|
residence = Las Vegas, Nevada |
datebirth = 14 June, 1969 |
placebirth = Mannheim, Germany |
height = 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
weight = 64 kg (141 lb) |
turnedpro = 1982 |
retired= 1999 |
plays = Right; One-handed backhand |
careerprizemoney = $21,895,277 |
singlesrecord = 902-115 |
singlestitles = 107 |
highestsinglesranking = No. 1 (August 17, 1987) |
AustralianOpenresult = '''W'''
4 Titles |
FrenchOpenresult = '''W'''
6 Titles |
Wimbledonresult = '''W'''
7 Titles |
USOpenresult = '''W'''
5 Titles |
doublesrecord = 173-72 |
doublestitles = 11 |
highestdoublesranking = No. 5 (November 21, 1988) |
updated = N/A |
}}
'''Stefanie Maria Graf''' (born June 14, 1969 in Mannheim, West Germany) is a former '''World No. 1''' women's tennis player from Germany. She is generally considered to be one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time. Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles. In 1988, she became the only player to achieve the "Golden Slam" – capturing all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same year. She was ranked the Women's Tennis Association's No. 1 player for a record 377 weeks (the longest of any player, male or female, since rankings began) and is the only player, male or female, to have won all four Grand Slam singles tournaments (Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the French Open and the Australian Open) at least four times each.
A notable feature of Graf's game was her versatility across all playing surfaces, exemplified by her winning 6 French Open singles titles (second to Chris Evert) and 7 Wimbledon singles titles (third behind Martina Navratilova and Helen Wills). She is the only singles player (male or female) to achieve a true Grand Slam across all three types of tennis courts; the other five true singles Grand Slams all occurred when the Australian and U.S. Opens were still played on grass.
Graf is married to the former World No. 1 men's tennis player Andre Agassi.
Playing Style
The main weapon in Graf's game was her powerful forehand, which earned her the nickname "Fräulein Vorhand." Over time, Graf also developed the best slice backhand in the game, as well as a consistent volley. She built her powerful and accurate serve up to 110 mph. She was also extremely fast and athletic, chasing down balls that seemed unplayable.
