Navratilova was the greatest all-around player ever - singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Graf was the greatest singles player ever. She retired at age 29 having won 22 singles' grandslam finals. Had she kept playing for another 4 or 5 years, I'm sure she would have ended with with close to 30 grandslam wins.
Steffi Graf was absolutely lethal on grass. Her tactic of keeping her returns low to neutralize Navratilova's 1st volley attempts set up passing shot after passing shot for Graf, and forced a huge number of Navratilova volley errors. This was a great era for women's tennis. Both are champions.
@@igorgrcic1366 Seles was a punching ball for the top players of the 1990s and early 2000s: 5-10 win/loss against Steffi. 5-15 against Hingis. 3-10 against Davenport. 1-10 against Venus. 1-4 against Serena.
Navratilova played 33 slams on grass (23 Wimbledon, 8 AOs, 2 USOs) and won 12 of them. That is 36 %. Steffi played 14 slams on grass (all Wimbledon) and won 7 of them. That is 50 %. Serena played 21 slams on grass (all Wimbledon) and won 7 of then (That is 33 %). Margaret Court played 37 slams on grass (14 AO, 12 Wimbledon, 11 USO) and won 19 of them. That is 51 %. Even if you only count open era it is 8 grass slam wins of 16 played (50 %). Court is clearly the greatest grass court player ever. I would rate even Steffi higher than Navratilova.
These were two INCREDIBLY ATHLETIC women!! It's difficult to find two tennis players with this kind of movement, agility, power and speed!! Not to mention a serve and volley style!
To think she beat Seles, Sanchez-Vicario, Evert, and Navratilova in four straight rounds is amazing. And that she lost only 13 games in the 8 sets she won in those four matches --- Wow! (Of course, she lost a tiebreak set to Martina in the final though.)
It would have been better for women’s tennis for the courts to stay that way. The problem was the big servers on the men’s side making tennis unwatchable.
@@FlabbyTitmussyup. There was a sweet spot for women’s tennis in the 90s that allowed for a huge diversity of game plays, many of which were rewarding. Think Graf, Navratilova, Seles, Sanchez-Vicario, Sabatini, Capriati, Novotna, Pierce, Martinez, Davenport, Hingis, Serena and Venus Williams. There was so much diversity in their games styles.
I was a great fan of tennis in the 70s, and I still am. Watched Graf and the rest. The more I watch the reruns, I am convinced by what Navratilova, Evert, and Davenport said. If you can manage to stay away from Graf's killer forehand, you had a chance. Having said that, you also have to limit your own errors too.
@carrerau7138 exactly... as Martina said, you have to try not to serve or hit in that direction. She didn't say it was easy or that you could. It was possible, though.
I’ve watched the ‘89 US Open final a bunch of times, where Martina loses from up a set and 4-2. I’d forgotten that she blew the 5-2 lead in the second set of this match. A real harbinger of her challenge closing out leads against Graf.
Unfortunately Martina was the Roger of the WTA. Despite her achievements she should have won more - at least 4 more slams. But mentally wasn't as strong as her strongest competitor.
I actually think Martina was playing better in 1989 than in 88…she seemed a bit more alert and had more on the serve. The trouble is Steffi was better too and even more assured and confident. Still, a well played match.
Between June 1989 and April 1990 Martina had a 67-3 win/loss streak. ALL three losses were against the great Steffi. Navratilova won one set in each of those matches. Without Steffi Martina surely would have had a 70-match unbeaten run. The myth that she was "too old" in 1989 is exactly that - a myth. A myth spread by bitter US fans who can't accept that a European is the female GOAT.
I have the videos of Roland Garros 1987 Final between Graf and Navratilova. I also have the Finals between Martinez and Navratilova Wimbledon 1994 Final
Once upon a time there was a girl whose dreams were thorn apart. Her name is Monika Seles and if some things did not happen in Hamburg Steffi would not have been a Queen for long
Without those things happening in Hamburg Steffi would also have won Wimbledon 94, giving her a 23 slam tally at the end. Since she already was 3-2 win/loss against #1-ranked Seles pre-things Monica would have suffered a lot more losses had she played in 1993-95. She knew why she only returned when Steffi was hampered by yet another scandal, the Graf Tax Scandal. But this time she miscalculated - Steffi was more mature and Seles could not profit AGAIN from a scandal engulfing Steffi (like the 1990-92 Graf Blackmail Scandal).
Navratilova was the greatest all-around player ever - singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Graf was the greatest singles player ever. She retired at age 29 having won 22 singles' grandslam finals. Had she kept playing for another 4 or 5 years, I'm sure she would have ended with with close to 30 grandslam wins.
The two greatest ever!
How beautiful women's tennis can be....
Steffi Graf was absolutely lethal on grass. Her tactic of keeping her returns low to neutralize Navratilova's 1st volley attempts set up passing shot after passing shot for Graf, and forced a huge number of Navratilova volley errors. This was a great era for women's tennis. Both are champions.
Steffi Graf ist die beste Tennisspielerin aller Zeiten
G.O.A.T
Fast wie Monika Seles. Fast
@@igorgrcic1366 wer ist Monika Seles 😉??
@@igorgrcic1366 Seles was a punching ball for the top players of the 1990s and early 2000s:
5-10 win/loss against Steffi.
5-15 against Hingis.
3-10 against Davenport.
1-10 against Venus.
1-4 against Serena.
Seles war limitiert. Auf Gras hat sie kein Land gesehen.
This so clearly video,how fast Graf! We not seen any other player fast like this today,
THE GREATEST grass court player NAVRATILOVA VS THE GREATEST ALL court player GRAF. ❤
Navratilova played 33 slams on grass (23 Wimbledon, 8 AOs, 2 USOs) and won 12 of them. That is 36 %.
Steffi played 14 slams on grass (all Wimbledon) and won 7 of them. That is 50 %.
Serena played 21 slams on grass (all Wimbledon) and won 7 of then (That is 33 %).
Margaret Court played 37 slams on grass (14 AO, 12 Wimbledon, 11 USO) and won 19 of them. That is 51 %. Even if you only count open era it is 8 grass slam wins of 16 played (50 %).
Court is clearly the greatest grass court player ever. I would rate even Steffi higher than Navratilova.
These were two INCREDIBLY ATHLETIC women!! It's difficult to find two tennis players with this kind of movement, agility, power and speed!! Not to mention a serve and volley style!
Steffi is simply the GOAT.🙌🙌
Women's tennis was so beautiful then, unlike today's utterly boring baseline contest of unforced errors
The tennis volley of Navratilova❤❤❤Steffi the best athlete and the best forehand😊
Great win for Steffi. The supreme champion.
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🥰
To think she beat Seles, Sanchez-Vicario, Evert, and Navratilova in four straight rounds is amazing. And that she lost only 13 games in the 8 sets she won in those four matches --- Wow! (Of course, she lost a tiebreak set to Martina in the final though.)
The courts definitely played much faster in the 80s than they do now.
It would have been better for women’s tennis for the courts to stay that way. The problem was the big servers on the men’s side making tennis unwatchable.
@@jujumusique1305Totally agree. The slowing down of the courts has been good for the popularity of the men’s game but has been bad for the women.
@@FlabbyTitmussyup. There was a sweet spot for women’s tennis in the 90s that allowed for a huge diversity of game plays, many of which were rewarding. Think Graf, Navratilova, Seles, Sanchez-Vicario, Sabatini, Capriati, Novotna, Pierce, Martinez, Davenport, Hingis, Serena and Venus Williams. There was so much diversity in their games styles.
Great quality, thanks!
Graf was the best 😂
I was a great fan of tennis in the 70s, and I still am. Watched Graf and the rest.
The more I watch the reruns, I am convinced by what Navratilova, Evert, and Davenport said. If you can manage to stay away from Graf's killer forehand, you had a chance.
Having said that, you also have to limit your own errors too.
But how to do that, staying away from Graf's killer forehand? 🤔
@carrerau7138 exactly... as Martina said, you have to try
not to serve or hit in that direction. She didn't say it was easy or that you could.
It was possible, though.
didnt know she holds a tennis ball while she plays. GOAT!!!!!!
I’ve watched the ‘89 US Open final a bunch of times, where Martina loses from up a set and 4-2. I’d forgotten that she blew the 5-2 lead in the second set of this match. A real harbinger of her challenge closing out leads against Graf.
Unfortunately Martina was the Roger of the WTA. Despite her achievements she should have won more - at least 4 more slams. But mentally wasn't as strong as her strongest competitor.
I actually think Martina was playing better in 1989 than in 88…she seemed a bit more alert and had more on the serve. The trouble is Steffi was better too and even more assured and confident. Still, a well played match.
Steffi kept passing her at net .
Between June 1989 and April 1990 Martina had a 67-3 win/loss streak.
ALL three losses were against the great Steffi. Navratilova won one set in each of those matches.
Without Steffi Martina surely would have had a 70-match unbeaten run.
The myth that she was "too old" in 1989 is exactly that - a myth. A myth spread by bitter US fans who can't accept that a European is the female GOAT.
Thanks
Thank you very much, but could you please upload the 1987 Wimbledon final between Graf and Navratilova? It's Graf's first final at Wimbledon
I have the videos of Roland Garros 1987 Final between Graf and Navratilova.
I also have the Finals between Martinez and Navratilova Wimbledon 1994 Final
Once upon a time there was a girl whose dreams were thorn apart. Her name is Monika Seles and if some things did not happen in Hamburg Steffi would not have been a Queen for long
Without those things happening in Hamburg Steffi would also have won Wimbledon 94, giving her a 23 slam tally at the end.
Since she already was 3-2 win/loss against #1-ranked Seles pre-things Monica would have suffered a lot more losses had she played in 1993-95. She knew why she only returned when Steffi was hampered by yet another scandal, the Graf Tax Scandal. But this time she miscalculated - Steffi was more mature and Seles could not profit AGAIN from a scandal engulfing Steffi (like the 1990-92 Graf Blackmail Scandal).
This video is on the Wimbledon final Graf-Navratilova 1989. Please don’t go off topic.
Goodbye to the serve and volley approach
Navratilova's backhand was . . . weak, unimpressive, not much of a weapon. A bit surprising given her record and exalted status.
Martina missed most of her volleys.
On grass, she had an effective slice...not as lethal as Graf's slice, but it stayed low and made her opponents hit up, making for an easier volley.
@@geoffreydy9739Because Steffi hit many wicked passing shots.