Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Steffi Graf

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Steffi Graf made an impact.

Steffi Graf, a German former professional tennis player, is widely considered one of the greatest of all time. She holds the record for the most weeks ranked world No. 1 by the WTA (377) and finished as the year-end No. 1 a record eight times. Graf won 107 singles titles, including 22 major singles titles, the second-most in the Open Era and third-most overall. Notably, she is the only tennis player, male or female, to achieve a quadruple career Grand Slam, winning each major singles tournament at least four times.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1968: Start of the Open Era

In 1968, the Open Era began in tennis, marking a significant shift in the sport's history. Steffi Graf would later become a dominant figure in this era, winning 22 major women's singles titles since its inception.

October 1982: First Professional Tournament

In October 1982, Graf played in her first professional tournament in Filderstadt, Germany, where she lost her first-round match to Tracy Austin.

1982: European Championships Win

In 1982, Steffi Graf won the European Championships for both the 12s and 18s age groups, marking a significant achievement in her junior career.

1983: Ranking World No. 124

At the start of her first full professional year, in 1983, Graf was 13 years old and ranked world No. 124, showing her early potential in the sport.

1983: First Main Draw Appearance at French Open

In 1983, at the age of 13, Graf became the youngest player to ever appear in the main draw of a major tournament at the French Open, marking the beginning of her professional career.

1984: French Open Semifinal Defeat

During the French Open semifinal in 1984, Graf suffered one of the worst defeats of her career, winning only two games against Sánchez Vicario and losing her first 6–0 set since 1984.

1984: International Attention at Wimbledon and Olympic Games

In 1984, Graf gained international attention at Wimbledon and won the tennis demonstration event at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles as a 15-year-old representing West Germany, although no medals were awarded since it was not an official Olympic event.

1985: Ranking Climbs to World No. 6

By 1985, Steffi Graf's ranking had climbed to world No. 6, showcasing her rapid progress in the professional tennis circuit.

1985: Emergence as Top Challenger

In 1985, Graf emerged as a top challenger to Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, consistently reaching tournament finals, semifinals, and quarterfinals.

April 1986: First WTA Tournament Win

On April 13, 1986, Graf won her first WTA tournament at the Family Circle Cup in Hilton Head, South Carolina, defeating Chris Evert in the final.

1986: Australian Open Quarterfinal Loss

In 1986, Graf lost in the Australian Open quarterfinal to Jana Novotná, marking the first time she had not reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament since the 1986 French Open.

1986: Emergence as Top Challenger

In early 1986, Graf continued to emerge as a top challenger to the dominance of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, although she did not win any tournaments during this period.

1987: Grand Slam Breakthrough and French Open Victory

In 1987, Graf had a Grand Slam breakthrough, winning the French Open after defeating Martina Navratilova in the final. She had a strong start to the year with six tournament victories leading up to the French Open.

1987: First Major Win at French Open

In 1987, Steffi Graf won her first major title at the French Open, signaling the end of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova's dominance in women's tennis.

1987: Achieving World No. 1 Ranking

In 1987, specifically on August 17, after defeating Chris Evert, Steffi Graf reached the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career. She held the ranking for a record 186 consecutive weeks.

1988: First French Open Title Since 1988

Graf won her first French Open title since 1988 with a three-set victory over Mary Joe Fernández, elevating her to the world No. 1 ranking after 22 months.

1988: Golden Slam

In 1988, Graf achieved the Golden Slam, winning all four major titles (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year, a historic achievement.

1988: Slam on Hardcourt, Clay and Grass

In 1988, Graf became only the second tennis player in history to win a Slam on hardcourt, clay, and grass all in the same season.

1988: US Open Victory and Grand Slam Achievement

In 1988, Graf completed the Grand Slam by winning the US Open, defeating Sabatini in the final. She remains the only player in history to achieve a Grand Slam on three surfaces (grass, clay, hard court).

1988: Australian Open Win

In 1988, Graf started the year by winning the Australian Open, defeating Chris Evert in the final without losing a set throughout the tournament.

1989: Victory at Virginia Slims Championships

Graf concluded the year 1989 by winning her first Virginia Slims Championships since 1989, defeating Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final despite a back injury.

1989: Australian Open Victory

In 1989, Graf began the year by winning the Australian Open, extending her Grand Slam tournament winning streak to five events. She defeated Helena Suková in the final.

1989: Nearly Achieving Grand Slam Again

In 1989, Graf won 27 Grand Slam singles matches, but failed to win the Grand Slam.

1989: Victories and Top-Ranked Status

In 1989, Steffi Graf had victories at Zurich and Brighton before cementing her top-ranked status by beating Navratilova in the Virginia Slims Championships final. She ended the year with an 86-2 match record.

1989: Unbeaten Streak

In 1989, after the French Open loss to Arantxa Sánchez, Graf's winning streak continued with victories in Tokyo, Amelia Island, and Hamburg. Her streak was eventually broken by Monica Seles in the Berlin final.

1991: Wimbledon Loss

In 1991, Graf had a loss at Wimbledon.

1991: Tough Year with Injuries and Loss of Ranking

In 1991, Steffi Graf faced a challenging year marked by injury problems, personal difficulties, and a decline in form. Monica Seles emerged as the dominant player, winning major titles and ending Graf's 186-week reign as World No. 1 in March. Graf briefly regained the top spot after Wimbledon but lost it again after the US Open.

1992: Monica Seles' Near Grand Slam

In 1992, Monica Seles managed a 27-1 win–loss record in Grand Slam matches, failing to win the Grand Slam.

1992: Rubella and Coaching Change

In 1992, Steffi Graf missed the Australian Open due to rubella. She experienced indifferent results early in the year, including a semifinal loss to Jana Novotná in Chicago. Chicago marked her first tournament with new coach Heinz Günthardt, whom her father had approached during the 1991 Virginia Slims Championships.

1993: Mixed Start to the Year and German Open Win

In 1993, Graf had a mixed start, losing four of her first six tournaments. However, she won her seventh German Open title in Berlin, overcoming tough matches against Mary Joe Fernández and Sabatini.

1993: Slam on Hardcourt, Clay and Grass

In 1993, Graf repeated the feat to win a Slam on hardcourt, clay, and grass all in the same season.

1993: Nearly Achieving Grand Slam Again

In 1993, Graf won 27 Grand Slam singles matches, but failed to win the Grand Slam.

1994: Australian Open Win and Injury Struggles

In 1994, Graf won the Australian Open and four subsequent tournaments. She later struggled with a back injury, affecting her performance at the French Open and Wimbledon. Despite the injury, she reached the US Open final.

1995: Victories and Seles' Return

In 1995, Graf won the French Open and Wimbledon, defeating Sánchez Vicario in both finals. Monica Seles made her return to tennis at the Canadian Open, and Graf secured a victory over Seles in the US Open final.

1996: Slam on Hardcourt, Clay and Grass

In 1996, Graf repeated the feat to win a Slam on hardcourt, clay, and grass all in the same season.

1997: Injury-Plagued Year and Loss of Ranking

In 1997, Graf's career was affected by injuries, leading to a loss of the world No. 1 ranking to Martina Hingis and failing to win a Grand Slam title for the first time in ten years. She had arthroscopic surgery performed on her left knee.

1997: Only Loss at Wimbledon

In 1997, Lori McNeil defeated Graf at Wimbledon, marking her only loss at Wimbledon between 1991 and 1997 and her first loss in a first round Grand Slam tournament in ten years.

1997: Martina Hingis' Near Grand Slam

In 1997, Martina Hingis managed a 27-1 win–loss record in Grand Slam matches, failing to win the Grand Slam.

1998: Surgeries and Return to Play

In 1998, Graf missed almost half of the tour. She underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in her right wrist after the US Open. She returned to win the Philadelphia title, defeating Hingis and Davenport.

1999: Final Major Title and Retirement

In 1999, Graf captured her 22nd and final major title at the French Open, reached the Wimbledon final, and subsequently retired from professional tennis at the age of 30, ranked world No. 3.