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, holds the record for the most weeks ranked world No. 1 by the WTA (377) and year-end No. 1 finishes (8). She claimed 107 singles titles on the WTA Tour, including 22 major women's singles titles, the second-most in the Open Era and third-most of all time. Graf 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

1911: Double Bagel in a Major Final

Since 1911, Graf's 1988 win against Natasha Zvereva was the only double bagel in a Major final

1975: Chris Evert's Tennis Ranking

In 1975, Chris Evert had a tennis ranking.

1976: Evonne Goolagong's Tennis Ranking

In 1976, Evonne Goolagong had a tennis ranking.

1978: Martina Navratilova's Tennis Ranking

In 1978, Martina Navratilova had a tennis ranking.

1980: Tracy Austin's Tennis Ranking

In 1980, Tracy Austin had a tennis ranking.

October 1982: First Professional Tournament

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

1982: European Championships Win

In 1982, Steffi Graf won the European Championships in both the 12s and 18s categories.

1983: First Full Professional Year

In 1983, Graf began her first full professional year ranked world No. 124.

1983: First Major Appearance

In 1983, Graf, as a teen phenom, became the youngest player to appear in the main draw of a major at the French Open.

1984: French Open Semifinal Defeat

During the 1984 French Open, Graf suffered a semifinal defeat where she lost her first 6-0 set.

1984: International Attention and Olympic Win

In 1984, Graf gained international attention at Wimbledon and won the tennis demonstration event at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

1985: Ranking Climbs to World No. 6

By 1985, Graf's ranking had steadily climbed to world No. 6.

1985: Chris Evert's Tennis Ranking

In 1985, Chris Evert had a tennis ranking.

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, 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. This marked the first time she had not reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament since the 1986 French Open.

1986: Continued Challenge to Dominance

In early 1986, Graf continued to challenge the dominance of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, although she did not win a tournament during this period.

1987: Ascension to World No. 1

In 1987, Graf achieved a 75-2 win-loss record. On August 17, 1987, after defeating Evert, Graf overtook Navratilova for the world No. 1 ranking, which she held for 186 consecutive weeks.

1987: Grand Slam Tournament Breakthrough

In 1987, Graf had a Grand Slam tournament breakthrough, winning six tournaments heading into the French Open and ultimately defeating Martina Navratilova in the French Open final.

1987: First Major Win at French Open

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

1987: Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf's Tennis Ranking

In 1987, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf had a tennis ranking.

1988: First French Open Title Since 1988

During Seles's absence in 1993, Graf won her first French Open title since 1988.

1988: Golden Slam Achievement

In 1988, Graf achieved the Golden Slam, winning all four major titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year.

1988: US Open Victory and Grand Slam

In 1988, Graf beat Sabatini in the US Open final to win the Grand Slam, becoming one of only three women to achieve this feat. Her 1988 Grand Slam remains the only one completed on three surfaces.

1988: Winning a 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: Australian Open Victory

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

1989: Australian Open Victory and Unbeaten Streak

Graf defeated Mary Joe Fernández in the final of the Australian Open in 1989, marking her eighth Grand Slam singles title in the last nine she contested. Her winning streak continued until she lost to Monica Seles in Berlin.

1989: Graf's Near Grand Slam

In 1989, Graf came close to winning another Grand Slam but did not achieve it.

1989: Virginia Slims Championships

In 1989, Graf had won the Virginia Slims Championships.

1989: Victories and Top-Ranked Status

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

1989: Speculation and Australian Open Win

In 1989, there was speculation about Graf potentially winning another Grand Slam. She began the year by winning the Australian Open, extending her Grand Slam tournament winning streak to five events.

1991: Coach approached

In 1991, Graf's father approached Heinz Günthardt during the Virginia Slims Championships, which led to him coaching Graf from 1992 onwards.

1991: Monica Seles's Tennis Ranking

In 1991, Monica Seles had a tennis ranking.

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 force, seizing the World No. 1 ranking in March, ending Graf's 186-week reign. Graf briefly regained the top spot after winning Wimbledon but lost it again after the US Open.

1991: Only Wimbledon Loss Between 1991-1997

In 1994, Graf had her first loss in a first round Grand Slam tournament in ten years and her only loss at Wimbledon between 1991 and 1997.

1992: Missed Australian Open and Coaching Change

In 1992, Graf missed the Australian Open due to rubella. She also began working with a new coach, Heinz Günthardt, after her father approached him during the 1991 Virginia Slims Championships. She reached her first final of the year in Boca Raton, Florida, defeating Conchita Martínez.

1992: Seles' Near Grand Slam

In 1992, Monica Seles had a 27-1 win-loss record, coming close to but failing to win the Grand Slam.

1993: Return to Dominance After Seles Stabbing

Following the stabbing of Monica Seles in 1993, Graf returned to dominance on the women's tour.

1993: Graf's Near Grand Slam

In 1993, Graf came close to winning another Grand Slam but did not achieve it.

1993: Mixed Start to the Year and German Open Win

In 1993, Graf had a mixed start, losing four of her first six tournaments. She later struggled at the German Open in Berlin, before ultimately claiming her seventh title there in eight years.

1993: Winning a 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.

1994: Australian Open Victory and Back Injury

In 1994, Graf started the year by winning the Australian Open. She later developed a bone spur at the base of her spine, leading to a back injury.

1995: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario's Tennis Ranking

In 1995, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario had a tennis ranking.

1995: French Open and Wimbledon Victories, Seles's Return

In 1995, Graf won both the French Open and Wimbledon. Monica Seles made her return to tennis at the Canadian Open, and Graf faced her in the US Open final, winning in three sets.

1996: Grand Slam Titles and WTA Tour Championship

In 1996, Graf defended her French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open titles, also securing her fifth WTA Tour Championships title.

1996: Monica Seles's Tennis Ranking

In 1996, Monica Seles had a tennis ranking.

1996: Last loss to Novotna

The Chicago Open in 1992 would be the last loss Steffi Graf would ever have to Novotna in a match she completed, although she did have a loss after withdrawing with injury after the first set of a late 1996 match.

1997: Only Wimbledon Loss Between 1991-1997

In 1994, Graf had her first loss in a first round Grand Slam tournament in ten years and her only loss at Wimbledon between 1991 and 1997.

1997: Injury Struggles and Surgery

In 1997, Graf faced injury struggles, losing the world No. 1 ranking and failing to win a Grand Slam. She underwent reconstructive knee surgery and missed Wimbledon and the US Open.

1997: Hingis' Near Grand Slam

In 1997, Martina Hingis had a 27-1 win-loss record, coming close to but failing to win the Grand Slam.

1997: Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis's Tennis Ranking

In 1997, Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis had a tennis ranking.

1998: Further Injuries and Philadelphia Title

In 1998, Graf continued to struggle with injuries, undergoing wrist surgery. Despite this, she won the Philadelphia title.

1998: Lindsay Davenport's Tennis Ranking

In 1998, Lindsay Davenport had a tennis ranking.

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 retired from the sport at age 30, ranked world No. 3.