Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf is a German professional tennis player. She was ranked world No. 1 and won 22 Grand Slam singles titles. In 1988, she became the only tennis player to achieve the Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. She is the only tennis player to have won each Grand Slam tournament at least four times. Graf was ranked world No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for a record 377 total weeks - the longest period for which any player, male or female, has held the number-one ranking. She won 107 singles titles. Graf's athletic ability and aggressive game played from the baseline have been credited with developing the modern style of play that has come to dominate today's game. Notable features of Graf's game were her versatility across all playing surfaces, footwork and powerful forehand drive. She won six French Open singles titles, seven Wimbledon singles titles, four Australian Open titles, and five U.S. Open singles titles. Graf's Grand Slam was achieved on grass, clay, and hard court while the previous five Grand Slams were decided on only grass and clay. Graf reached thirteen consecutive major singles finals, from the 1987 French Open through to the 1990 French Open, winning nine of them. She won 5 consecutive major singles tournaments (1988 Australian Open to 1989 Australian Open). She reached a total of 31 major singles finals.