THE GOLDEN SLAM
One of the ultimate goals of a professional tennis player’s career is to win a major tournament, also known as a Grand Slam event. Of the players that win a major, several win more than one, but only a select few win all four during their career to accomplish a career Grand Slam. Even fewer have accomplished the rare feat of winning all four majors in the same year, achieving a calendar-year Grand Slam. Then came Stefanie Graf. Graf not only accomplished this feat but topped off her wins at the four majors in 1988 with a singles gold medal at the Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, accomplishing the unprecedented Golden Slam.
Photo courtesy of AP Photo
Stefanie Graf arrived on the scene when she turned professional in 1982, as a 13-year-old. Over the first few years of her career, she steadily rose through the ranks, increasing her ranking with some tournament wins in 1986. However, 1987 is most frequently acknowledged as her breakthrough year, as she won her first major, Roland-Garros, and ended the year as World No. 1, while also winning the WTA’s Player of the Year award.
The Australian Open
Despite her success in 1987, Graf’s 1988 season would go down as one of the most dominant years the sport of tennis has ever seen. Graf started the year with a commanding performance at the Australian Open, claiming victory without dropping a set the whole tournament.
Graf defeated Chris Evert 6-1, 7-6(3) to win her second major title and first Australian Open. She also became the first German to win at the Australian Open.
The French Open
A few months later at Roland-Garros, Graf again won easily. Graf overwhelmed Belarussian Natasha Zvereva 6-0, 6-0 in a mere 32 minutes to claim the second leg of her journey to the Grand Slam.
Wimbledon
Next came Wimbledon, where Graf was challenged early in the final by 6-time reigning champion Martina Navratilova, but Graf prevailed, winning the match 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
The US Open
In the final major, the US Open, Graf won a battle against Gabriela Sabatini 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, claiming the title in three sets. After her victory she joined an elite group of players who have achieved the calendar Grand Slam, including the first player to do so, Don Budge (1938), who was present to witness the historic event.
