The seven biggest rivalries in women's tennis, part 3: Steffi Graf vs. Gabriela Sabatini
Two players who shaped an era - also with their one-handed backhand. Part 3 of our nostalgic journey, this time with Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini .
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Mar 25, 2020, 08:22 pm
The nice thing about a look back at tennis can also result from the fact that just looking at almost forgotten tournament locations triggers sentimental feelings: Hilton Head, Amelia Island, Boca Raton, but also Berlin - there the women have Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini played for more or less large titles. At least in the German capital it could be this summer again.
Graf versus Sabatini, there were a total of 40 times in various competitions, one at each at the Olympic Games (1988 in Seoul, the same year that Graf introduced her "Golden Slam") and in the Fed Cup. Steffi Graf usually had the lead, winning 29 of these 40 games. Graf's dominance could also be demonstrated by the following statistics: The German won ten sets against Sabatini 6-0, but always managed at least one game per round. What was special about the relationship between Graf and Sabatini was, however, that the two of them competed together from time to time. And that very successfully: Graf / Sabatini has five tournament victories in the tennis history books, the biggest in the magical year 1988 in Wimbledon.
Graf could do everything a little better than Sabatini
Why did Steffi Graf usually win the matches between the first encounter with Gabriela Sabatini in 1985 in Mahwah in the US state of New Jersey and the final chord a little more than a decade later at the US Open? Because basically she was able to do every stroke a little bit better than Sabatini. With one exception: When it comes to backhand topspin, Gaby didn't fool anyone on the WTA tour. But Steffi also presented her opponents with big problems with the slice, and the footwork of the Brühl native, who was never achieved before and after Graf, was completely out of the question.
Steffi Graf was always particularly successful against Gabriela Sabatini when the stakes were highest: there were twelve encounters at the Grand Slam tournaments, only one Sabatini won (1990 in the US Open final). The other two major finals (1991 at Wimbledon, 1988 at the US Open) went to Graf, as did the matches in the previous rounds. The exposed positions of the two opponents in the WTA world ranking meant that Graf and Sabatini met one of the four largest tournaments in tennis at the earliest in the quarterfinals.
Appearances in Roland Garros
After the end of their respective careers, Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini made themselves very rare. The Argentinean gave a short press conference at the French Open 2019, at which the improvised interview room threatened to burst at the seams. Graf is also most likely to be seen at the Bois de Boulogne. This is primarily due to the fact that the now 50-year-old has fulfilled sponsorship commitments there for many years.
Here are the facts
| Steffi Graf | Gabriela Sabatini | |
| Year of birth | 1969 | 1970 |
| Title on the WTA tour | 107 (including 22 at Grand Slam tournaments) | 27 (one at Grand Slam tournaments) |
| Head to head | 29 | 11 |
Here are the matches between Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini
| year | Tournament (rubber) | Winner | Result |
| 1995 | US Open (hard court) | Count | 6: 4, 7: 6 |
| 1995 | Roland Garros (sand) | Count | 6: 1, 6: 0 |
| 1994 | Toronto (hard court) | Count | 7: 5, 6: 0 |
| 1993 | US Open (hard court) | Count | 6: 2, 5: 7, 6: 1 |
| 1993 | Berlin (sand) | Count | 7: 6, 2: 6, 6: 4 |
| 1993 | Hilton Head (sand) | Count | 6: 0, 7: 6 |
| 1993 | Key Biscayne (hard court) | Count | 6: 0, 6: 2 |
| 1992 | Wimbledon (lawn) | Count | 6: 3, 6: 3 |
| 1992 | Amelia Island (sand) | Sabatini | 6: 2, 1: 6, 6: 3 |
| 1992 | Key Biscayne (hard court) | Sabatini | 3: 6, 7: 6, 6: 1 |
| 1991 | Wimbledon (lawn) | Count | 6: 4, 3: 6, 8: 6 |
| 1991 | Amelia Island (sand) | Sabatini | 7: 5, 7: 6 |
| 1991 | Key Biscayne (hard court) | Sabatini | 0: 6, 7: 6, 6: 1 |
| 1991 | Boca Raton (hard court) | Sabatini | 6: 4, 7: 6 |
| 1991 | Tokyo (hall / carpet) | Sabatini | 4: 6, 6: 4, 7: 6 |
| 1990 | WTA Championships (hall / carpet) | Sabatini | 6: 4, 6: 4 |
| 1990 | Worcester (hall / carpet) | Count | 7: 6, 6: 3 |
| 1990 | Zurich (hall / carpet) | Count | 6: 3, 6: 2 |
| 1990 | US Open (hard court) | Sabatini | 6: 3, 7: 6 |
| 1989 | WTA Championships (hall / carpet) | Count | 6: 3, 5: 7, 6: 1 |
| 1989 | US Open (hard court) | Count | 3: 6, 6: 4, 6: 2 |
| 1989 | Berlin (sand) | Count | 6: 3, 6: 1 |
| 1989 | Amelia Island (sand) | Sabatini | 3: 6, 6: 3, 7: 5 |
| 1989 | Australian Open (hard court) | Count | 6: 3, 6: 0 |
| 1988 | Olympic Games, Seoul (hard court) | Count | 6: 3, 6: 3 |
| 1988 | US Open | Count | 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 1 |
| 1988 | Roland Garros (sand) | Count | 6: 3, 7: 6 |
| 1988 | Amelia Island (sand) | Sabatini | 6: 3, 4: 6, 7: 5 |
| 1988 | Boca Raton (hard court) | Sabatini | 2: 6, 6: 3, 6: 1 |
| 1987 | WTA Championships | Count | 4: 6, 6: 4, 6: 0, 6: 4 |
| 1987 | Los Angeles (hard court) | Count | 7: 5, 7: 5 |
| 1987 | Fed Cup (hard court) | Count | 6: 4, 6: 4 |
| 1987 | Wimbledon (lawn) | Count | 4: 6, 6: 1, 6: 1 |
| 1987 | Roland Garros (sand) | Count | 6: 4, 4: 6, 7: 5 |
| 1987 | Rome (sand) | Count | 7: 5, 4: 6, 6: 0 |
| 1987 | Amelia Island (sand) | Count | 6: 2, 6: 2 |
| 1987 | Hilton Head (sand) | Count | 6: 3, 2: 6, 7: 6 |
| 1986 | US Clay Court Campionships (Sand) | Count | 2: 6, 7: 6, 6: 4 |
| 1986 | WTA Championships (hall / carpet) | Count | 6: 0, 6: 7, 6: 2 |
| 1985 | Mawah (hard court) | Count | 4: 6, 6: 0, 6: 3 |
Here is part 1 of the rivalries: Margaret Court vs. Billy Jean King
Here is part 2 of the rivalries: Martina Navratilova vs. Chris Evert