The Frosty Rivalry Between Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova

Steffi Graf, a prominent figure in the world of tennis, was involved in a well-documented rivalry with Martina Navratilova. The two tennis stars competed against each other 18 times, with their most notable encounters taking place at Wimbledon. In the 1988 final, Graf achieved a hard-fought victory over Navratilova, bringing an end to her opponent’s six-year winning streak at SW19. However, beyond the confines of the tennis court, Graf’s father provided insight into the strained relationship between the two champions.

Peter Graf, the father of Steffi, shed light on his daughter’s sentiments towards Navratilova. He made it evident that there was no personal connection between Steffi and her rival beyond their professional rivalry. “Steffi simply does not have any personal feelings of warmth towards Navratilova. They do not socialize. They do not maintain any form of contact. And why would they? Besides tennis, they have nothing in common,” he remarked.

Moreover, he revealed that Steffi disapproved of Navratilova’s lifestyle, a sentiment she had expressed to him. “If you want to know if Steffi likes Martina, you should ask her. But as her father, she has never expressed any fondness for her. What she has told me is that she does not approve of her lifestyle – she has no time for that at all,” he added.

Peter Graf emphasised that despite his daughter’s respect for Navratilova’s tennis prowess, she did not particularly admire her. He also disclosed that they were not friends, a circumstance he believed would not change. “I would not go as far as to say that Steffi admires her. She has respect for her tennis skills, but that is the extent of it. They are not friends, and I am certain that Steffi does not feel the need to alter that dynamic,” he stated.

Their rivalry extended over 18 high-level encounters, with each of them securing nine victories. However, Navratilova held a slight advantage in Grand Slam tournaments, winning five out of their nine matches. Three of their nine meetings at the Majors took place in consecutive Wimbledon finals, with each claiming victory once. Navratilova clinched her sixth consecutive title at SW19 in 1987, defeating Graf. Nonetheless, Graf overturned the tables by emerging victorious in the Wimbledon finals in 1988 and 1989, firmly establishing herself as the reigning figure at Wimbledon.

Despite the distant relationship, both Graf and Navratilova have made a lasting impact on the sport of tennis and in the hearts of their supporters. Their performances on the court will forever be ingrained in the illustrious history of the sport.