Graf, Steffi

Graf, Steffi (gräf, grăf) [key], 1969–, German tennis player. A powerful baseliner, she drew international attention by winning the 1984 Olympic demonstration event. Graf won her first major title, the French Open, in 1987. In 1988 she captured the Grand Slam (Australian, French, and U.S. opens and Wimbledon), becoming the third woman to do so, and won the Olympic singles gold medal. Before retiring in 1999, Graf held the top world ranking a record 186 consecutive weeks in 1987–91 (and a record 377 weeks in all). She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles: four Australian Opens, six French Opens (the last in 1999), seven Wimbledon titles, and five U.S. Opens. She is married to Andre Agassi.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

• • Cite
  • Print
  • Email
  • Bookmark
    • Add bookmark
    • Add to del.icio.us
    • Digg It!
    • Add to Reddit