On August 17, she even took the top WTA ranking from the American, who held it with little interruption since 1982. Closely monitored by father, Peter Graf, she had her breakthrough year in 1987, when she lifted her fist Grand Slam title, edging Navratilova in the final of Roland-Garros, and finishing runner-up, also to Navratilova at Wimbledon and the US Open.
In 1986, she claimed her first WTA title in Hilton Head, before getting to the US Open semi-final a second time. At the age of 16, she reached the semi-final at the 1985 US Open, defeated by world No 1 Martina Navratilova (6-2, 6-3).
After winning the demonstration event held at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she constantly improved her game and her results. In 1982, at the age of 13, she became the youngest girl to ever get a WTA ranking.
Steffi Graf: the undisputed Golden Girl of women’s tennis. The players involved: Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini This feat would remain as a “Golden Slam”, an expression that was specifically invented to define this unique achievement and would make Graf’s 1988 season the greatest ever played in tennis. Three weeks after completing the calendar Grand Slam, the German had just added a gold medal to make her season even greater. The player who has earned respect from the world in his career spanning 24 years, is currently in search of a Career Slam in Mixed Doubles, with only a victory at the clay courts of Paris missing.On this day, October 1 in 1988, Steffi Graf defeated Gabriela Sabatini in the singles final of the Olympic tournament in Seoul (6-3, 6-3). By winning at the hallowed Wimbledon in 2010, he became only the first player after tennis legend Rod Laver to win at London in three different decades. His mixed doubles feats with Cara Black deserve mention- he patnered her in 2008 and over the next 2 years, won 3 Slams. Paes continued with his performances and in 2012, he achieved the feat of a Career Grand Slam (winner of all 4 slams) in men’s doubles by winning the Australian Open with Radek Stepanek. He had to wait 3 years for his next success, when he along with Martin Damm won the 2006 US Open. In 2003, before being diagnosed with a suspected brain tumour, the 41 year old partnered tennis great Martina Navratilova to win the mixed doubles event at the Australia Open and then went on to win Wimbledon with her in the same year. The Indian Express later won the French Open in 2001. Paes did a double whammy at Wimbledon the same year, winning both the Mixed Doubles (patnering Lisa Raymond) and the mens doubles with Bhupathi. The next year, the pair reached the finals of all 4 Grand Slams, and became only the 1st Indian doubles pair to win the French Open. In 1998, the duo reached the semi finals of 3 Slams and it was just a matter of time before they achieved success. Soon after, he shifted his focus to doubles and his patnership with fellow Indian Mahesh Bhupathi proved to be an envious combination. The Kolkatan who began his career as a singles player became the first tennis player from the country in 4 decades to bag an Olympic medal, when he bagged the bronze in the 1996 Atlanta Games. Leander Paes the most successful Indian on the circuit, has 14 Grand Slam titles to his name- 8 in the Mens Doubles category and 6 in the Mixed Doubles. Sania Mirza in recent years, has become a force to reckon with in the doubles arena and the three, by emerging triumphant in various Grand Slams, have managed to put all doubts to rest.Here’s a look at all the Grand Slam victories accorded by them over the years. 16 in the world.These 3 great players constantly defeated top singles players, but a Grand Slam success always eluded them and soon questions were asked as to whether India, a country more in the news for its cricket heroics, is capable of producing a tennis champion – a player who will do the nation proud in Grand Slam events.Mahesh Bhupathi along with Leander Paes combined to change all mindsets in the 1990’s. Amritraj in 1984, defeated John McEnroe when he was playing at the peak of his career and managed to reach a career high rank of no. The trio received comparitive success in their hey-days with Ramanathan Krishnan even achieveing a career high singles ranking of no. Tennis had for long been considered a sport for the elite, till the likes of Ramanathan Krishnan, Ramesh Krishnan and Vijay Amritraj took to the courts, and made its presence felt in India.
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