Steffi Graf and 33 victories for the ages

The fable world record of US sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner, Michael Phelps eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Games, Just Fontaines 13 hits at the 1958 World Cup or the 100-point gala of Knicks star Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA season 1962 – Sports history is steeped in events that have inherited the myth of remaining unique. Steffi Graf also owns such a record.

It’s October 1st, 1988: Gabriela Sabbatini lets the yellow felt ball hit the court twice, swings out to serve and serves through the middle with manageable speed. An invitation that Steffi Graf does not accept on the other side.

The German takes two steps into the field, targets the ball and answers the opening of the game with a cracking forehand. Sabbatini stretches in vain – the sport is richer by a unique success story to this day.

Steffi Graf, who was just 19 at the time, crowned a perfect year by winning the final of the Summer Olympics in Seoul. After Graf was only the third player in history to win all four Grand Slam tournaments within a calendar year – a feat that was previously only enjoyed by American Maureen Connolly in 1953, Australian record Grand Slam winner Magaret Smith Court in 1970 as well as Donald Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) – Graf was the first woman ever to win individual Olympic gold in the same year. The Golden Slam was born.

33 opponents stood in the way of the German sports legend on the way to her masterpiece, 33 times Graf left the field as the winner. The unbelievable superiority of the “Countess” only becomes clear when you take a look at the results.

Graf gave only three sets at all, she won 16 rounds to zero – in the final of the French Open, Belarusian Natasha Zvereva even dismantled them 6-0 and 6-0. In total, Graf competed 75 singles on the tour in 1988, only losing three times.

“It’s awesome”

“What should I do? Losing 6-0, 6-0 in a Grand Slam final is hell. But I’m a sportswoman and I always try to get the best tennis out of me,” Graf apologized after the game against Zvereva. The fact that she was the first and so far only player of the Open Era to win a final without losing a set seemed almost uncomfortable for the right-hander.

Graf, on the other hand, is very proud of her gold coup: “Winning the gold medal at the Olympics is a different experience than winning a Grand Slam. And I have to say that I rate it a little higher,” said Graf in 2012. “This is something that not many people will achieve after me. It’s fantastic,” she said immediately after her success – she was proved right.

Steffi Graf’s path to the Golden Slam:

Australian Open:

1 round: Amy Johnson (Norway) 6-3, 5-1
2nd round: Janine Thompson (Australia) 6: 0, 6: 1
3rd round: Cammy Macgregor (USA) 6:1, 6:2
Round of 16: Catarina Lindqvist (Sweden) 6-0, 7-5
Quarter finals: Hana Mandlikova (Australia) 6: 2, 6: 2
Semifinals: Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (Germany) 6: 2, 6: 3
Finale: Chris Evert (USA) 6:1, 7:6 (3)

French Open:
1 round: Nathalie Guerree (France) 6-0, 6-4
2nd round: Ronni Reis (USA) 6: 1, 6: 0
3rd round: Susan Sloane-Lundy (USA) 6:0, 6:1
Round of 16: Nathalie Tauziat (France) 6-1, 6-3
Quarter finals: Bettina Fulco-Viella 6:0, 6:1
Semifinals: Gabriela Sabatini 6: 3, 7: 6 (3)
Finale: Natalia Zvereva (Sowjetunion) 6: 0, 6: 0

Wimbledon:

1 round: Hu Na (USA) 6: 0, 6: 0
2nd round: Karine Quentrec Eagle (France) 6: 2, 6: 0
3rd round: Terry Phelps (USA) 6:3, 6:1
Round of 16: Mary-Joe Fernandez (USA) 6:2, 6:2
Quarter finals: Pascale Paradis-Mangon (France) 6: 3, 6: 1
Semifinals: Pam Shriver (USA) 6:1, 6:2
Finale: Martina Navratilova (USA) 5:7, 6:2, 6:1

US Open:

1 round: Elizabeth Minter (Australien) 6:1, 6:1
2nd round: Manon Bollegraf (Niederlande) 6: 1, 6: 0
3rd round: Nathalie Herreman (France) 6-0, 6-1
Round of 16: Patty Fendick (USA) 6: 4, 6: 2
Quarter finals: Katerina Maleeva (Bulgaria) 6: 3, 6: 0
Semifinals: Chris Evert (USA) without a fight
Finale: Gabriela Sabatini (Argentina) 6: 3, 3: 6, 6: 1

Olympic Games Seoul:

1 round: BYE
2nd round: Leila Meshki (Sowjetunion) 7: 5, 6: 1
Round of 16: Catherine Suire (France) 6-3, 6-0
Quarter finals: Larissa Savchenko (Soviet Union) 6: 2, 4: 6, 6: 3
Semifinals: Zina Garrison (USA) 6: 2, 6: 0
Finale: Gabriela Sabatini (Argentina) 6-3, 6-2

Marc Affeldt