Queen of Tennis: Steffi Graf vs Serena Williams
Steffi Graf’s Golden Slam of 1988: The Perfect Season
December 2, 2020
As I’m sure you all remember, in the Spring of 2020 we had a period where no live sports were being played and we had to somehow make do without. I spent a lot of time re-watching documentaries, full games, and full matches from the past featuring some of my favorite teams and athletes. This included watching every match of Steffi Graf’s 1988 “Golden Slam,” which saw her crowned the victorious champion of all four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. With the final ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tournament of 2020 scheduled to be played this month, I thought it would be fitting to bring this up.
In 1988, Steffi became only the seventh tennis player (amongst both male and female players) to achieve this. Not only did “Fräulein Forehand” (as she was nicknamed by the press) dominate the four Grand Slams at the young age of 19, she also took the Olympic gold medal for West-Germany in the Seoul ’88 Olympic Games. No player, male or female, has accomplished this goal since.
Graf faced the likes of Hall of Fame players such as, Gabriella Sabatini, who was vanquished in the finals of Graf’s quest for the U.S. Open trophy and an Olympic gold medal. She also defeated another legend in Chris Evert, whom Graf defeated in straight sets in the Australian Open final by a score of 6-1, 7-6. Despite facing such elite talent, Graf’s opponents managed to win a total of two sets against her. Two! One of which came at the 1988 Wimbledon final against the seven-time tournament champion and the red-hot favorite to win her eighth in
1988, Marina Navratilova. Navratilova, who the WTA ranks as the player with “the third fastest serve in the history of Women’s tennis,” looked to be too powerful, too experienced for young Steffi, who was overpowered in a close first set by a score of: 7-5. A crucial moment in Graf’s career, she proved to be unphased by the pressure. She completely outclassed the seven-time champion, using her rapid speed, and lightning-quick agility to reach return shots that would have been guaranteed winners against most. She of course hit countless of her infamous, deadly forehands at angles that inspired the “Fräulein Forehand” nickname of the German superstar. NBC commentator, Dick Enberg, described Graf’s style of play as “genius.” Graf won the second and third set: 6-2, and 6-1. If there was any doubt before, there was none after that match. Graf was the best in the game. That day in London, a changing of the guard took place, and I don’t mean outside Buckingham palace.
Graf’s ’88 Golden Slam is the tennis equivalent of the 1972 Miami Dolphins undefeated 17-0 season. Or the 1999 Manchester United treble-winning team. For the lack of a better word, Graf’s 1988 season was… perfect. Her Golden Slam solidified her status as the greatest female tennis player of all time. Until anybody can rival her perfect season, that is a status she will always have.
How about Serena? Is she good enough to equal Graf’s ’88 season?
Live sport returned in the Fall of 2020. Wimbledon was not played for the first time since the second world war, but the other three major tournaments were. None of the three major tournaments were won by Serena Williams, the clear-cut best player of her era.
In 2020, despite there not being an obvious favorite, other than herself, Williams couldn’t capitalize. She hasn’t been able to do so since the Australian open of January 2017, when she beat *yawn* her sister, Venus, in straight sets. What a surprise! It’s not like any of their previous meetings have been one-sided straight-set matches before. This match was almost four years ago. Serena hasn’t achieved much since then. So, as much as it may disappoint the Williams fans, I am confident in saying that her window of opportunity to match Graf’s ’88 season is very close to closing.
Make no mistake about it, I think Serena William’s style of play is boring, and I don’t think it would have been as effective in the ’80s and early ’90s. However, I can’t argue that it has been effective during her era. Williams has won 23 Grand Slam titles, the most of the open era. She has also easily been the most feared player in the Women’s game for the two most recent decades. But despite her dominance, she has still failed to take all four major trophies in the same calendar year. Which isn’t anything to be ashamed of. It is incredibly difficult to be victorious on grass, clay, and hard-court surfaces in such a short period of time. This strongly supports the claim that Steffi Graf is the greatest of all time.
Even if Serena doesn’t complete the Golden Slam, can she be considered the greatest of all time? It would be hypocritical of me if I told you that you can-not consider somebody to be the “G.O.A.T.” after my article regarding LeBron James and Michael Jordan. So, if you really believe that Williams is the best to ever play and you aren’t being influenced by recency bias, then, by all means, place her above Graf. However, I think you must make a legitimate case as to why you think that. Unlike the LeBron vs M.J. debate, I have yet to come across an argument in Williams’s favor that is respectable in my opinion.
Williams has never been in the same class as Graf when it comes to comparing the two as players. Williams has always lacked the quickness, agility, and skill that Steffi Graf had, which made women’s tennis a joy to watch. Instead, she favors the strategy of overpowering her opponent.
Williams has also greatly benefitted from a lack of competition. Seriously, who has been her biggest rival? Her sister? Even though their father allegedly fixes the outcome of their matches. As far-fetched as this conspiracy may be, their matches are usually one-sided and boring, making it difficult for me to respect Venus as a rival. Who else? Maria Sharapova maybe? She’s hardly the brutal obstacle of Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, and Monica Seles that Steffi had to overcome to win her 107 career titles and 22 Grand Slams.
You might be thinking something along the lines of “But Stefan, you said Williams has won 23 Grand Slams, that’s more than 22!” In my opinion, it doesn’t matter, because as I previously mentioned, Williams never had to overcome consistently elite competition. Williams also began her ongoing career in October 1995, twenty-five years and counting. Graf, on the other hand, played between 1982 and 1999. In her additional eight years as a professional, Williams has only managed to surpass Graf’s Grand Slam total by one. What? Only one? In an era that she effectively has a monopoly in? The “23 Grand Slam titles” argument is laughable.
It is especially laughable when you compare the two player’s stats and achievements in other areas, because believe it or not, there are more achievements than Grand Slam victories. The resumes of the two make it clear which player is the most accomplished:
Steffi Graf: Serena Williams:
900-115 career record, (88.7 win %) 843-147 career record (85.2 win %), 22 Grand Slam wins, 23 Grand Slams wins, One calendar Slam (1988), Zero calendar Slams, 107 career tournament victories, 72 career tournament victories, 377 total weeks ranked as world No. One 319 total weeks ranked as world No. One
Conclusion:
I hope you all enjoyed reading this one and learned something about the history of Tennis. Steffi Graf’s “Golden Slam” of 1988 is still the greatest single-season achievement in the history of tennis. It should also be considered as one of the greatest achievements in all of sports. If any player in the women’s game was going to equal the “Golden Slam” it would have been Serena, granted she still has a chance, but she is clearly past her prime, making it highly unlikely. If by some miracle she does, the level of competition is hardly going to be as fierce as Graf’s. When it comes to Tennis, Steffi Graf is royalty. She is the one and only Queen of tennis. Serena on the other hand? Well if Steffi is the Queen, then by comparison, Serena is the jester.
References: Amaro. M Top five serves in the WTA. Retrieved from: https://tennispal.com/top-5-serves-in-the-wta/
Tennis Wimbledon 1988 final. Steffi Graf vs Martina Navratilova. (Dick Enberg NBC Sports) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDhT3h9FWi0
David • Aug 2, 2021 at 1:18 pm
I live in NYC and I’m sick of Americans thinking that Serena is the GOAT. Yes, she is one of the greatest tennis players who ever lived but there are countless tournaments where Serena was erratic, sprayed balls outside the court, and simply gave up. Serena is ultra talented and built like an Amazon warrior and she could have destroyed Graf’s records if she wanted to but Serena had other priorities in her life. Steffi lived and breathed tennis. She was the most consistent player I’ve ever seen and that inside-out forehand was a shot that not even Roger Federer could not have returned. Recently, Djokovic’s quest for a Golden Slam came to and end. This underscores how Steffi Graf is the only tennis player in history to achieve sports rarest of titles.
Riki • Jun 25, 2021 at 8:43 am
We ignore country of player, white or black,. All statistic on the article is really correct, steffi’s Win-lost record and 107 titles in 17 years proved that she is the most consistent player in tennis history
John • Jun 19, 2021 at 7:26 pm
This is a joke! Serena is far known the best ever! If Monica had not gotten stabbed, Steffi would have half the slams that she has. What a joke ! Go back to studying business boo!
Glen (Woody) Pope • Mar 25, 2021 at 5:05 pm
A great synopsis and one that rates a “Grand Slam. (npi)
Good luck to you re your academic endeavors @ Buena Vista Stefan.
Cordially, Glen (Woody), Pope
Paige • Mar 13, 2021 at 3:41 pm
This article is very bias as well. Graf faced an out of prime Evert and Navratilova for the most part. The likes of Sabatini and Sanchez were only good in spurts like Azarenka and li to Serena. Seles was the only true competition till she got stabbed which derailed her momentum. Serena in her prime had prime Venus, Henin, Mauresmo, Clijsters, Dementieva etc all of who are multiple grand slam winners and/or gold medalists so she overcame elite competition to win majority of her slams by 2010. In her 30s she still dominated women in their prime, even recently she reaches finals with a whole new and younger generation and stays in the top 10, which is impressive and best part she still isn’t done.
Jake Evans • Mar 3, 2021 at 2:04 am
You neglect two factors: Steffi had her fair share of easy matches and Monica Seles’ tragic stabbing ALLOWED Sreffi to rack up more Slams.
The competition is tougher than it ever was but Steffi’s “rivalries” were incredibly one sided in her day.
Rommel Salonga • Feb 18, 2021 at 2:51 pm
I definitely agree that Stefi Graf is the one and only greatest player of all time!
Izak Walz • Feb 18, 2021 at 2:47 am
Graf’s always going to be the greatest women’s professional tennis champion in the history of the sport until she’s been supplanted by a superior tennis champion and that’s unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.
SR • Feb 16, 2021 at 9:47 am
Hi Stefan,
Thank you for your article. Enjoyed reading it! My first connect with your article was that even I watched all Steffi’s matches during lockdown…I was literally reliving the golden era of Steffi. Your article really compelled me to reply (by the way this is the first time I must be replying to someone’s post). For me Steffi is the GOAT, she is the reason I fell in love with tennis and my love still continues. Though being a die hard fan of Steffi and tennis, I would like to see Steffi and Serena differently. Reg Steffi I agree to whatever you have mentioned but for Serena I feel she had her own challenges and to stick around for so long, that too after having a child is commendable and defies all the statistics that you have put up. Saying that Steffi had it difficult with all her opponents being great stalwarts – I feel though stalwarts they were way past their prime and someone had to dethrone them. And Steffi proved to be the perfect match. On the other hand for Serena I would say she made it look easy because of the level of her tennis!
All said and done, knowing the extent of discipline, commitment, dedication and sacrifices all the sports people make and also the uncertainty whether they will make it big or no…I truly respect all the players small or big, who decide to walk this path in the hope to make it big one day!!
Jaiye Iway • Feb 15, 2021 at 7:20 pm
This article sums it up???…one great read!!
I love tennis because of Stefi Graf!!
1988 is it!!
Thanks for this!!!
Mattheus S Ayongwa • Feb 14, 2021 at 7:07 pm
I seriously don’t get this white american hate for Serena….(even venus!!)… especially now that she is the top american representative of the sport, and it’s truly not worth a serious response.
White American • Dec 29, 2021 at 1:53 pm
White American hate? Go fuq yourself! Americans love Serena. Wtf does color have to do with it you ignorant fool.
Mattheus S Ayongwa • Feb 13, 2021 at 12:28 pm
Stefan Collins you’ve spoken like a true pundit. And I get it, her (Serena’s) style of play does not please you (like most American “Serena hating” cynics I know) & Steffi Graff is royalty (for sure), even Serena knows that. but to sum up her contribution in comparison to Steffi as that of a “jester”.. ?♂️?♂️….being dominant this long is a testament to her mental & physical strength. There’s a reason most players chose to retire early, & it goes beyond will power. Serena has had competition at every turn, or are you saying that Venus, Henin, Clijsters, Vicka….& yes even Seles were not worth a dime…??!! Even now Serena has to do battle at her age with young & upcoming stars like Halep, Andreescu, Osaka…& many more. If this is your argument, then I may as well contradict you in saying that Evert & Navratilova were not at their peak when Steffi was. & the one true competition that could rival her, Monica Seles got stabbed & that was it. From the late 80’s & post Seles stabbing, Steffi was mostly unchallenged. Even Steffi has admitted that Serena has achieved her success at a much more competitive era than hers, & believed that without injury, she could beat courts record.
At their peak, Steffi is the undisputed queen of the court. In terms of skill, natural ability & technique, Steffi reigned supreme. But in terms of endurance, mental & physical strength Serena was in a class of her own. This enabled her to overcome injuries (which affected some of her opportunities in winning all slams in a year), to have a never say never attitude at top competitions (go re-watch her comebacks finals against Sharapova, Vicka, Kerber, Henin….there are one of the best on record) & above all her passion for the game, which has fueled her desire for success at every turn. Oh for goodness sake she won a grand slam while being pregnant…!!! And after putting to birth, she’s already featured in 4 grand slam finals. It’s no easy feat.. (ask Clijsters) or any other tennis player that is a mother.
Steffi was a phenomenon, by virtue of how she won, but Serena IS a force of nature by virtue of her passion for the game. In comparison, she is the heir apparent to the throne.
Tom Taylor • Dec 25, 2020 at 12:48 am
STEFFI GRAF’S ONLY COMPETITOR WAS ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES. HAD SELES NOT BEEN ATTACKED ON THE COURT, STEFFI WOULD OF WON NO MORE THAN 18 SLAMS. THAT CASTS A DARK CLOUD ON HER RECORD
THERE HAS BEEN NO ELITE CHALLENGE TO SERENA IN THE WORLD SIMPLY BECAUSE SHE IS THAT GOOD. DAVENPORT, HENIN AND CAPRIATI ALL CHALLENGED FOR A WHILE, BUT SERENA PREVAILED.
I DO NOT EVEN LIKE SERENA BUT SHE IS THAT GOOD.
Tom Taylor • Dec 25, 2020 at 12:47 am
STEFFI GRAF’S ONLY COMPETITOR WAS ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES. HAD SELES NOT BEEN ATTACKED ON TBE COURT, STEFFI WOULD OF WON NO MORE THAN 18 SLAMS. THAT CASTS A DARK CLOUD ON HER RECORD
THERE HAS BEEN NO ELITE CHALLENGE TO SERENA IN THE WORLD SIMPLY BECAUSE SHE IS THAT GOOD. DAVENPORT, HENIN AND CAPRIATI ALL CHALLENGED FOR A WHILE, BUT SERENA PREVAILED.
I DO NOT EVEN LIKE SERENA BUT SHE IS THAT GOOD.
Tom Taylor • Dec 25, 2020 at 12:45 am
STEFFI GRAFS ONLY COMPETITOR WAS ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES. HAD SELES NOT BEEN ATTACKED ON TBE COURT, STEFFI WOULD OF WON NO MORE THAN 18 SLAMS. THAT CASTS A DARK CLOUD ON HER RECORD
THERE HAS BEEN NO ELITE CHALLENGE TO SERENA IN THE WORLD SIMPLY BECAUSE SHE IS THAT GOOD. DAVENPORT, HENIN AND CAPRIATI ALL CHALLENGED FOR A WHILE, BUT SERENA PREVAILED.
I DO NOT EVEN LIKE SERENA BUT SHE IS THAT GOOD.
Tom Taylor • Dec 25, 2020 at 12:42 am
STEFFI GRAFS ONLY COMPETITOR WAS ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES. HAD SElES NOT BEEN ATTACKED ON TBE COURT, STEFFI WOULD OF WON NO MORE THAN 18 SLAMS. THAT CASTS A DARK CLOUD ON HER RECORD
THERE HAS BEEN NO ELITE CHALLENGE TO SERENA IN THE WORLD SIMPLY BECAUSE SHE IS THAT GOOD. DAVENPORT, HENIN AND CAPRIATI ALL CHALLENGED FOR A WHILE, BUT SERENA PREVAILED.
I DO NOT EVEN LIKE SERENA BUT SHE IS THAT GOOD.
TENNIS WAS MORE TACTICAL IN THE 80s BUT THE GAME EVOLVED.
Tom Taylor • Dec 25, 2020 at 12:37 am
STEFFI GRAFS ONLY COMPETITOR WAS ESSENTIALLY MONICA SELES. HAD SRLES NOT BEEN ATTACKED ON TBE COURT, STEFFI WOULD OF WON NO MORE THAN 18 SLAMS. THAT IS A BIG DEAL
THERE HAS BEEN NO ELITE CHALLENGE TO SERENA IN THE WORLD BECAUSE SHE IS THAT GOOD. DAVENPORT, HENIN AND CAPRIATI ALL CHALLENGED FOR A WHILE, BUT SERENA PREVAILED.
I DO NOT EVEN LUKE HER BUT SHE IS THAT GOOD.
RK • Dec 8, 2020 at 2:13 am
Agree completely with this article. Golden Calendar Year Slam is the benchmark that Steffi Graf set and no one has been able to match the same in he last 32 years male or female. To add a few more – In the department of sportsmanship and conduct on court, Steffi is way above Serena. Also Steffi has won at least 4 titles at each of the four grand slams which is unmatched in history yet.