Considered by many to be the best female tennis player of all time, Steffi Graf ruled the game in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The strong German was referred to as “Fräulein Forehand” because of her lethal forehand and impeccable footwork. She ended the two greats of the sport’s long reign—Navaratilova and Evert—and went on to duplicate their achievements.
Graf holds the record for the most Grand Slam victories of any player (male or female) in the Open Era, having won 22 in total between the 1987 French Open and the 1999 French Open. At seven Wimbledons, six French, five US, and four Australian Grand Slams, she is still the only player to have won at least four titles at each of the four major tournaments.
Unfortunately, she never had another player, male or female, accomplish a Calendar Golden Slam (four Grand Slams plus an Olympic Gold Medal in the same year). That was her greatest accomplishment. She made it to the most Grand Slam finals of any female player, 13, between the 1987 and 1990 French Opens, and she won nine of them. She was placed
Following two years marred by injuries (1991 and 1992), she began a second spell of dominance that lasted from 1993 to 1996, winning ten of the fourteen Grand Slams that she competed in. At the end of her career, she held the top spot in the world rankings for the longest period of time—377 weeks—of any player, male or female.
She even achieved success in her personal life when she wed Andre Agassi, the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
