Steffi Graf Timeline

(1982 - 1999)

Steffi Graf is a German former professional tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in the sport's history. Born on June 14, 1969, in Brühl, West Germany, she dominated women's tennis throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles and remains the only player, male or female, to achieve the Golden Slam—winning all four Grand Slam tournaments plus an Olympic gold medal in a single calendar year (1988). More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life and Junior Career

Steffi Graf born in Brühl, West Germany

Jun 14, 1969

Stefanie Maria Graf was born on June 14, 1969, in Brühl, West Germany. Her father Peter Graf, a car salesman and aspiring tennis coach, introduced her to tennis at the age of three, teaching her with a sawed-off racket in the family's living room.

Image source: Steffi Graf

Wins first junior tournament at age five

1975

At just five years old, Graf won her first junior tournament. She quickly rose through the ranks of German junior tennis, competing in tournaments across Europe while being coached intensively by her father.

Turns professional at age 13

Oct 18, 1982

Graf turned professional on October 18, 1982, two days after her thirteenth birthday, becoming one of the youngest players ever to join the WTA Tour. She was ranked No. 124 at the end of her first year on tour.

Wins first WTA title at Hilton Head

Apr 1986

Graf captured her first WTA singles title at the 1986 Family Circle Cup in Hilton Head, South Carolina, defeating Chris Evert in the final. This victory signaled her arrival among the sport's elite players.

Grand Slam Victories

Wins first Grand Slam title at French Open

Jun 6, 1987

Graf won her first Grand Slam singles title at the 1987 French Open, defeating Martina Navratilova in the final. At 17 years old, she became one of the youngest French Open champions in history.

Wins second consecutive calendar-year Grand Slam attempt falls short

Jan 1989

In 1989, Graf again won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, coming within one match of a second consecutive Grand Slam before Arantxa Sánchez Vicario upset her in the French Open final. She rebounded by winning the US Open that September.

Defeats Monica Seles in epic 1992 Wimbledon final

Jul 4, 1992

Graf defeated her great rival Monica Seles 6–2, 6–7, 6–1 in the 1992 Wimbledon final, widely regarded as one of the finest women's matches ever played. The victory marked her fourth Wimbledon title.

Wins French Open completing comeback season

Jun 10, 1995

Despite back injuries and personal turmoil, Graf won the 1995 French Open, defeating Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final. She followed it with victories at Wimbledon and the US Open, winning three majors that year.

Wins fifth Wimbledon title in memorable final

Jul 8, 1995

Graf won her fifth Wimbledon championship in 1995, overcoming Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in a hard-fought final. Her father's absence from the stands due to legal troubles made the victory particularly emotional for the champion.

Completes 1996 triple crown of Grand Slam titles

Jan 27, 1996 - Sep 8, 1996

Graf dominated the 1996 season, winning the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open while reaching the Wimbledon final. She finished the year as world No. 1 for a record eighth time.

Wins French Open 22nd Grand Slam title

Jun 5, 1999

Against all odds, Graf returned to form in 1999 and won the French Open, defeating Martina Hingis in a dramatic final. It was her 22nd and final Grand Slam singles title, tying Margaret Court's Open-era record at the time.

Career Milestones

Reaches world No. 1 ranking for first time

Aug 17, 1987

On August 17, 1987, Graf ascended to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time, dethroning Martina Navratilova. She would go on to hold the top spot for a record total of 377 weeks, more than any other player, male or female.

Image source: WTA rankings

Wins Olympic silver medal at Barcelona Olympics

Aug 1992

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Graf reached the women's singles final but lost to Jennifer Capriati, earning the silver medal. She also competed alongside Anke Huber in doubles but withdrew due to injury concerns.

Image source: Tennis at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's singles

Father Peter Graf arrested amid tax evasion scandal

Aug 2, 1995

Graf's father and manager Peter Graf was arrested in August 1995 on charges of tax evasion related to his daughter's earnings from 1989 to 1993. The highly publicized case caused significant personal distress for Steffi during this period.

Wins Olympic gold at Atlanta Olympics in singles

Aug 3, 1996

Graf captured her second Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games, defeating Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final. She also won a bronze medal in doubles alongside Claudia Kohde-Kilsch... actually partnering was different; the singles gold cemented her legacy as one of the greatest Olympians in tennis.

Image source: Tennis at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's singles

Golden Slam and Career Milestones

Wins Australian Open completing first three Slams of 1988

Jan 1988

Graf began her historic 1988 season by winning the Australian Open in January, dropping only a handful of games throughout the tournament. It set the stage for her pursuit of all four majors in a single year.

Wins French Open second leg of 1988 Slam quest

May 28, 1988

Graf defended her French Open title in June 1988, defeating Natasha Zvereva 6–0, 6–0 in just 32 minutes—the shortest Grand Slam final of the Open Era—keeping her calendar Grand Slam bid alive.

Wins Wimbledon third leg of 1988 Slam quest

Jul 3, 1988

Graf won Wimbledon in July 1988, defeating six-time champion Martina Navratilova in the final. This victory meant she needed only the US Open title and Olympic gold to achieve an unprecedented Golden Slam.

Completes Golden Slam with US Open title

Sep 10, 1988

By winning the 1988 US Open, defeating Gabriela Sabatini in the final, Graf became the only tennis player in history to win the Golden Slam—all four Grand Slam titles plus Olympic gold in a single calendar year. This feat remains unmatched.

Wins Olympic gold medal at Seoul Olympics

Sep 24, 1988 - Oct 1, 1988

Graf defeated Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina in the final to win the women's singles gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. This victory completed her historic Golden Slam, as she had already won all four Grand Slam titles that year.

Image source: Tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's singles

Later Career and Retirement

Surgery and injuries sideline her for much of 1997

Jun 1997 - Dec 31, 1997

Plagued by knee and back problems, Graf underwent surgery in June 1997 and missed much of the season, including Wimbledon. Her ranking fell out of the top 100 for the first time in over a decade, leading many to believe her career was over.

Reaches Wimbledon final losing to Lindsay Davenport

Jul 4, 1999

One month after her triumph in Paris, Graf reached the 1999 Wimbledon final but fell to American Lindsay Davenport. It would be the last Grand Slam final of her career.

Announces retirement from professional tennis

Aug 13, 1999

On August 13, 1999, citing ongoing injuries and waning motivation, Steffi Graf announced her retirement from professional tennis at a press conference in Heidelberg. She retired ranked world No. 3, having spent 377 weeks at No. 1—a record for any player, male or female.

Life After Tennis

Founds Children for Tomorrow foundation

1998

Graf established the charity 'Children for Tomorrow' (Stiftung Kinderplan), which supports children who have been traumatized by war, persecution, and violence. The foundation remains active in providing psychological care and support programs worldwide.

Image source: The Tomorrow Children

Named greatest female player by Associated Press panel

Dec 1999

In December 1999, shortly after her retirement, a panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press named Graf the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century, recognizing her Golden Slam achievement and record-setting dominance.

Participates in exhibition matches and World TeamTennis

2000

After retiring, Graf occasionally competed in exhibition matches and joined the Sacramento Capitals in World TeamTennis. She played select events including the Hopman Cup exhibition and charity matches alongside other legends of the game.

Image source: World TeamTennis

Marries Andre Agassi in Las Vegas ceremony

Oct 22, 2001

Steffi Graf married fellow tennis legend Andre Agassi in a private ceremony at their Las Vegas home on October 22, 2001. The union of two tennis greats attracted worldwide attention, though the couple kept the event intimate with only family present.

Image source: Andre Agassi

Birth of son Jaden Gil Agassi

Oct 26, 2001

Just four days after their wedding, Graf gave birth to the couple's first child, son Jaden Gil, on October 26, 2001. Their daughter Jaz Elle was born two years later in October 2003.

Image source: Andre Agassi

Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

Jul 11, 2004

Graf was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, in July 2004. In her induction speech, she reflected on her remarkable career spanning two decades at the top of the sport.

Image source: International Tennis Hall of Fame

Named UNESCO Champion for Sport

2009

In recognition of her humanitarian work with traumatized children through her foundation, Graf was designated a UNESCO Champion for Sport in 2009, joining an elite group of athletes promoting peace and development through sports.

Key Facts

Steffi Graf turned professional at age 13 in 1982 and won her first WTA title in 1986.
In 1988, she achieved the Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold in Seoul—the only tennis player ever to do so in one year.
She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including seven Wimbledon championships.
Graf held the world No. 1 ranking for a record 377 weeks, the longest in tennis history.
She retired in 1999 with 107 career singles titles and married fellow tennis champion Andre Agassi in 2001.

Source

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