Martina Navratilova vs Steffi Graf in one of the greatest matches ever! | US Open 1991 Semifinal
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มี.ค. 2021
- 34-year-old Martina Navratilova takes on 22-year-old Steffi Graf in the semifinals of the US Open 1991.
No. 6 seed Navratilova has lost four straight matches to No. 1 seed Graf and is trying to regain a foothold in the women's game following her earliest exit at Wimbledon in 14 years.
While Graf is looking to build on her championship victory at Wimbledon and silence the discussion around her injuries and personal problems.
Can Navratilova prove that age is just a number with her flawless serve and volley game? Or will Graf's slice and dice see her through to a fifth consecutive US Open final?
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Those were the years...when Tennis was all about finesse, strategy, grace and power when required. I miss those years terribly. These two are legends beyond belief.
Tennis was just more *interesting* in those days.
Countless brainless ball bashers today. A shame.
You are so right. I always wondered how Martina played wearing those spectacles. I am 60 now and I hate that I need to wear them to read a book, let alone, play a tennis match.
Yes agreed...Actual rivalries with suspense....The past 10-15 years it has been a revolving door of women with zero rivalries.....
Navratilova's endless serve and volleying is repetitious to watch. Both great athletes though!
This was the best tennis grand slam tournament in history. The Capriati and Seles semifinal, this semifinal, and the epic Jimmy Connors run. Tremendous athletes and personalities. It’s pure magic that transcended sports.
Also Edberg's first US open.♥️
Too bad the finals on both sides were relative duds, but yeah I get your point.
1984 Super Saturday was amazing too
Just loved the way Martina played tennis.
Yes & She’s got a certain swagger
Always loved the Serve and volley players. I play like that in video games, IRL I don't have near the athleticism. Wish they came back.
Same for me with Steffi.
That volley skills ! Navratilova was something else...
There has never been anyone close to her volley skills in the women's side and matched in the men's side only by John McEnroe! Love watching Martina play!
@@physicsguybrian absolutely!
Martina is the greatest of all time.
Yeah. Loved her commentary today at Wimbledon
No wonder she got 31 doubles grand slams. Probably the greatest net game of all time out of WTA players.
watching Martina and Steffi on the court was really entertaining and wished it would never end, the volley the attacks, the running, the returns, it was a worth watching game
Am glad you stated that, then tennis was played with skill, technique and finesse. Now tennis is about who can hit the ball the hardest. Sabalenka is an example of this. I have been watching tennis for almost 40 years. I seen as far back as Jimmy Connor when he made it to the semis in the US Open. That was when teennis was a grade A sport. Edberg was a great player too. There are hardly any serve and volley players. Most players stay back and just bang the ball from left to right until they win. I find that extremely boring.
What I love about Martina is she always praises her opponent’s great winners. Such a humble figure of sportsmanship. 🎾💪🏼
Yes. She applauds great plays
sorry I love MN but she was hardly the most generous player on tour...that was really Evert & Goolagong who were incredibly gracious
@@hardsam68 You are very wrong! Martina actually applauds or verbally praises her opponents' winners more than ANY other player, maybe Chris is a close second.
Especially after the 1989 final where she threw her racket to the ground and barely acknowledged Steffi during the trophy presentation. And humble? Have you ever heard a Martina interview? 😆
I do not think that anyone in the women’s game has played the net and volleys better that Martina Navratilova. I remember watching Billie Jean play on grass and Serena has a great volley but Martina just looks so natural at the net. Besides all her singles wins she was an incredible doubles player.
Justine Henin was also fantastic at the net.
You must mean Venus not Serena
Williams sisters are not serve-volley players. Their volley abilities are not even close.
Yeah, Venus better than Serena at the net, but there've been several better net players than the Sisters. One's maybe Graf, one other is Sabatini for sure (just to stay in this same era), and how not to name Goolagong (an unbelievable natural talent), Mandlikova (another great natural talent, Novotna (a great volleyer, but I used to find her game a little bit more boring than that of other net attackers) and Henin. Nowaday, after the shocking retirement by Barty, Muchova and Jabeur are by far the best net players around.
Great tennis from two absolute legends of the game, wish it was the full match
I was never more proud of Navratilova coming back to win this match when she appeared to be "past it!" Her ranking had dropped and was coming off double whammy of a devastating Wimbledon loss to Capriati and personal break up behind the scenes! She had to survive so much just to get to Steffi, but by then she had played herself back into fighting shape overcoming Maleeva and Sanchez-V. in 3 tough sets! ;-)
Beautiful match. They both have a combination of elegance and power.
I miss this type of tennis...'90s/'00s tennis.
Same!
Navratilova had such a unique combination of athletic power and elegance, Will be a long time before we will see that again in tennis.
No. We see it all the time. On the mens tour.
@@shore348450 Yes, men are physically stronger women. Bet the girls love you mate.
@@noahbody9782 They seem to.
What a stunning game from these two legends ✌️
I remember those days in 80s when Martina was almost invincible. There were times when Martina did not lose a tournament.
And then came Steffi Graf in late 80s to buck the trend. It set up some absorbing clashes
And then the GREAT Monica Seles came to buck Steffi's trend and was stabbed. What a pity!.
They clashed a lot, but IIRC, Martina won 4 of their 5 encounters at the USO. They split finals; Martina in '87 and Graf stealing '89. 👏
जो लोग नेट पर खेलकर विजय प्राप्त कर रहे थे, वे अनजाने में टैनिस को उसकी खूबसूरती से वंचित कर रहे थे। और तभी महिला टेनिस की असली स्टार स्टेफी का विश्व टेनिस के मंच पर पदार्पण हुआ। आरंभ में स्टेफी को ऐसे खिलाड़ियों को टक्कर देने में परेशानी हुई, किंतु कड़े अभ्यास और बेमिसाल प्रतिभा की धनी स्टेफी कहां हार मानने वाली थी। और बाद में टेनिस का व्याकरण और इतिहास बदल दिया। अपने ग्रेसफुल अपीयरेंस और टेनिस की खूबसूरती(लंबी वॉली, स्ट्रॉन्ग सर्विस और विपक्षी खिलाड़ी को पूरा अवसर देते हुए कड़े मैचेज में और अधिक अच्छा खेलना आदि) कोबानाये रखते हुए उन्होंने हर आयु वर्ग के दर्शकों का दिल जीत लिया।
@@light279 Steffi graff's GS would have been less if seles wasnt stabbed. She wasnt the same after 2yrs break. Seles won 8GS in 4years already at that time
@@arslaanpasha3334I agree 100%
Today's game is all about power, power, power, power and power..... Finesse shots are so rare...
They don’t know how to volley.
That's nonsense! There are loads of players in today's game that have finesse. Buy u have to have power too. Those are the players that win today. Ask Novak, Rafa and Federer. The depth in both the men's and women's game in the last 15 years is the best ever. Back then only a top 10 player usually won a Slam. Now anyone in top 50 can in women's game. Mens game still dominated by the 3 greatest players ever.
@@Carsandhome The modern game is great, but I miss those days where there are different players who serve and volley when courts are really fast.
Today's game mostly benefited from new racquet tech and strings.
I stress again, all but power, power and power.
not even power really for every " power" forehand gets returned..very one dimensional and thats why we see so many upsets of top 10 women players--the styles are all the same with very few exceptions
@@Carsandhome what u call depth in womens tennis i call one dimensional which opens it up to even qualifiers..if they have so much finesse then why arent any of the girls vollying--they re all baseliners
People who say serena is the goat 😂 are people who have never heard of or seen Navratilova and Graf... These two, along with their achievements were part of the golden era of women's tennis.
Graf wouldn't even have the amount of slams if her fan didn't stab Seles pls
@@Deniz-uk1wo She would have probably ended up with 15 slams with Seles was not stabbed.
@@guyinsf 🤣😂😆 You clown!
BTW, Steffi probably would have ended with 28 slams had her parents not been blackmailed. And Seles with 3 or 4.
compare blackmailing to being stabbed during a professional tennis match? be more humane guys
@@carrerau7138 You are the Grafanatic clown! Do you also go by Max E or you guys are two different annoying Graf fangirls? How is Graf's parents scandal the same as Sele's stabbing? Graf continued to play so obviously it didn't affect her that much. Seles was stabbed! No comparison.
thanks for posting when this aired in 1991 I called in sick to stay home and set up the VCR to record the match it was great the next day at work I did not have much catching up to do was a slow day1!!
I faked illness in high school to do the same thing.
I ditched my college class. Couldn't leave the TV!
This is so much more entertaining than contamporary playing!
Which is why I no longer watch women's tennis...I gave up about 5 years ago....just so boring...
@@halioman I'm afraid it's the same with men's tennis. Just imagine, Fed retires one day. Almost everybody else plays the same style. Miss Sampras, Becker, Agassi, Laver, Borg, Mac, ...
@@halioman I haven't stopped watching women's matches entirely. I do, however, only start watching a tournament, when it's at the quarter finals or even the semis. Currently, I regard tournaments like alphabet soup. You have no idea who is up next or what style of tennis to expect. With the men's, I am still trying to figure out what Casper Ruud, even looks like. Then there are a host of Russians... In the womens, I know who Serena is but never know what to expect from her anymore. There, are the younger ladies, many who look and play a similar style. Ash Barty is the only stand out player for me, but she is no 1.
@@heinzconrads5243 Indeed! It's all about who can beat the snot out of the ball. It does get very boring. If Roger F is not on the court these days, I don't even bother.
Grew up with this style. I still like what I watch today, but those were the years!!
Evert, Navratilova, Graf & Seles popularised women’s tennis. From 1981 to 1996, one of those four names was in every slam final (bar two I think).
What they brought to the game in 15 years, what they represented, has slowly been chipped away at since 2000. Women’s tennis has less viewership and interest now than in the last 30 years.
The GOAT argument will never be answered (mine is Steffi) but these four are legends!
I must respect each person's opinion regarding who is the GOAT; however, it is very unlikely that Steffi would
have won twenty two majors had Monica not been stabbed. At the time of the stabbing, Seles who was only nineteen years old ( four and a half years YOUNGER than Graf ) had already WON EIGHT MAJORS and was easily beating Graf. Graf, at the time of the stabbing had won eleven majors.
Who knows how many more majors Seles would have won! It is not crazy to think that Seles would have passed Graf. I personally think that she would have. How quickly people have forgotten the GREAT Monica Seles!.
@@light279 On the other hand, there are a million things which could have happened also leading to her not being successful. Or maybe at the same time some girl somewhere broke her leg and gave up on tennis but had she continued she would have beaten Seles everytime.
In the mean time fact is..Graff was at least better than 99.999999999 % of every female tennisplayer ever to play professionally
Chris really popularized tennis because of her beauty, and the best backhand and mental head in the game
@@light279 Monica Seles will always be remembered. You can count on that...
@@Smudgeroon74 True.
The rallies between these two players were always spectacular
What an entertaining match! Just look at all the variation! Nowadays everyone does the exact same thing, topspin forehand and topspin two-handed backhand, trying to bash the ball the hardest. No more Mauresmos or Henins either. Just carbon copies of ball bashers, like watching paint dry.
There's a reason for that. I may be a novice in tennis but not one in technology. Technology analyses all these feeds and provide optimizations. All those specialists which are hired have determined which shots are the best to play in those circumstances. Yes, they don't give a great spectacle but we all know, spectacle is second to winning.
That’s why I love Max Cressy who plays old school serve and volley tennis and is now in the top 50 and climbing. 😀🎾
Has any player ever goes to NEt and wins those points as successful as Martina.. such a classy game
One of the best matches ever and a rare case in which I haven’t seen a angry loosing Graf in shaking hands. Her face seems to say “today this was right”.
Graf would have been one of my top favorite players all around if she had this kind of handshake throughout her career.
@@guyinsf Steffi‘s handshakes made sure that shallow people were not her fans. Which I appreciate.
@@carrerau7138 That's the best spin ever on Graf's horrible handshakes Thanks for the laughs LOL
@@guyinsf Steffi had professional handshakes of the kind which was quite common back then. It was not a time of fake emotions as it is today.
No Osakas, no Markles back then.
@@carrerau7138 Keep telling yourself that bud. LOL
Martina Navratilova was the greatest female Tennis Athlete of All time . She is still my favourite. What an Athlete . Love her Much Respect also to Steffi Graff
@easyscore key word “was” 😂😂😂
Yea the era where she suddenly went from out of shape player to muscle-bound “athlete”. 🤔
I can remember it like yesterday! Graf was my tennis idol, and this day produced maybe the greatest semifinal round ever, with this match going the distance, and Seles/Capriati with an all out slugfest. While I was sad about the outcomes, what a day of tennis!
Ja, leider ist Mein Land Fussball gestört und erinnert sich nicht mehr an seine TENNIS Helden. Grüsse aus Bayern Germany.
Wow Martina better at net than most men on tour-what shot making-anyone saying women don’t deserve to make same money as men need to watch this match…
Even though I knew the result, my heart was in my throat toward the end! What a match!!!
Great match, bizarre editing. A couple examples: in the first set tiebreak, it jumps from 2-1 (Navratilova leading) to 6-1 (set point for Navratilova), with nothing to indicate what is going on (you only realize the score after Graf wins that point and the umpire announces that it's 6-2). Even worse, when Navratilova is serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set, they show the point at 0-40 (which Graf wins to keep the match alive), then jump immediately to the next game without showing Graf getting the break! Incomprehensible.
They had a great rivalry. Admiration for both players.
we must be gratefull to have seen it live. like seeing prince singing purple rain or woody allen's annie hall. something happens once. martina navratilova coming from three eras before to play a marvelous serve and volley is a sign of the times. much respect
It was nice to see them have better exchanges after a match as time went by.
Hopefully the whole match will also be available later...
I loved watching these two battle one another. Miss those days.
I remember that day was named as the greatest day in female tennis because of the extremely high quality in both SF: SELES-CAPRIATI & GRAF- NAVARATILOVA!!!
2020 was better
@@MrBjorn6 You are jesting because of Covid-19.
@@MrBjorn6 not even close. 😆
It may have been a great day, but the official "greatest day" had to be the USO in 1984. All the matches went the limit; a senior warm-up, Lendl overcoming Cash, Martina defeating Chris, and finishing with a thriller McEnroe over Connors. ;-)
What a nice handshake at the end from Graf after a great battle.
Beautiful tennis match between the games greatest females athletes. Please can we see the 1986 SF between Graf and Navratilova.
Pure awesome tennis!! No noise, towels, snack bars and shakes like today
Martina started the trend with fitness, and supplements
One problem with these highlights, they never show the score! How are we supposed to know who is winning? What is at stake? Where they are?
Shoddy highlights in general, especially that final game! We don't even see when/how Martina reaches match point!
I HATE THESE VIDEOS that they never show scores throughout the footage.
We are fortunate that they are still in the archives and can bring them out to post on u-tube. Ps, I'd lie if I didn't say, I also miss the scoreboard.
Well the only score we need is 7-6,6-7,6-4- MARTINA!
spoiled kiddo
@@MrPernell27 thank you. Nobody is spoilt @Dustinzk. Every point is fought for and earned. Tennis supporters appreciate every effort.
Then don't watch.
Martina moving like a Gazelle, amazing
Both!
Martina's net game is incredible. When she is playing her very best, it is almost impossible to beat her.
People do not know how to practice volleys anymore
Martina said Monica at her best would beat her at her best, and I think she's a better judge.
@@ChicanoPhD The matchups between Seles and Navratilova favour Seles in my personal opinion. Martina's strengths were at the net but Seles had some of the most incredible passing shots in the women's game.
@@ChicanoPhD calm down.
@@gk891 Monica and Martina had incredible matches. Their two matches in 1993 before the tragedy were both 3-setters which they split.
The golden era of women's tennis...
Wish we could see the full ladies matches of these old games, so confusing when the games jump around and the score is not showing
or just add the scoreboard to their highlights
Prima Tennis, die heutigen Spieler kennt niemand mehr, das hier war noch richtiges Tennis, wo alle Welt dabei war
Martina may have had the best hands in the business, male or female, at the time. Possibly excepting Mac.
If you mean touch, Edberg would be a mighty strong contender there. Particularly in 1991.
She was also a talented author. Wrote a book called How to Lick Your Opponent.
Martina for ever and ever.
That backhand volley on the 1st point of the first tiebreaker by Martina was supreme. No other woman could hit that shot.
Maybe Novotna
I would check that out but there's no score on screen.
To me this is the greatest match beetween both players...better than the 1986 USO SF. And the greatest rivalry ever.
the 86 match 3rd set was amazing, but the first 2 were somewhat disjointed because of an over night rain delay at 4-1 in the first set... the 91 match had better quality all the way through.
You
This was a great Match. Just like the Final in 89. Where Martina Leads 6: 3, 4: 2 while playing great. But then Steffi turn the Table. This was the First Win for Martina, after 4 Years. ( 87 US Open Final) and after 4 Looses in a Row against Steffi. This Day they both pkayed well, but Martina deserved to Win.
0:56. Steffi always seemed late on her forehand, but that was an illusion. Simply, that was her timing for an incredible shot.
@@oatsgoats39 Because her massive forehand drive, she was nicknamed "Fräulein Forehand". "Graf's technique on the forehand was unique and instantly recognizable: generating considerable racquet head speed with her swing, she reached the point of contact late and typically out of the air. As a result, she hit her forehand with exceptional pace and accuracy. According to her coaches Pavel Složil and Heinz Günthardt, Graf's superior sense of timing was the key behind the success of her forehand".
@@miguelbarahona6636 Amazing explanation, at least for me. Thanks.
1991 wasn't even that long ago and there is no adverts at the back of the court?!
La Navrativola era semplicemente la dea del tennis .. il suo gioco a rete era qualcosa di straordinario
Tony Trabert and Mary Carillo were wonderful announcers.
2 Fabulous Athletes
No gas left against Seles for the next match. Navratilova, was the best serve and volleyer.
Seles had her for Breakfast m8
Steffi played 15 full seasons in her career (at least 35 matches in a season).
1991 was only her 11th-best.
Wonderful tennis match between two greatest females athletes.❤👏🙌
Born as boys.
@Max E there are several.
I miss the backhand slice
14:00 - So satisfying to see Steffi hitting a topspin backhand!
You'll be hard pressed to find one single backhanded woman player these day and almost zero chance of seeing two in the same game. That will never happen again.
Yes, but not for lack of trying. The single backhand is at a disadvantage in today's faster game.
Martina is the one saw a potential champion in Sharapova when she was just 12 . Happen to brought her in her academy of tennis.
Champion? Steroid user
@@Bahia82 both legal & un legalize for 13 straight years. That’s why she ‘ a tall girl , blonde, pretty face.
Never surrender, fight until it last, never give up, never build character.
All this she owed it to MALDONE and she is ban for using it so she retired and never had to use it again. But if it legalized then she would comeback to the game.
@@Bahia82 Meldonium is not a steroid lol
@@vvs4804 then what??
@@vvs4804 ya, ? So ?
Such an amazing match.
Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing....legends
The game is so dynamic... And nowadays they are just shooting on and on and on... )
Always fun to watched them outwit each other
Great match from two legends. Congrats, Martina 🌹💖🌹💜🌹☝️💕🥰👑🍀🥳🎾👍🌸🍀. I love Martina. She is talented, humble and very well mannered.
Staffing am your great fan , you play with full spirit of spots, proud of you
Any reason why you can’t show us the whole match?
Great match from both. Shame Navratilova was flat against Monica in the final. I think playing two big matches in a row got to her more than it would’ve a few years previous. I think Steffi might’ve had a better chance in the final but we’ll never know. Nice exchange at the end, lots of respect on both sides.
@Max E maxy dude, stuffi was second class compared to Seles.
@Max E duuuuuuude! Smh.
Sometimes after a match like that you loose all your phisycal and mental strenght (forgive my english 🙂)
Awesome win for Martina and fabulous Championship win in the next round for Seles ❤️
Martina didn't play well in that finals match, unfortunately, against Seles
@@mathewhorodner2000 I love both Seles and Navratilova, so it was a win win for me. Seles outplayed Martina that day too.
@Michael Lane Who did Seles beat in her semi final?
@@Smudgeroon74 Seles beat Capriati in her semi. It was a phenomenal match.
@mathewhorodner2000 I watched that final and Monica hit blistering winners on nearly every point in the second set...there was nothing Martina could do.
I didn't think I'd watch the whole 33:48 of this video but before I knew it it was over!! It was that enthralling! Loved how tactical the game was back then. Lots of serve and volley and net play. Lots of short points. Not like now where the game has turned into a battle of attrition trying to see who can outlast the other from the baseline. Current players would do well to watch and study these videos. Graf and Navratilova, two of the greatest of all time . . .
Why do I love left-hand players
Martina's whole game is a designed system to give her favorable outcomes- putaway volleys!
@Consuelo Patagonia those overheads are smart and well placed
From time to time. She didn't win all her matches, no matter this win.
@Consuelo Patagonia incredible really. Even if she gets passed multiple times her style was so intimating. To play tennis like this is a very high level of skill. volley mastery
Interesting, Djokovic is also 34 and Tsitsipas is also 22 in yesterday's French Open final
This old style tennis is hard to watch. I love the big topspin forehands, big serves, and triple digit backhands of todays game.
Todays players hit clean winners or 3 feet out. No finesse. No volleying ability. No angles. Insane amount of unforced errors. Boring if you ask me. I doubt very much that we will see another double digit grand slam champion on the ladies side for a long long time.
You pervert!
Living legends are playing Lawn Tenis.
Steffi has the most lethal and beautiful backhand slice of all time!
Сама тоже красивая!
I wonder how many times in Grand Slam History have both women's semifinals been 3 setters (and great, epic matches) and both men's semifinals been routine straight set matches. And vice versa.
I like the near-ground level camera shots, as opposed to the higher level views. You get a better idea of the ball speeds. Two of the all-time greats, who would have dominated the female players in 2021 - even the Williams sisters !
You mean the Williams brothers
@Max E maxy dude, thought you'd be here. Smh.
"The Williams brothers",
Martina’s top 5 matches as far as quality of shot in her career. Too bad it wasn’t the final. Monica twisted her about in the final hitting in short court pulling Martina out wide.
Those were the days!
The battle
Of backhand slices. Martina always slicing to get to net. Graff hits slice on backhand till she can crank her forehand. This fascinating to watch . Old serve and volley style versus staying back waiting to uncork lethal forehand. They ended up 9-9 on there head to head. A great rivalry.
Graf, the woman’s name is Graf.
Is that really so difficult? Show some respect!!
How Martina looked and shouts at the ball kids…both great players .
Navratilova definitely the 🐐 of women’s tennis. Best volleyer the women’s game has ever seen, and most total grand slams at over 60 combined (counting mixed doubles). Would love to see her and Jon McEnroe play mixed dubs together
Mixed Doubles with Martina happened every time she entered the ladies doubles. Should have got two trophies whenever she won.
Martina has 10 career slams. 7 in doubles, 2 in singles, 1 in mixed. You can carve that into the side of a mountain because it's never going to be broken.
People don't factor in that she played doubles so she's entered in 3 events at the grand slams. She is the greatest above Graf and Williams.
Man I miss these days. Today tennis just seems boring. I want them to make the courts faster again and you’ll
See the players serve and volley.
i think martina is the best tennis player I've ever seen
@Consuelo Patagonia ridiculous
this is one of the few times that navratilova could be the under dog and confident. I remember the whole match I have seen. She was to win, from the forst set. Because she was in a great shape and what I thought was "when she plays like this she is still unbeatable. A confident under dog.
@Max E she also got hammered numerous times by the great Seles. Smh dude.
@@gary8306 And yet she bested Seles in their last match in 1993 considering that Seles os number one and much, much younger!
Wow... seems Martina Navratilova owns that net. She is red hot with those volleys. Of course today's game has more of creation of angles - court usage- and power from the baseline.
True, it seems like it was nearly impossible to get the ball past Martina at the net. But I wonder why Steffi did not go for more lobs once Martina was at the net. Surely that would have made it a lot more difficult for the latter to hit a winner, or at least worn her out.
Graf smiling for a change when she lost - shame martina didn't go on to win
Steffi had grown up a lot by 91 (the other players referred to her as 'Little Miss Sauerbraten' in her first years on tour). She appreciated her matches with Martina more and more- saying they brought out the best in her. One year at Wimbledon, Martina had lost in the semis- I think 93, and Steffi sent her a personal note asking if she wanted to meet and play on an outer court after the final- no fans/lines people, just for old time sakes.
@Max E not always, but later on, she definitely respected Martina more than any other player
@Max E well, then she just publicly treated her with disdain I guess....we're done now.
everyone goes on and on about the Seles Capritai 91 SF, but this was a better match... the first 2 sets of that were pretty routine- 63/36, the 3rd set was great, but Martina/Steffi was great all 3 sets.
I think people go on about the Monica match more,as it was really the 1st power tennis match,also I think as they were only 15 and 17 years of age juniors really.✌🏽
It was because they were in their mid teens and feeble people tend to find that more exciting. Otherwise, for the rest of tennis fans, Steffi/Martina was the match to watch: one only 21 or 22 years old and one on the verge of a loosing streak and retirement.
@Consuelo Patagonia First, I would like to put her doubles profession on the curb. Moving on, just as I said, she was on her short path to retirement (1991 to 1993 is the evidence). Maybe you watched some movie about a year and a half being some long stretch in someone's life.
@Consuelo Patagonia don't bother... not even factual stats could convince some people. Martina would go on to beat Graf again after this match... plus she would beat Seles a few times along the way (becoming the oldest player to ever beat a #1 ranked player)..
Martina casi invencible 81 a 86, Graf casi invencible 87-90, 93 y 95-96, leyendas!!
2 of the true icons of the sport and a 1/2 full stadium is mind blowing! NYC must have had a lot of other stuff going on that day! :)
@buttlebutt Back then, they played the women’s semis on Friday and then the final on Saturday between the two men’s semis. A day match on a workday hurts ticket sales.
I haven’t set eyes on 80s tennis for yrs. Steffis ball toss is super high?! Sheesh
That was a sweet volley that Cross Court
3:16 I am a Steffi Fan, but that was out. Martina reclaimed correctly.
It did look out.
Can't believe Martina played at such a high level wearing glasses...
I started wearing contacts in 1992 and always played with them
Chris Evert, Queen of the courts forever!!
Absolutely superbe tennis.
Absolutely glorious match. Martina was on fire and it's such a shame that this match left her so washed out for the final against Seles. The match was really decided at the start of the third set - after pulling even, Steffi really lost her concentration, focus and confidence when in years past (and in later years) she would have really put her foot on the accelerator. All credit to Martina though - after losing the second set in their 1989 final she just collapsed, but In this one she managed to stay more consistent than Steffi in the key moments (despite some wobbles!) After the match, steffi's coach Pavel Slozil was furious with her and said she'd lost to someone thirteen years older than her "because she didn't believe in herself". Very typical of a lot of steffi's matches in 91 and 92.
@@Dobriy_xolostyak What what?
Yes she probably was tired for the final after this very long match and gruelling 4th Rd against Maleeva and and even tougher QF against Arantxa that she nearly lost .
So amazing effort from Martina here .
Monica had 1 very tough match in comparison. SF with Capriati. And being 18 years younger helped too I’m sure
@@CJJAK37 definitely. Martina had a really tough run. In the on court interview after the final, Martina said she'd "left her best tennis in the semi finals". She also said years later that if Capriati had been in the final, she would have beaten her too that day.
Graf was kinda getting sorted in that phase and either because of stubbornness or because her technique was simply too baked in, wasn't able to change. Look at the point at 0:37. Navratilova is floating slices towards Graf's forehands. You THINK Graf would be in the ascendancy in such a point. But then, one slice lands deeper than Graf is expecting and her forehand is weak because she gets too late. That is all the opening Navratilova needs to pierce the open court with a forehand approach. To put it in a more crude internet style lingo, Graf got owned from the baseline by the much older Navratilova. By then, players had cottoned onto some of these little chinks in Graf's armour.
And when you look at the particular slice that upset Graf's momentum on the forehand, it isn't even that deep. It's barely in the last 1/3 of the court. But that's how late Graf often got on the forehand; hitting early on the rise was not her strong suit though she could through sheer talent pull off half volleys at times. Another thing, Graf could run like a gazelle when she knew where to run but her anticipation wasn't the best. In the same point, you can see that she is somehow slow to respond to Navratilova's approach. Check it out, she doesn't start moving until Navratilova has taken two steps forward. But Navratilova's footwork had already telegraphed at least the direction of the shot if not the fact that she would be approaching. I would add to that the lack of confidence in topspin backhand passes (or resort to weak slice passes that sometimes sailed wide/long) under sustained net pressure.
I cannot say, as much as I'd like to, that Graf had indeed eventually sorted out these issues. And it was more that with Seles' absence and Navratilova getting older and older, the tour hollowed out enough for Graf to finally resume her winning ways. But whether in 93 she would have been up for a heavyweight tussle with a GOAT/GOAT contender, I can't say. Her mindset as of that point didn't look great. Now if it had so transpired that she would have found the 99 RG mindset in 93, it would be a whole other thing.
Steffi's coach was Heinz Gunthart.
i rmb there must have been like 100+++ winners over 3 sets
About the crowd , average attendance since the first year 1968=8.800 ,1980=14.397 , 1990=19.182 , 2000=24.241 , 2010=27.422 , 2019=30.708 , the growing number of attendance there is nothing to do with The Williams sisters .
because of Federer and Co.
Well spotted. Numbers don't lie.
The two greatest players ever!