@@Ivanasabelle004 I don't think any other player has played more unforgettable matches than Steffi: USO 86 semi final (loss) Wimbledon 88 final Wimbledon 88 final Wimbledon 91 final FO 92 final (loss) Wimbledon 93 final Wimbledon 95 final FO 96 final. FO 99 final Wimbledon 99 quarter final and so on...
Incredible ‘89 year-end championship match between Steffi Graf vs Martina Navratilova. So many good moments but I think the best part was the 9th game in the 1st set. Incredible points by two tennis greats of all time: 33:07 (speed and forehand power) 35:24, 36:01 (powerful backhands) 36:20 (awesome play by both) 21:16 (the greatest forehand ever!!!)
@@NOTHEOTHERGUY I love the Bud, Dick and Joanne old school trio from the 80s:( NBC fired or didn't renew Joanne's contract when Chrissie took over in 1990 at NBC after retiring and it was never the same again
2 of the greatest female tennis player of all time with Graf being the GOAT. She is so beautiful & charming. Meanwhile Steve Flink almost give perfect prediction of the scorelines( especially first two sets).
@@nhonhuynh6984then Steffi's 377 weeks at no 1 > Serena's 319 weeks at no 1, Steffi's 8 year end no 1 > Serena's 5 year end no 1, Steffi's 107 WTA titles (despite playing 10 years shorter) > 73 titles, Steffi's 88 winning percentage > Serena's 84 winning percentage (despite Graf playing more matches than Serena), Steffi's quadruple career slam > Serena's triple career slam, Steffi's golden slam+ non calendar slam in 1993-94 > Serena's two non calendar slam. Steffi winning 22 slams out of 54 she entered is far impressive than Serena winning 23 out of 81 slams entered. If you judge solely by slam than Margaret Court 24 slams > Serena's 23 slams. 😂😂 When you compare GOAT then you have to focus on other things rather than just slam.
@@nhonhuynh6984even in Olympic Serena underperformed. Serena won just 1 gold in singles & failed to reached SF in other Olympic but Steffi participated in 2 Olympic & win 1 gold & 1 silver in singles. Serena won 3 gold medals in doubles as she was lucky to have a sisters like Venus.
@@joeyconvery2055 Didn't you always claim that Seles was poor because of her minor stab wound? I agree with you that we must feel for Steffi and the tremendous impact the Graf Blackmail/Sex Scandal of 1990-92.
Steffi really going after Martina's forehand here. It had been viewed as a "big shot" in women's tennis previously, but as time went by, the players could hit harder and realised that Martina's forehand really could break down under pressure or when she was nervous. Her continental grip was a lot to do with that. She could lose control of it, or wrap the frame around the ball meaning that the ball would sit up in mid court and beg to be whacked. Martina's forehand volley could also let her down.
what was that, Martina did not really believe in Steffi until she won this year-ending tournament? not even 1988 made her change her mind? in any case, this tournament certainly showed Graf showing Navratilova who was boss. Steffi always had the highest respect for Martina; and when their careers were over, Steffi always said that her greatest rival was Martina (btw, not Seles). Steffi won 22 grand slam titles in 17 years of professional playing, and in 12 years from her first (Roland Garros, 1987) to her last (Roland Garros, 1999). in my view that puts her as the GOAT. Serena, who won one more at 23 slams, had to do it in 27 years as a professional and in 22 years (from her first to her last).
@@robs5855 Seles was not dominant. The career H2H remains and always will be 10-5 Graf. In 15 attempt, Seles was able to get the win 5 times. And 6-4 in GS, advantage Graf. Dominant? LOL Now trot out all of those woulda-coulda-shoulda rants that bitter Seles fans love to descend into...we'll wait.
Great comment from @anthony. Like everything in life there is always a beginning and also an end. Navratilova’s dominance came to and end when Graf arrived and similarly Seles could have put an end to Graf’s or at least make it more difficult. Unfortunately we will never know. Tennis is 60% mental and grunting is a distraction that posed an advantage back then when it was less accepted. Many players complained about Seles including Navratilova. I watched a few matches where Graf had Seles under constant pressure only to lose the point due to an unforced error. She had an intelligent game but she would have been less successful if she did not have the advantage of the aggressive grunts
It was terrible what happened to Seles. But I think after she was fine physically it was her mentality that took the biggest hit. Tennis takes a lot strength and mental fortitude Monica lost the later.
Yes. Martina definitely lost a lot of strength after 1986. Whereas players used to be terrified of her strength, here she looks very debilitated by comparison. Looking at her 1989 schedule, she skipped a lot of tournaments and took long breaks from the tour.
@tobiasisback4605 Martina gave an interesting interview a while back, saying that with hindsight she had been burnt out from the end of 1986 until mid 1989. She said that she was subconsciously looking to play as few tournaments as possible in 1987, but never stood back to look at what that actually meant. Her 1989 schedule was incredibly sparse. She took 8 weeks off February - April, then took another 8 weeks off from the end of April until June, 4 weeks off after Wimbledon, and after September only played two more tournaments the rest of the year.
@@zeddeka In 1989 Navratilova had her 6th-best season regards match winning percentages. Better than anything before 1982. From June 1989 to April 1990 she had a 67-3 win/loss run. These 3 losses were 1) the Wimbledon final with 26 76 16 against Steffi Graf 2) the USO final with 64 57 16 against Steffi Graf 3) this YEC final It is safe to say that without Steffi Graf Navratilova would have had a 70-match winning streak. Navratilova in 1989 was by FAR the best ever #2 of all time. And Steffi dominated her.
She lost Wimbledon and US Open in 87 but her record was really good but dominant isn't the word I would use if you don't win the 2 top slams of the year.
@@bondakaucantik5256 Then Monica Seles embarked on her love affair with butter. She would never move as well on a tennis court again. And her results back that up.
@@joeyconvery2055 but she she did get stabbed. Physically she was fine. Mentally she was weak. Plus she liked the pizzas and got fat.... Steffi stayed in peak physical form her entire Career. Peak graf and peak seles met at Wimbledon 1992 ( pre stabbing) seles lost 62 - 61 she would never win on grass ever. She had shitty footwork. Fine on hard court, terrible on grass.
@@JSmith-zr2ve Some cigarette-sponsored tourney in the USA more prestigious than Wimbledon? Are you Sleepy Joe or the Orange Clown? Or just some other Yankee idyot?
It's interesting how much strength Martina lost so quickly after 1986, when she was probably at her physical biggest and most muscular. She literally looks about half the size here that she was in 1986.
@@carrerau7138 ?? What excuses? She was in her thirties. She's obviously not going to be as physically strong as she was in her twenties. You know - just like Steffi wasn't as strong in 1999 as she was in 1993? Are you one of those weird people who is so unhealthily obsessed by their favourite player that they perceive everything as some kind of attack on them?
@@zeddeka 1989 Navratilova (aged 32/33) was without a doubt better than 1973-1981 Navratilova (aged 18-27). 1989 was Navratilova's 6th-best year regarding match winning percentages. Without Graf existing it would have been the 5th-best. Definitely peak in a 22-year-long career. 1989 Navratilova was by far the best #2 of all time. So stop your silly excuses. My God, you Yankees just can't accept a foreigner's superiority, can you?
Billy Jean was never an objective observer of the game. When she wasn't coaching Martina, she was trying to make the women's game into something it wasn't. Blame Billy for the hot mess the women's game has become.
I always remember what Anne Jones said about BJK. "She did a lot to get the tour for the women, but she also always made sure there was something in it for herself." Interesting too that BJK started working for one of the major tobacco companies after she retired.
google this for english version, and click on wikipedia search result: 1989 Virginia Slims Championships - Singles falls Du deutsch bist, folgendes in google eingeben und auf das wikipedia-suchergebnis gehen: WTA Championships 1989
No Evert. Her last tournament in 89 was the US Open and then she played Fed Cup in October in Japan where the United States defeated Spain and Chrissie was undefeated that whole week; playing the best she had all year. A much more fitting end for her pro-career. Carpet was Evert’s worst surface. She didn’t have great results at MSG… for her.
@@iwantafennec9577 thanks for the reply. I knew this information and figured this was the case, but I wanted to make sure.. thanks again... Yes, I remember evert routed both novotna and martinez at the fed cup....
They used back then that only two women in the game could sell clothing - Gaby and Steffi. Martina had had that association with Puma for several years and towards the end of her career she was sponsored by Lotto
The 2 greatest athletes to play the women's game? And maybe the 2 greatest ever women's players (Steffi definitely helped by Monica getting 'taken out' when totally dominating her)? But Steffi had such an ugly game - not pleasing to watch at all. And though I loved Martina's net-rushing, high-risk style her groundies were pretty ugly, too...
Watching this in February 2024.Martina is my all time favourite... what a fantastic match.Thanks for uploading
You're welcome.
One of many unforgettable Tennis Games of Steffi Graf. Steffi the greatest woman tennis player of all time.
@@Ivanasabelle004 I don't think any other player has played more unforgettable matches than Steffi:
USO 86 semi final (loss)
Wimbledon 88 final
Wimbledon 88 final
Wimbledon 91 final
FO 92 final (loss)
Wimbledon 93 final
Wimbledon 95 final
FO 96 final.
FO 99 final
Wimbledon 99 quarter final
and so on...
I love Martina but Evert is the reason money went into the game, they showed up to watch her.
@@lenwelch2195 But Steffi was “the first international superstar“ (BJ King).
Incredible ‘89 year-end championship match between Steffi Graf vs Martina Navratilova. So many good moments but I think the best part was the 9th game in the 1st set. Incredible points by two tennis greats of all time:
33:07 (speed and forehand power)
35:24, 36:01 (powerful backhands)
36:20 (awesome play by both)
21:16 (the greatest forehand ever!!!)
Great match between 2 legends, loved the YEC in NY - top 16 in the world, best of 5 set final, so much variety and classic tennis then.
thanks so much Kev for uploading I've never seen the whole match before.... I miss Bud Collins and Joanne Russell's commentating !
I do, too! A lot of folks didn't like JoAnne...but I enjoyed her commentary!
@@NOTHEOTHERGUY I love the Bud, Dick and Joanne old school trio from the 80s:( NBC fired or didn't renew Joanne's contract when Chrissie took over in 1990 at NBC after retiring and it was never the same again
@@dy1497 ahhh i wondered where Joanne went !
Supersteffi so cute! 😍
2 of the greatest female tennis player of all time with Graf being the GOAT.
She is so beautiful & charming. Meanwhile Steve Flink almost give perfect prediction of the scorelines( especially first two sets).
Serena is the GOAT
@@nhonhuynh6984 no, Steffi is the GOAT.
@@rajusaha855 Grand Slam titles: Serena 23 > Steffi 22, Olympics Gold Medal: Serena: 2 > Steffi:1. Now tell me how could Steffi be the Goat?
@@nhonhuynh6984then Steffi's 377 weeks at no 1 > Serena's 319 weeks at no 1, Steffi's 8 year end no 1 > Serena's 5 year end no 1, Steffi's 107 WTA titles (despite playing 10 years shorter) > 73 titles, Steffi's 88 winning percentage > Serena's 84 winning percentage (despite Graf playing more matches than Serena), Steffi's quadruple career slam > Serena's triple career slam, Steffi's golden slam+ non calendar slam in 1993-94 > Serena's two non calendar slam. Steffi winning 22 slams out of 54 she entered is far impressive than Serena winning 23 out of 81 slams entered.
If you judge solely by slam than Margaret Court 24 slams > Serena's 23 slams. 😂😂 When you compare GOAT then you have to focus on other things rather than just slam.
@@nhonhuynh6984even in Olympic Serena underperformed. Serena won just 1 gold in singles & failed to reached SF in other Olympic but Steffi participated in 2 Olympic & win 1 gold & 1 silver in singles. Serena won 3 gold medals in doubles as she was lucky to have a sisters like Venus.
Oh how we loved to see Steffi win❤
Very nice speech at the end by Martina, which Steffi acknowledged.
Steffi only 20 back then managed the audience really well.
And, Navratilova nailed it: $60k looks ridiculous even for 1989
Young Steffi was a fascinating girl - cute and even a bit bashful off court, but ice-cold in crunch-time on-court in front of 20,000 spectators.
@@carrerau7138she's not your girlfriend. Get over it.
@@zeddeka Yes, sadly.
Did i hear her right ? .......She said Steffi was a 3 slam winner in 88 no my dear it was 4 including the Olympics. Her golden slam.
Everyone on top will lose that spot one day, especially after a record 186 weeks.
@@joeyconvery2055 So did Sanchez and Hingis.
@@joeyconvery2055 Poor Seles.
@@joeyconvery2055 Didn't you always claim that Seles was poor because of her minor stab wound?
I agree with you that we must feel for Steffi and the tremendous impact the Graf Blackmail/Sex Scandal of 1990-92.
Steffi really going after Martina's forehand here. It had been viewed as a "big shot" in women's tennis previously, but as time went by, the players could hit harder and realised that Martina's forehand really could break down under pressure or when she was nervous. Her continental grip was a lot to do with that. She could lose control of it, or wrap the frame around the ball meaning that the ball would sit up in mid court and beg to be whacked. Martina's forehand volley could also let her down.
Her forehand looked SO weak in her 2004 singles comeback compared to the power of that time.
what was that, Martina did not really believe in Steffi until she won this year-ending tournament? not even 1988 made her change her mind? in any case, this tournament certainly showed Graf showing Navratilova who was boss. Steffi always had the highest respect for Martina; and when their careers were over, Steffi always said that her greatest rival was Martina (btw, not Seles). Steffi won 22 grand slam titles in 17 years of professional playing, and in 12 years from her first (Roland Garros, 1987) to her last (Roland Garros, 1999). in my view that puts her as the GOAT. Serena, who won one more at 23 slams, had to do it in 27 years as a professional and in 22 years (from her first to her last).
That's because she had Seles taken out when Seles was dominant.
@@robs5855 a comment that can be made only by ignorant nincompoops.
@@robs5855 Seles was not dominant. The career H2H remains and always will be 10-5 Graf. In 15 attempt, Seles was able to get the win 5 times. And 6-4 in GS, advantage Graf. Dominant? LOL Now trot out all of those woulda-coulda-shoulda rants that bitter Seles fans love to descend into...we'll wait.
Great comment from @anthony.
Like everything in life there is always a beginning and also an end. Navratilova’s dominance came to and end when Graf arrived and similarly Seles could have put an end to Graf’s or at least make it more difficult. Unfortunately we will never know.
Tennis is 60% mental and grunting is a distraction that posed an advantage back then when it was less accepted. Many players complained about Seles including Navratilova. I watched a few matches where Graf had Seles under constant pressure only to lose the point due to an unforced error. She had an intelligent game but she would have been less successful if she did not have the advantage of the aggressive grunts
It was terrible what happened to Seles. But I think after she was fine physically it was her mentality that took the biggest hit. Tennis takes a lot strength and mental fortitude Monica lost the later.
Breathtaking... to the last point.
Thanks Kev. Was a great match.
Steffi really overpowered Martina. She was bigger faster had more power.
Martina was...31 and Steffi 20....
Yes. Martina definitely lost a lot of strength after 1986. Whereas players used to be terrified of her strength, here she looks very debilitated by comparison. Looking at her 1989 schedule, she skipped a lot of tournaments and took long breaks from the tour.
@tobiasisback4605 Martina gave an interesting interview a while back, saying that with hindsight she had been burnt out from the end of 1986 until mid 1989. She said that she was subconsciously looking to play as few tournaments as possible in 1987, but never stood back to look at what that actually meant. Her 1989 schedule was incredibly sparse. She took 8 weeks off February - April, then took another 8 weeks off from the end of April until June, 4 weeks off after Wimbledon, and after September only played two more tournaments the rest of the year.
@@zeddeka In 1989 Navratilova had her 6th-best season regards match winning percentages. Better than anything before 1982.
From June 1989 to April 1990 she had a 67-3 win/loss run. These 3 losses were
1) the Wimbledon final with 26 76 16 against Steffi Graf
2) the USO final with 64 57 16 against Steffi Graf
3) this YEC final
It is safe to say that without Steffi Graf Navratilova would have had a 70-match winning streak.
Navratilova in 1989 was by FAR the best ever #2 of all time.
And Steffi dominated her.
Does anyone have highlights of the Martina vs Seles match? That seemed like a great match.
It's been available elsewhere on TH-cam for a while now - should appear in a search
87,88,89 Graf muy dominante!!
She lost Wimbledon and US Open in 87 but her record was really good but dominant isn't the word I would use if you don't win the 2 top slams of the year.
Sure miss Chris evert
Great game. These 2 women are legends of tennis. Even today. Why they stop these best of 5 sets in women's side? That is my only questionm
They didn't stop. This was one of the few tournaments that had the women's game go best of 5 instead of 3. Most have always been best of 3.
They stopped it in 1999.
If anyone has it, would love to see Martina's match against Monica Seles in this tournament!
I have it. I'll upload it soon.
@@mcgoran100 Thank you so much! I think it was the first time they ever met, and I heard it was a really dramatic match
@@zeddeka it really was. I’ll upload it later today.
@@mcgoran100 did the Seles match get taken back down? I saw it a couple weeks ago but now can't find it.
@@zeddeka Actually they met in the final of the Dallas tournament 1 month before this match and Martina won in straight sets
This tournament was considered more prestigious than winning slams according to Martina.
I don't think anything comes close to winning Wimbledon.
Especially Navratilova would agree to this.
Stefanie ❤️
Steffi is VERY fluid and her forehand and backhands are exceptional... What's the Martina and Graf thing all about? Disappointing commentary...
@@joeyconvery2055 Steffi had a winning record against Monica
@@joeyconvery2055 Steffi was 3-2 againts no 1 Monica (1991-1993)
@@joeyconvery2055 H2H 10-5 Graf. Read 'em and weep. LOL
@@bondakaucantik5256 Then Monica Seles embarked on her love affair with butter. She would never move as well on a tennis court again. And her results back that up.
@@joeyconvery2055 but she she did get stabbed. Physically she was fine. Mentally she was weak. Plus she liked the pizzas and got fat.... Steffi stayed in peak physical form her entire Career. Peak graf and peak seles met at Wimbledon 1992 ( pre stabbing) seles lost 62 - 61 she would never win on grass ever. She had shitty footwork. Fine on hard court, terrible on grass.
Thanks for the upload! During the presentation speech, Did Martina say Steffi is a good player? I think Steffi and Martina patched up in the end
This tournament was considered more prestigious than the slams back in the day.
Two factors
Play the new york
Single elimination
It wasn‘t.
@@carrerau7138 Cool deflection.
@@JSmith-zr2ve Some cigarette-sponsored tourney in the USA more prestigious than Wimbledon?
Are you Sleepy Joe or the Orange Clown? Or just some other Yankee idyot?
No it was not. I think it had more value in the players’ eyes back then but certainly not the same as a Slam
Мартина лучшая теннисистка на все времена ❤❤❤
I would like to see how Serena would have been played in best of 5 set match .
In her prime she would've had no problem playing 5.
@@mcgoran100 Are you sure? I think she is more dangerous in best of 3 sets format.
@@mcgoran100 Against Steffi she would have had to play only 3 sets anyway.
Serena was no where near as good as Graf and she had a vile ghetto attitude too. Steffi is pure class.
グラフと対戦成績で引き分けて9勝9敗と互角なのはナブラチロワのみ。やはりナブラチロワは凄い人！！🎾😃☀️
The great Jo Durie from the UK even has a winning win/loss record against the great Steffi (4-3).
It's interesting how much strength Martina lost so quickly after 1986, when she was probably at her physical biggest and most muscular. She literally looks about half the size here that she was in 1986.
She looked the same in 1989 as in 1986.
The excuses never stop…. 😂
@@carrerau7138 ?? What excuses? She was in her thirties. She's obviously not going to be as physically strong as she was in her twenties. You know - just like Steffi wasn't as strong in 1999 as she was in 1993? Are you one of those weird people who is so unhealthily obsessed by their favourite player that they perceive everything as some kind of attack on them?
@@zeddeka 1989 Navratilova (aged 32/33) was without a doubt better than 1973-1981 Navratilova (aged 18-27).
1989 was Navratilova's 6th-best year regarding match winning percentages. Without Graf existing it would have been the 5th-best. Definitely peak in a 22-year-long career. 1989 Navratilova was by far the best #2 of all time.
So stop your silly excuses.
My God, you Yankees just can't accept a foreigner's superiority, can you?
Funny now graf is considered old school tennis.
And yet good old Steffi at her peak would demolish all these -ovas of today.
Billy Jean was never an objective observer of the game. When she wasn't coaching Martina, she was trying to make the women's game into something it wasn't. Blame Billy for the hot mess the women's game has become.
I always remember what Anne Jones said about BJK. "She did a lot to get the tour for the women, but she also always made sure there was something in it for herself." Interesting too that BJK started working for one of the major tobacco companies after she retired.
@@zeddeka You do realize that the "major tobacco company" at the time was the primary sponsor of the WTA tour, right?
You know Virginia Slims are a brand of cigarette, right?
I’m lost. How is the women’s game a hot mess? BJK helped bring the women on par with the men. No one else was or is there to promote the women’s tour.
🙄
WAS THIS ROUND ROBIN OR SINGLE ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT? DID EVERT PLAY IN THIS HER RETIREMENT YEAR?....
google this for english version, and click on wikipedia search result:
1989 Virginia Slims Championships - Singles
falls Du deutsch bist, folgendes in google eingeben und auf das wikipedia-suchergebnis gehen:
WTA Championships 1989
No round robin in those days thankfully, top 16 in the world, 1st round then quarterfinals onwards, best of 5 set final
No Evert. Her last tournament in 89 was the US Open and then she played Fed Cup in October in Japan where the United States defeated Spain and Chrissie was undefeated that whole week; playing the best she had all year. A much more fitting end for her pro-career. Carpet was Evert’s worst surface. She didn’t have great results at MSG… for her.
@@iwantafennec9577 thanks for the reply. I knew this information and figured this was the case, but I wanted to make sure.. thanks again... Yes, I remember evert routed both novotna and martinez at the fed cup....
I didn't know women could get groin pulls. I'm assuming Martina had a hamstring injury as mentioned, too.
I seem to remember Jennifer Capriati suffering from groin strains at times too
We all have groins, naturally both men and women can pull a groin muscle. Or most any other muscle. 🤷♀️
Two guys 🥳
Hey dude, did your transition go wrong?
Laughing at your own jokes. I'm sure you are a stunner!
I didn’t like Martina’s look here at all! Her clothing line flopped, I can see why looking at it! That butch haircut wasn’t flattering either
Not everybody can look as good as Steffi!
They used back then that only two women in the game could sell clothing - Gaby and Steffi. Martina had had that association with Puma for several years and towards the end of her career she was sponsored by Lotto
The 2 greatest athletes to play the women's game? And maybe the 2 greatest ever women's players (Steffi definitely helped by Monica getting 'taken out' when totally dominating her)?
But Steffi had such an ugly game - not pleasing to watch at all. And though I loved Martina's net-rushing, high-risk style her groundies were pretty ugly, too...
graf actually led the head to head over seles 6 to 4 BEFORE the stabbing...
@Max E their complete head to head was and ended up 10-5 in favor of graf..
😂😂😂😂
Who totally dominated Steffi??
Seles???
Are you nuts?😂
@@carrerau7138 Graf beat Hingis 7-2.