Some champions win titles; Steffi Graf rewrote what a single season could look like. In 1988, aged 19, she won all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold in Seoul, a Golden Slam that no other player, man or woman, has matched in a calendar year.
Behind that famous forehand sat a fierce work ethic, 22 Grand Slam singles titles and a record 377 weeks at world No. 1. Here is the story of the German great, from a racket in the living room to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Browse our tennis collection to celebrate the legends of the court.
Steffi Graf Fact File
| Full name | Stefanie Maria Graf |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 June 1969 (age 57) |
| Place of birth | Mannheim, West Germany (raised in Brühl) |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Event | Singles (right-handed, one-handed backhand) |
| Nationality | German |
| Current status | Retired (1982 to 1999) |
| Nickname | Fräulein Forehand |
Career History
| Years | Slams won | Key titles |
|---|---|---|
| 1987–1990 | 9 | 1987 French Open; 1988 Golden Slam; 1989 Australian, Wimbledon, US Open; 1990 Australian Open |
| 1991–1993 | 5 | Wimbledon 1991, 1992, 1993; 1993 French and US Opens |
| 1994–1996 | 7 | 1994 Australian Open; French, Wimbledon and US Open in both 1995 and 1996 |
| 1997–1999 | 1 | 1999 French Open |
Figures are Grand Slam singles titles only, totalling 22. Graf won 107 singles titles in all, plus the 1988 Wimbledon doubles with Gabriela Sabatini.
Early Years in Brühl
Graf was born in Mannheim and grew up in nearby Brühl. Her father, Peter, introduced her to tennis at just three, teaching her to swing a wooden racket at home. She was practising on court at four and playing her first tournament at five. By October 1982, aged 13, she made her professional debut in Filderstadt, losing to Tracy Austin, and a year later she was in the French Open main draw.
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The Breakthrough of 1987
Graf won the 1984 Olympic demonstration event in Los Angeles at 15, but 1987 was the year everything clicked. At Roland Garros she beat Martina Navratilova 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 to claim her first major, and on 17 August 1987 she became world No. 1. She would hold the top spot for 186 consecutive weeks, until March 1991.
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1988: The Golden Slam
The 1988 season remains unique. Graf beat Chris Evert in Melbourne, then crushed Natasha Zvereva 6–0, 6–0 in a 32-minute French Open final. At Wimbledon she came from a set down against Navratilova, and in New York she edged Sabatini 6–3, 3–6, 6–1. She then beat Sabatini again for Olympic gold in Seoul, completing the Golden Slam at 19.
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Later Career and Legacy
Graf kept winning through the 1990s, taking seven Wimbledon titles and sweeping three majors a year in both 1995 and 1996. Her farewell major was fittingly dramatic: a three-set win over Martina Hingis at the 1999 French Open. After reaching that year's Wimbledon final, she announced her retirement on 13 August 1999, aged 30. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004.
Honours
Grand Slam Singles (22)
- Australian Open: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994
- French Open: 1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999
- Wimbledon: 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
- US Open: 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996
Olympics
- Gold, singles: Seoul 1988
- Bronze, doubles: Seoul 1988
- Silver, singles: Barcelona 1992
Other Honours
- WTA Tour Championships: 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996
- Fed Cup winner with West Germany/Germany: 1987, 1992
- Record 377 weeks as world No. 1
- International Tennis Hall of Fame: 2004
Away From the Game
In 1998 Graf founded Children for Tomorrow, a non-profit supporting children affected by war and other crises. She married fellow tennis great Andre Agassi in October 2001, and the couple have two children and live in Las Vegas.
FAQs
How old is Steffi Graf?
Steffi Graf was born on 14 June 1969, so she is 57 years old.
Where was Steffi Graf born?
She was born in Mannheim, West Germany, and grew up in nearby Brühl.
How tall is Steffi Graf?
She stands 1.75 m, or 5 ft 9 in.
How many Grand Slams did Steffi Graf win?
She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including seven at Wimbledon, plus one doubles major.
How long was Steffi Graf world No. 1?
A record 377 weeks in total, including 186 in a row from August 1987 to March 1991.
What is the Golden Slam?
Winning all four majors and Olympic gold in the same year, which Graf achieved in 1988.
Shop the Steffi Graf Collection
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Steffi Graf Men's Hoodie
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Andre Agassi Career Story and Serena Williams Career Story.
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