspin backhand became less necessary because there were fewer serve volleyers. But steffi's slice actually worked really well against baseliners. We've seen other players such as Lendl and Federer use the slice in a similar way. It can really disrupt an opponent's rhythm, it forces them to dig the ball out (difficult and tiring) and the end result is often a short ball mid court that can be easily mopped up with a forehand. If you watch old footage of Lendl playing the bolletieri players like Agassi and Courier, all he does is slice away with his backhand, and it drives them crazy. Roger Federer used to do something similar with Andy roddick. The slice backhand can be a great weapon if used intelligently, like Steffi, Roger and Ivan did.
@@zeddeka not sure Roger had the same results as Graf when slicing
Majoli was a really good player. I expected more of her after the 97 FO win. What happened?
Bit of injuries and a lot of partying...
I never understood why Majoli didn’t win more than she did cause she played great!!! Consistency was probably an issue for her perhaps
I get the feeling she was probably too balanced as a person to have the mentality to be a great champion. A lot of the great ones have to become almost sociopathic - that kind of relentless will to win needs unnatural tunnel vision. I think Iva was just too nice as a person - she was very popular with many of the other players.
@@zeddeka Very interesting point of view..and quite true!
Wow, this match was just on court 1?!?
Andre D.
To be fair, Iva Majoli was a largely unknown newcomer at the time, so organisers probably thought it would be a fairly uneventful match. She wasn’t even seeded yet (I don’t think!) and so she was not a player who was expected to reach the 4th round. That’s why it was probably scheduled for court one. As it turned out, Majoli never won a set against Graf in her whole career and this turned out to be their closest encounter.
The Court Suzanne Lenglen was opened in 1994, so that was the 2nd biggest court.
Majoli dissappeared from the scene after winning RG in 1997. By the way, 97, where was Monica?
She reached the semi final but lost in three sets against Hingis.