Graf–Seles rivalry

Graf–Seles rivalry

Steffi Graf

Monica Seles

Steffi Graf and Monica Seles are retired professional tennis players who between 1989 and 1999 engaged in a rivalry with one another for best female tennis player. They competed in 15 matches. Seles, a left-handed player, demonstrated precise shot-making. Graf, in contrast, had a formidable forehand and backhand in addition to her penetrating serve.

Head to head

Steffi Graf—Monica Seles (10–5)

No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Round	Winner	Score
1	1989	French Open	Clay	SF	Graf	6–3, 3–6, 6–3
2	1989	Wimbledon	Grass	4RD	Graf	6–0, 6–1
3	1989	Brighton	Indoors	F	Graf	7–5, 6–4
4	1990	Berlin	Clay	F	Seles	6–4, 6–3
5	1990	French Open	Clay	F	Seles	7–6, 6–4
6	1991	San Antonio	Hard	F	Graf	6–4, 6–3
7	1991	Hamburg	Clay	F	Graf	7–5, 6–7, 6–3
8	1992	French Open	Clay	F	Seles	6–2, 3–6, 10–8
9	1992	Wimbledon	Grass	F	Graf	6–2, 6–1
10	1993	Australian Open	Hard	F	Seles	4–6, 6–3, 6–2
11	1995	US Open	Hard	F	Graf	7–6, 0–6, 6–3
12	1996	US Open	Hard	F	Graf	7–5, 6–4
13	1998	New York City	Indoors	QF	Graf	1–6, 6–4, 6–4
14	1999	Australian Open	Hard	QF	Seles	7–5, 6–1
15	1999	French Open	Clay	SF	Graf	6–7, 6–3, 6–4

Breakdown of the rivalry

• Hard courts: Graf, 3–2
• Clay courts: Equal, 3–3
• Grass courts: Graf, 2–0
• Indoors: Graf, 2–0
• Rebound Ace courts: Seles 2-0
• Grand Slam matches: Graf, 6–4
• Grand Slam finals: Equal, 3–3
• Year-End Championships matches: Graf, 1–0
• Year-End Championships finals: None
• Fed Cup matches: None
• All finals: Graf, 6–4
• All matches: Graf, 10–5

WTA Rankings

Year-end ranking timeline

Player	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Steffi Graf	124	93	22	6	3	1	1	1	1	2	2	1	1	1	1	28	9
Monica Seles							86	6	2	1	1	8		1PR	2	5	6	6	4	10	7	60

History

Graf won eight of nine majors before Seles won her first. Seles surpassed Graf as the No. 1 player in 1991, and won seven of eight grand slam titles during the period of 1991–1993. Graf in the end did recapture the No. 1 ranking from Seles in June 1993, after Seles was forced out of the sport due to her stabbing.

Notable matches

1990 Berlin Final: Seles ended Graf's 66-match win streak, taking the title in two sets.It's also Seles' first victory over Graf.

1990 French Open Final: Seles defeated Graf for her first major title. And Seles became the youngest-ever champion in French Open history.

1992 French Open Final: Graf saved six match points before losing 8–10 in the third set. And Seles became the first 3-consecutive champion in Women's Singles in French Open history.

1992 Wimbledon Final: Graf easily defeated Seles 6–2、6–1. It's the most one-sided final in Wimbledon history.

1993 Australian Open Final: Both played with few unforced errors. Seles came from a set behind to defeat Graf.

1995 US Open Final: Graf won in three sets after losing the second set 0–6.

1998 Chase Championship Quarter Final: Graf won 1–6、6–4、6–4.

1999 Australian Open Quarter Final: Seles won 7–5 6–1 victory, her only post-stabbing victory over Graf.

1999 French Open Semi Final: Graf defeated Seles in a three-set match after coming from a set behind. This was their last ever head-to-head match.

See also

• List of tennis rivalries
• 1993 Citizen Cup

External links

[1] profiles at WTA site

[2] Head to Head record