Graf–Seles rivalry

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.^[1]

Contents 1 Head to head 1.1 Steffi Graf 10–5 Monica Seles 2 Breakdown of the rivalry 3 History 3.1 Matches 4 References

Head to head

Steffi Graf 10–5 Monica Seles

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	U.S. Hard Court Championships	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
• 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

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.

Matches

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

1990 French Open Final: Seles defeated Graf for her first major title.

1992 French Open Final: Graf saved five match points before losing 8–10 in the third set.

1992 Wimbledon Final: Graf won 6–2 6–1.

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

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

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

1999 Australian Open Quarter Final: Seles came back from 4–5 down in the first set to win eight games en route to a 7–5 6–1 victory, her only post-stabbing victory over Graf. This victory took Seles to 33 matches unbeaten at the Australian Open and 37 matches unbeaten in Australia.

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.

References