Mary Joe is still somewhat underrated as a player and one of the best who appeared in Grand Slam finals but did not win (along with Andrea Jaeger and Helena Sukova). Winning a Slam was always going to be extremely tough for her as she had to contend with Chrissie, Martina, Hana, Steffi and Monica during her peak years but she continues to be a class act!
Mary-Joe was such a great player. But Graf and Seles were truly the reason she didn’t win anything big. She lost all 17 matches she played against Graf and won only 1 in 16 matches against Seles.
Mary Joe is definitely in the conversation when it comes to ‘Best Players Never to Win a Slam’. Though movement and stamina were liabilities for MJ, to an extent, her scrappiness and all-court game were better than those of most all other players. She was very comfortable at net (one of the great doubles champs) and she could move forward beautifully with sharp instincts. Around 1992 her forehand really began to take off as a hard, flat weapon and she could hook it with spectacular angles from anywhere in the court or punish it down-the-line. Her big moment (and most tragic flop) came at the 1993 French Open: she came from way behind in a mental triumph to oust Sabatini in the QF, totally blitzed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-2 6-2 in the SF, flush with confidence and power, and then broke Steffi in the final to lead 4-2 in the third set, serving for 5-2. It was her championship for the taking, but, sadly, she got tight/tentative at the brink of victory and did not win another game. Talented, dangerous, well-rounded player, but Evert and Navratilova and Graf and Seles were virtually unbeatable for Mary Joe. I think, of all the four, she only scored one win over Seles. These players were a force field she could not penetrate, despite big results and wins at Grand Slams. She ended her career with “only” seven titles but would have had more if she had avoided Graf and Seles more often, but she chased them … to her credit. Interestingly enough, the biggest title of her career came fairly late when she won the German Open in 1997, defeating Pierce in the final. Her doubles career should be enough for Hall of Fame consideration: two Grand Slam doubles championships, and not one but TWO Olympic gold medals in doubles. She was very gifted but just didn’t have enough self-belief at those dire moments of truth against the legends.
Mary Joe and Monica ended up becoming great friends over time and I believe they are still good friends to this day. Pretty sure Monica was in Mary Joe's wedding.
In April 2000, Fernández married Anthony (Tony) Godsick, a sports agent with International Management Group.[7] Monica Seles was a bridesmaid at the wedding... From wiki
The difference between these two matches is that Graf allowed Mary Jo to go up 4-1 in the 2nd set. Seles was all over Mary Jo in the 92 final and gave her no chances. Monica was a force to be reckoned with back then. She also won the tournament in 91 and 93 solidifying her position as the number 1 player.
Monica was all over Mary Joe in the 1992 final probably because she had the experience from the year before when she saved match points against Mary Joe in the semis, Graf on the other hand had never lost a set against MJ so i think she didn’t expect MJ to play so well
Mary Joe was a very good player and she had the prettiest face of all the players back then. Heck, she probably still does. She is my favorite female tennis announcer and is number two behind only John McEnroe overall. A lovely person with a kind, warm heart. I bet if she could go back in time and change one shot from her career... it would be that missed overhead vs. Graff. Would love to see how it might have played out - if she had hit a winner on that overhead.
While I LOVE watching 1990s tennis, and Steffi in particular, I disagree when many say tennis is not as good today. I love watching the WTA and ATP today, the only exception being the screams and howls that even some of my favorites do.
She was a very underated Player and coming up against Both Graf and Seles at their best is the stuff that happens in life and sport. It's good she comes back,a lot of players will not return to courts where they lost,they carnt let go. Tennis is a great game,but no one can win everything.🎾😍🎾
It's funny how the players often don't really remember their matches well. Mary Joe saying here she thought she'd lost the first set 6-1, but in fact she lost it 6-3. Steffi Graf forgot that she'd won the 1988 French final 6-0, 6-0. Apparently she and Andre Agassi were playing a quiz at an event and the question was who was the only female player in the open era to win a grand slam final 6-0, 6-0. Steffi thought it was Martina Navratilova.
And that is why nowadays all these elite athletes use a sport psychologist. This woman was a formidable player; she even reached #4 in the world ranking. But she had a very low self esteem and suffered from anxiety disorder. She would basically go to those games and think she could not win and her impostor syndrome basically was in the driver seat. And of course she would not win these important matches. The difference between very good and greatness
I dont think her win/loss records against Seles/Graf, really speaks to how tough Mary Joe was....I never will forget that quarterfinal she won against Sabatini at the French in '94...they'd played each other back to the days when they were both 13 yrs old in the juniors. So, there was nothing either of them could do to fool the other. Mary Joe just flat out refused to lose, after 4 or 5 match points. She TOOK IT from Gabby. So, my final analysis of Mary Joe's career is that she was extremely well-built, MENTALLY..very tough between the ears, despite a slouchy demeanor that was always misinterpreted. But Seles and Graf and Martina and Evert and Sanchez-Vicario, were all just a bit tougher in the clutch...thats all.
Mary Joe gave Monica lots of support after the horrendous stabbing. They became good friends. Mary Joe is such a beautiful soul💗
Monica was a bridesmaid at her 2000 wedding.
Mary Jo was a solid and consistent player. She had a beautiful game, unfortunately she never won a Grand Slam but she still had a great career
I agree with her completely: it’s the mental aspect, the ability to focus that makes champions. It’s not easy.
Big fan of Mary Joe right here! I especially love her commentator skills nowadays.
Pure CLASS
Mary Joe is still somewhat underrated as a player and one of the best who appeared in Grand Slam finals but did not win (along with Andrea Jaeger and Helena Sukova). Winning a Slam was always going to be extremely tough for her as she had to contend with Chrissie, Martina, Hana, Steffi and Monica during her peak years but she continues to be a class act!
Seles was literally unbeatable at the Australian open. Took Hingis at her best to beat her after 33 wins in a row. Unmatched feat in the open era.
Mary-Joe was such a great player. But Graf and Seles were truly the reason she didn’t win anything big. She lost all 17 matches she played against Graf and won only 1 in 16 matches against Seles.
Mary Joe is definitely in the conversation when it comes to ‘Best Players Never to Win a Slam’. Though movement and stamina were liabilities for MJ, to an extent, her scrappiness and all-court game were better than those of most all other players. She was very comfortable at net (one of the great doubles champs) and she could move forward beautifully with sharp instincts. Around 1992 her forehand really began to take off as a hard, flat weapon and she could hook it with spectacular angles from anywhere in the court or punish it down-the-line.
Her big moment (and most tragic flop) came at the 1993 French Open: she came from way behind in a mental triumph to oust Sabatini in the QF, totally blitzed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-2 6-2 in the SF, flush with confidence and power, and then broke Steffi in the final to lead 4-2 in the third set, serving for 5-2. It was her championship for the taking, but, sadly, she got tight/tentative at the brink of victory and did not win another game. Talented, dangerous, well-rounded player, but Evert and Navratilova and Graf and Seles were virtually unbeatable for Mary Joe. I think, of all the four, she only scored one win over Seles. These players were a force field she could not penetrate, despite big results and wins at Grand Slams. She ended her career with “only” seven titles but would have had more if she had avoided Graf and Seles more often, but she chased them … to her credit.
Interestingly enough, the biggest title of her career came fairly late when she won the German Open in 1997, defeating Pierce in the final. Her doubles career should be enough for Hall of Fame consideration: two Grand Slam doubles championships, and not one but TWO Olympic gold medals in doubles. She was very gifted but just didn’t have enough self-belief at those dire moments of truth against the legends.
Mary Joe and Monica ended up becoming great friends over time and I believe they are still good friends to this day. Pretty sure Monica was in Mary Joe's wedding.
In April 2000, Fernández married Anthony (Tony) Godsick, a sports agent with International Management Group.[7] Monica Seles was a bridesmaid at the wedding... From wiki
The difference between these two matches is that Graf allowed Mary Jo to go up 4-1 in the 2nd set. Seles was all over Mary Jo in the 92 final and gave her no chances. Monica was a force to be reckoned with back then. She also won the tournament in 91 and 93 solidifying her position as the number 1 player.
Monica was all over Mary Joe in the 1992 final probably because she had the experience from the year before when she saved match points against Mary Joe in the semis, Graf on the other hand had never lost a set against MJ so i think she didn’t expect MJ to play so well
Steffi said after the match 'Thank God that's over, I didn't play well at all'. She had looked really ragged that whole Australian Open.
Yall make so many excuses for Steffi. 😂
@@tambam6744Excuses? She won 😂
@@mrjamiecrawford Did you even read the comment above mine? If not, please S.T.F.U!
She is even more beautiful now.
Love love Mery Joe Fernández
Mary Joe was a very good player and she had the prettiest face of all the players back then. Heck, she probably still does. She is my favorite female tennis announcer and is number two behind only John McEnroe overall. A lovely person with a kind, warm heart. I bet if she could go back in time and change one shot from her career... it would be that missed overhead vs. Graff. Would love to see how it might have played out - if she had hit a winner on that overhead.
Who is Graff?
While I LOVE watching 1990s tennis, and Steffi in particular, I disagree when many say tennis is not as good today. I love watching the WTA and ATP today, the only exception being the screams and howls that even some of my favorites do.
Sorry. WTA si nota as flor today.
Always wished she had won a slam cause she was capable. But 2 Olympic gold medals isn't half bad.
But Doubles are just not the same. In that case, she DID win two slams.
She was a very underated Player and coming up against Both Graf and Seles at their best is the stuff that happens in life and sport. It's good she comes back,a lot of players will not return to courts where they lost,they carnt let go. Tennis is a great game,but no one can win everything.🎾😍🎾
Olympics never mattered before 2008
@@varunshahvo-tv9854 Bruh...it's the Olympics. For athletes that's a huge honour. In tennis of course a grand slam is bigger, but still
It's funny how the players often don't really remember their matches well. Mary Joe saying here she thought she'd lost the first set 6-1, but in fact she lost it 6-3. Steffi Graf forgot that she'd won the 1988 French final 6-0, 6-0. Apparently she and Andre Agassi were playing a quiz at an event and the question was who was the only female player in the open era to win a grand slam final 6-0, 6-0. Steffi thought it was Martina Navratilova.
I am quite sure that Steffi did NOT forget her 60 60 against Zvereva....
And that is why nowadays all these elite athletes use a sport psychologist. This woman was a formidable player; she even reached #4 in the world ranking. But she had a very low self esteem and suffered from anxiety disorder. She would basically go to those games and think she could not win and her impostor syndrome basically was in the driver seat. And of course she would not win these important matches. The difference between very good and greatness
I dont think her win/loss records against Seles/Graf, really speaks to how tough Mary Joe was....I never will forget that quarterfinal she won against Sabatini at the French in '94...they'd played each other back to the days when they were both 13 yrs old in the juniors. So, there was nothing either of them could do to fool the other. Mary Joe just flat out refused to lose, after 4 or 5 match points. She TOOK IT from Gabby. So, my final analysis of Mary Joe's career is that she was extremely well-built, MENTALLY..very tough between the ears, despite a slouchy demeanor that was always misinterpreted. But Seles and Graf and Martina and Evert and Sanchez-Vicario, were all just a bit tougher in the clutch...thats all.
Beautiful women. And it is seen that they are both women
Wow how beautifull are mary joe