Steffi Graf
Graf rose to the top of women's tennis in 1987, ending Martina Navratilova's reign and seizing the No. 1 ranking. Her defining year was 1988, when she became the only player ever to win the Golden Slam: all four majors plus Olympic gold in a single calendar year. That season made her an all-time great.
Fraulein Forehand
Known for her ferocious inside-out forehand and blistering footwork, Graf dominated women's tennis from the late 1980s. She dethroned Martina Navratilova to claim the No. 1 ranking in 1987 and rarely relinquished it.
The Golden Year
In 1988 Graf accomplished what no player before or since has done: she won the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, then added Olympic gold in Seoul. The feat is forever known as the Golden Slam.
Enduring Legacy
Graf retired in 1999 with 22 major titles and a record 377 weeks at No. 1. She married Andre Agassi in 2001 and has devoted herself to charitable work, including her Children for Tomorrow foundation.
Career Timeline
- 1982Turned professional at age 13
- 1987Won first major at the French Open
- 1987Reached world No. 1 for the first time
- 1988Achieved the Golden Slam, four majors plus gold
- 1989Won three of four majors again
- 1993Held No. 1 ranking amid sustained dominance
- 1996Won three majors in a single season
- 1999Won 22nd and final major at French Open
- 1999Retired from professional tennis at age 30
- 2004Inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame
Biggest Hits
- Graf is the only player to win each of the four majors at least four times.
- She married tennis champion Andre Agassi in 2001; they have two children.
Portrait: Mark Henckel · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons