Gabriela Sabatini
Encyclopedia
Gabriela Beatriz Sabatini (born 16 May 1970 in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
) is a former professional Argentine
tennis
player. She was one of the leading players on the women's circuit in the late-1980s and early-1990s. She won the women's singles title at the US Open in 1990, the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1988, two WTA Tour Championships in 1988 and 1994, and a silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games
.
Sabatini also won most of the highest level regular events on the women's tour, including Miami and Rome (four times), and she scored a total 10 wins over every reigning number one player she faced during her career. Known affectionately as the Pearl of the Pampas, also as The Divine Argentine, her versatile stylish game and attractive Latin looks brought her a wide following, making her one of the most popular players ever on the women's tour.
in Miami, Florida
. She won six major international junior titles, including the French Open girls' singles, and was ranked the World No. 1 junior player in 1984.
In 1985, aged 15 years and 3 weeks, Sabatini became the youngest-ever player to reach the semifinals at the French Open, where she lost to Chris Evert
. She won her first top-level singles title later that year in Tokyo.
In 1988, Sabatini reached her first Grand Slam
singles final at the US Open. She faced Germany's Steffi Graf
, who had won the three previous Grand Slam singles events that year and was looking to win a fourth. Graf won the match 6–3, 3–6, 6–1. Sabatini was selected to represent Argentina in the 1988 Summer Olympics
held in Seoul
. (She also carried the country's flag in the opening ceremony.) She went on to win the silver medal in the women's singles competition. In the final, she again faced Graf, who was bidding to turn her Grand Slam into what the media had dubbed a "Golden Slam". Graf won 6–3, 6–3. Sabatini teamed-up with Graf to win the women's doubles title at Wimbledon that year. She also won 1988's year-end WTA Tour Championships
.
Sabatini's next Grand Slam singles final came in 1990, where she again faced Graf in the final of the US Open. This time, Sabatini beat Graf 6–2, 7–6. She also beat Graf in a semifinal of the WTA Tour Championships but lost the final to Monica Seles
in the event's first-ever five-set final 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2.
Sabatini had a strong start to 1991, winning five tournaments in the first half of the year. She reached her third Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon and yet again faced Graf. Graf prevailed 6–4, 3–6, 8–6, despite the fact that Sabatini served for the match on more than one occasion. Sabatini came close to attaining the World No. 1 ranking in 1991 but was narrowly denied by Graf and then by Seles. All three players' rankings were within a few points of each other for much of the year.
After winning five tournaments in 1992, Sabatini had a 29-month drought in which she failed to win a title. She brought this run to an end at the WTA Tour Championships in 1994 and then won her first tournament of 1995 at Sydney
(defeating Lindsay Davenport
in the final of both events). But that proved to be the last singles title of Sabatini's career.
In 1988 she was voted the hottest tennis player alive by Tennis Watchers of North Carolina.
In 1989, she launched her own perfume, simply named "Gabriela Sabatini". Since retiring from competitive tennis, she has launched several other perfume lines. In 1992, a red-orange fiery rose was named the "Gabriela Sabatini Rose" in her honor.
In 1994, the Great American Doll Company created a doll in Sabatini's likeness, dressed in tennis clothes. That same year, Sabatini published a motivational book entitled My Story (ISBN 1-886612-00-5) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1886612005/, providing a look at her background and the inspirations that led her to become a tennis player.
Sabatini retired from the professional tour in 1996, having won 27 singles titles and 14 doubles titles. She reached her highest ranking of World No. 3 in 1989. Her last professional singles match was on October 14, 1996, when she lost to Jennifer Capriati
6-3, 6-4. (Capriati's first loss on the WTA tour was to Sabatini in 1990.) Sabatini played her last professional match on October 19, 1996, in the doubles semifinals in Zürich
with Lori McNeil
. Sabatini was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
on July 15, 2006.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
) is a former professional Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player. She was one of the leading players on the women's circuit in the late-1980s and early-1990s. She won the women's singles title at the US Open in 1990, the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1988, two WTA Tour Championships in 1988 and 1994, and a silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
Sabatini also won most of the highest level regular events on the women's tour, including Miami and Rome (four times), and she scored a total 10 wins over every reigning number one player she faced during her career. Known affectionately as the Pearl of the Pampas, also as The Divine Argentine, her versatile stylish game and attractive Latin looks brought her a wide following, making her one of the most popular players ever on the women's tour.
Career
Sabatini first came to the tennis world's attention as a junior. She started playing tennis at the age of 6, and won her first tournament at age 8. In 1983, age 13, she became the youngest player to win the Orange BowlOrange Bowl (tennis)
The Orange Bowl is an annual college football bowl game. Orange Bowl may also refer to:* Miami Orange Bowl, a demolished stadium formerly in Miami, Florida* One of two tennis tournaments, one for juniors and the other for youth...
in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. She won six major international junior titles, including the French Open girls' singles, and was ranked the World No. 1 junior player in 1984.
In 1985, aged 15 years and 3 weeks, Sabatini became the youngest-ever player to reach the semifinals at the French Open, where she lost to Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
. She won her first top-level singles title later that year in Tokyo.
In 1988, Sabatini reached her first Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
singles final at the US Open. She faced Germany's Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
, who had won the three previous Grand Slam singles events that year and was looking to win a fourth. Graf won the match 6–3, 3–6, 6–1. Sabatini was selected to represent Argentina in the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
held in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. (She also carried the country's flag in the opening ceremony.) She went on to win the silver medal in the women's singles competition. In the final, she again faced Graf, who was bidding to turn her Grand Slam into what the media had dubbed a "Golden Slam". Graf won 6–3, 6–3. Sabatini teamed-up with Graf to win the women's doubles title at Wimbledon that year. She also won 1988's year-end WTA Tour Championships
WTA Tour Championships
The WTA Tour Championships is a tennis tournament played annually at the end of the season for the top-ranked players on the Women's Tennis Association tour. The month, city and number of players has changed since the first edition in 1972...
.
Sabatini's next Grand Slam singles final came in 1990, where she again faced Graf in the final of the US Open. This time, Sabatini beat Graf 6–2, 7–6. She also beat Graf in a semifinal of the WTA Tour Championships but lost the final to Monica Seles
Monica Seles
Monica Seles is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was born in Novi Sad, Serbia, former Yugoslavia to Hungarian parents. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 1994 and also received Hungarian citizenship in June 2007...
in the event's first-ever five-set final 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2.
Sabatini had a strong start to 1991, winning five tournaments in the first half of the year. She reached her third Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon and yet again faced Graf. Graf prevailed 6–4, 3–6, 8–6, despite the fact that Sabatini served for the match on more than one occasion. Sabatini came close to attaining the World No. 1 ranking in 1991 but was narrowly denied by Graf and then by Seles. All three players' rankings were within a few points of each other for much of the year.
After winning five tournaments in 1992, Sabatini had a 29-month drought in which she failed to win a title. She brought this run to an end at the WTA Tour Championships in 1994 and then won her first tournament of 1995 at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
(defeating Lindsay Davenport
Lindsay Davenport
Lindsay Ann Davenport is a former World No. 1 American professional tennis player. She has won three Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. In 2005, TENNIS Magazine ranked her as the 29th-best player of the preceding forty years...
in the final of both events). But that proved to be the last singles title of Sabatini's career.
In 1988 she was voted the hottest tennis player alive by Tennis Watchers of North Carolina.
In 1989, she launched her own perfume, simply named "Gabriela Sabatini". Since retiring from competitive tennis, she has launched several other perfume lines. In 1992, a red-orange fiery rose was named the "Gabriela Sabatini Rose" in her honor.
In 1994, the Great American Doll Company created a doll in Sabatini's likeness, dressed in tennis clothes. That same year, Sabatini published a motivational book entitled My Story (ISBN 1-886612-00-5) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1886612005/, providing a look at her background and the inspirations that led her to become a tennis player.
Sabatini retired from the professional tour in 1996, having won 27 singles titles and 14 doubles titles. She reached her highest ranking of World No. 3 in 1989. Her last professional singles match was on October 14, 1996, when she lost to Jennifer Capriati
Jennifer Capriati
Jennifer Marie Capriati is a former world number one ranked professional tennis player, and the winner of three women's singles championships in Grand Slam tournaments. Capriati made her professional debut in 1990 at the age of 14 when she reached the finals of the hard court tournament in Boca...
6-3, 6-4. (Capriati's first loss on the WTA tour was to Sabatini in 1990.) Sabatini played her last professional match on October 19, 1996, in the doubles semifinals in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
with Lori McNeil
Lori McNeil
Lori McNeil is an African American tennis coach and former professional tennis player from the United States. McNeil was a childhood friend of fellow African American pro Zina Garrison...
. Sabatini was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
on July 15, 2006.
Singles: 3 (1-2)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1988 | US Open | Hard |  Steffi GrafSteffi Graf Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24... |
6–3, 3–6, 6–1 |
| Winner | 1990 | US Open | Hard | Steffi Graf |
6–2, 7–6 |
| Runner-up | 1991 | Wimbledon | Grass | Steffi Graf |
6–4, 3–6, 8–6 |
Doubles: 4 (1-3)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1986 | French Open | Clay | Steffi Graf Steffi Graf Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24... |
 Martina Navratilova Andrea TemesváriAndrea Temesvari Andrea Temesvári is a former professional tennis player once ranked as high as World No. 7. She won the Italian Open at sixteen, but injuries later hampered her career. She received the Most Improved Player Award by WTA Tour and TENNIS Magazine in 1982. At the 1986 French Open she won the women's... |
6–1, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 1987 | French Open (2) | Clay | Steffi Graf |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver Pam Shriver Pamela Howard Shriver Lazenby , is a former professional tennis player and is currently a sports broadcaster from the United States for ESPN2. During the 1980s and 1990s, she won 133 top-level titles, including 21 women's doubles titles and one mixed doubles title at Grand Slam tournaments... |
6–2, 6–1 |
| Winner | 1988 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Grass | Steffi Graf |
 Larisa Savchenko Natasha ZverevaNatasha Zvereva Natalya "Natasha" Zvereva, or Zverava is a former tennis player from Belarus. Zvereva was the first major athlete in the Soviet Union to demand publicly that she should be able to keep her tournament earnings... |
6–3, 1–6, 12–10 |
| Runner-up | 1989 | French Open (3) | Clay | Steffi Graf |
Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva |
6–4, 6–4 |
Singles: 1 (1 silver medal)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Silver medal | 1988 Tennis at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's Singles The Women's Singles competition was part of the tennis program at the 1988 Summer Olympics. By winning the gold medal Steffi Graf of West Germany finished off her "Golden Slam" having won all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic gold medal.-Medalists:... |
Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics... |
Hard |  Steffi GrafSteffi Graf Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24... |
6–3, 6–3 |
Singles: 4 (2-2)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1987 | New York City | Carpet (i) | Steffi Graf Steffi Graf Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24... |
4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4 |
| Winner | 1988 | New York City | Carpet (i) | Pam Shriver Pam Shriver Pamela Howard Shriver Lazenby , is a former professional tennis player and is currently a sports broadcaster from the United States for ESPN2. During the 1980s and 1990s, she won 133 top-level titles, including 21 women's doubles titles and one mixed doubles title at Grand Slam tournaments... |
7–5, 6–2, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 1990 1990 WTA Tour Championships The 1990 Virginia Slims Championships were held in New York, United States between November 18 and November 24.-Singles: Monica Seles def. Gabriela Sabatini, 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2-Doubles:... |
New York City | Carpet (i) |  Monica SelesMonica Seles Monica Seles is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was born in Novi Sad, Serbia, former Yugoslavia to Hungarian parents. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 1994 and also received Hungarian citizenship in June 2007... |
6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Winner | 1994 1994 WTA Tour Championships The 1994 Virginia Slims Championships were held in New York, United States between November 14 and November 20. It marked the last singles tournament for Czech superstar Martina Navratilova until her comeback in 2002-Singles:... |
New York City | Carpet (i) | Lindsay Davenport Lindsay Davenport Lindsay Ann Davenport is a former World No. 1 American professional tennis player. She has won three Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. In 2005, TENNIS Magazine ranked her as the 29th-best player of the preceding forty years... |
6–3, 6–2, 6–4 |
Singles (27)
| No. | Event | Date | Location | Surface | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VS | 14 October 1985 | Tokyo, Japan (Japan Open) Japan Open Tennis Championships The Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships is a tennis tournament held in Ariake Tennis Forest Park with its center court Ariake Coliseum, located in Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan. The championship includes both men's and women's, as well as singles and doubles competitions... |
Hard | Linda Gates |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 2 | VS | 1 December 1986 | Buenos Aires, Argentina WTA Argentine Open The WTA Argentine Open is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1986 to 1987. It was held at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club in Buenos Aires in Argentina and played on outdoor clay courts.-Singles:-Doubles:-References:*... |
Clay |  Arantxa Sánchez VicarioArantxa Sánchez Vicario Aránzazu 'Arantxa' Isabel Maria Sánchez Vicario is a Spanish former professional tennis player... |
6–1, 6–1 |
| 3 | VS | 14 September 1987 | Tokyo, Japan (Pan Pacific Open) Toray Pan Pacific Open The is a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women, held every year since 1984 on in Tokyo, Japan. It is classified on the WTA Tour as a Tier I tournament since 1993. The event has traditionally been played on indoor carpet at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, but the 2008 event... |
Carpet (i) |  Manuela MaleevaManuela Maleeva Manuela Georgieva Maleeva-Fragniere is a Bulgarian former professional tennis player. She played on the Women's Tennis Association tour between 1982 and 1994... |
6–4, 7–6(6) |
| 4 | VS | 19 October 1987 | Brighton, UK Brighton International The Brighton International was a tennis tournament held in Brighton, UK. It was a WTA Tour event from 1978-1995 and an ATP Tour event from 1996-2000, upon the discontinuation of the women's tournament. The women's event was held in October.... |
Carpet (i) | Pam Shriver Pam Shriver Pamela Howard Shriver Lazenby , is a former professional tennis player and is currently a sports broadcaster from the United States for ESPN2. During the 1980s and 1990s, she won 133 top-level titles, including 21 women's doubles titles and one mixed doubles title at Grand Slam tournaments... |
7–5, 6–4 |
| 5 | VS | 30 November 1987 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | Isabel Cueto Isabel Cueto Isabel Cueto is a retired professional tennis player from Germany. Her career high ranking was No. 20, which she achieved on 28 August 1989.-Early life:... |
6–0, 6–2 |
| 6 | Tier II | 7 March 1988 | Boca Raton, USA | Hard | Steffi Graf Steffi Graf Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24... |
2–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 7 | Tier IV | 2 May 1988 | Rome, Italy | Clay |  Helen KelesiHelen Kelesi Helen Kelesi is a former tour professional tennis player. She has been coached by her father, Milan Kelesi, throughout her tennis career.... |
6–1, 6–7(4), 6–1 |
| 8 | Tier II | 15 August 1988 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | Natasha Zvereva Natasha Zvereva Natalya "Natasha" Zvereva, or Zverava is a former tennis player from Belarus. Zvereva was the first major athlete in the Soviet Union to demand publicly that she should be able to keep her tournament earnings... |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 9 | WTA Championships | 14 November 1988 | Virginia Slims Championships, New York City WTA Tour Championships The WTA Tour Championships is a tennis tournament played annually at the end of the season for the top-ranked players on the Women's Tennis Association tour. The month, city and number of players has changed since the first edition in 1972... |
Carpet (i) | Pam Shriver |
7–5, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 10 | Tier I | 27 March 1989 | Key Biscayne, USA | Hard | Chris Evert Chris Evert Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No... |
6–1, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 11 | Tier II | 10 April 1989 | Amelia Island, USA | Clay | Steffi Graf |
3–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| 12 | Tier II | 8 May 1989 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
6–2, 5–7, 6–4 |
| 13 | Tier III | 9 October 1989 | Filderstadt, Germany Porsche Tennis Grand Prix The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is a tennis tournament held in Stuttgart, Germany . Held since 1978, the tournament is the oldest women's indoor tournament in Europe. Currently it is a Tier II tournament on the WTA Tour. The singles champion also receives a Porsche 911 Carrera sports car in addition... |
Carpet (i) | Mary Joe Fernandez Mary Joe Fernández Mary Joe Fernández Godsick is an American former professional tennis player... |
7–6(5), 6–4 |
| 14 | Tier II | 5 March 1990 | Boca Raton, USA | Hard | Jennifer Capriati Jennifer Capriati Jennifer Marie Capriati is a former world number one ranked professional tennis player, and the winner of three women's singles championships in Grand Slam tournaments. Capriati made her professional debut in 1990 at the age of 14 when she reached the finals of the hard court tournament in Boca... |
6–4, 7–5 |
| 15 | Grand Slam | 27 August 1990 | US Open, New York City | Hard | Steffi Graf |
6–2, 7–6(4) |
| 16 | Tier II | 28 January 1991 | Tokyo, Japan (Pan Pacific Open) | Carpet (i) | Martina Navratilova |
2–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 17 | Tier I | 4 March 1991 | Boca Raton, USA | Hard | Steffi Graf |
6–4, 7–6(6) |
| 18 | Tier I | 1 April 1991 | Hilton Head Island, USA Family Circle Cup The Family Circle Cup is a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women, held every year since 1973. The tournament is currently played on the green clay courts at the Daniel Island Tennis Center in Charleston, South Carolina, USA... |
Clay | Leila Meskhi Leila Meskhi Leila Meskhi is a retired Georgian professional female tennis player. She was ranked World No. 12 on 5 August 1991.She was born in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union.-Singles :-Singles finalist :... |
6–1, 6–1 |
| 19 | Tier II | 8 April 1991 | Amelia Island, USA | Clay | Steffi Graf |
7–5, 7–6(3) |
| 20 | Tier I | 6 May 1991 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Monica Seles Monica Seles Monica Seles is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was born in Novi Sad, Serbia, former Yugoslavia to Hungarian parents. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 1994 and also received Hungarian citizenship in June 2007... |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 21 | Tier III | 6 January 1992 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
6–1, 6–1 |
| 22 | Tier II | 27 January 1992 | Tokyo, Japan (Pan Pacific Open) | Carpet (i) | Martina Navratilova |
6–2, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 23 | Tier I | 30 March 1992 | Hilton Head Island, USA | Clay | Conchita Martínez Conchita Martínez Inmaculada Concepción Martínez Bernat is a former professional tennis player from Monzón, Aragón, Spain. She is the only Spanish woman to have won the singles title at Wimbledon, when she beat Martina Navrátilová in the 1994 Women's Singles. She also was the singles runner-up at the 1998... |
6–1, 6–4 |
| 24 | Tier II | 6 April 1992 | Amelia Island, USA | Clay | Steffi Graf |
6–2, 1–6, 6–3 |
| 25 | Tier I | 4 May 1992 | Rome, Italy | Clay |  Monica Seles |
7–5, 6–4 |
| 26 | WTA Championships | 14 November 1994 | Virginia Slims Championships, New York City 1994 WTA Tour Championships The 1994 Virginia Slims Championships were held in New York, United States between November 14 and November 20. It marked the last singles tournament for Czech superstar Martina Navratilova until her comeback in 2002-Singles:... |
Carpet (i) | Lindsay Davenport Lindsay Davenport Lindsay Ann Davenport is a former World No. 1 American professional tennis player. She has won three Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. In 2005, TENNIS Magazine ranked her as the 29th-best player of the preceding forty years... |
6–3, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 27 | Tier II | 9 January 1995 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Lindsay Davenport |
6–3, 6–4 |
Doubles (14)
Grand slam events in boldface.- 1985: São Paulo (with Mercedes PazMercedes PazMercedes María Paz is a former professional tennis player from Argentina, who won three singles titles during her career on the WTA Tour. The right-hander reached her highest career ranking on April 29, 1991, when she became the number 28 of the world...
) - 1985: Monticello (with Mercedes PazMercedes PazMercedes María Paz is a former professional tennis player from Argentina, who won three singles titles during her career on the WTA Tour. The right-hander reached her highest career ranking on April 29, 1991, when she became the number 28 of the world...
) - 1985: Tampa (with Carling Bassett-SegusoCarling Bassett-SegusoCarling Kathrin Bassett-Seguso is a former Canadian professional tennis player. Bassett is the daughter of John F. Bassett and Susan Carling, and the granddaughter of media baron John Bassett and politician and brewery executive John Carling.-Tennis career:In 1981, Bassett won the Canadian junior...
) - 1986: Indianapolis US Open Clay Courts (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1986: Montreal (with Zina GarrisonZina GarrisonZina Lynna Garrison is a former professional tennis player from the United States. During her career, she was a women's singles runner-up at Wimbledon in 1990, a three-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion, and a women's doubles gold medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games.-Career:An African-American...
) - 1986: Zurich (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1987: Amelia Island (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
)
- 1987: Rome (with Martina Navratilova)
- 1987: Buenos Aires (with Mercedes PazMercedes PazMercedes María Paz is a former professional tennis player from Argentina, who won three singles titles during her career on the WTA Tour. The right-hander reached her highest career ranking on April 29, 1991, when she became the number 28 of the world...
) - 1988: Key Biscayne (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1988: Wimbledon (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1990: Montreal (with Betsy NagelsenBetsy NagelsenBetsy Nagelsen McCormack is a retired professional tennis player from the United States. Nagelsen won the doubles championship at the 1978 and 1980 Australian Opens . She reached the singles final of the 1978 Australian Open, losing to Christine O'Neil...
) - 1995: Chicago (with Brenda Schultz)
- 1995: Toronto (with Brenda Schultz)
Singles (28)
- 1985: Hilton Head (lost to Chris EvertChris EvertChristine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
) - 1985: Tampa (lost to Stephanie ReheStephanie ReheStephanie Rehe is a retired American professional tennis player.A successful amateur player, Rehe was ranked No. 1 in every age group as a junior . She was the first player to receive a dual No...
) - 1986: Indianapolis US Open Clay Courts (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1987: Rome (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1987: Virginia Slims Championships (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1988: Hilton Head (lost to Martina Navratilova)
- 1988: Amelia Island (lost to Martina Navratilova)
- 1988: Los Angeles (lost to Chris EvertChris EvertChristine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
) - 1988: US Open (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1988: Seoul Olympics (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1989: Tampa (lost to Conchita MartínezConchita MartínezInmaculada Concepción Martínez Bernat is a former professional tennis player from Monzón, Aragón, Spain. She is the only Spanish woman to have won the singles title at Wimbledon, when she beat Martina Navrátilová in the 1994 Women's Singles. She also was the singles runner-up at the 1998...
) - 1989: Berlin (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1989: Manhattan Beach (lost to Martina Navratilova)
- 1990: Zurich (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
)
- 1990: Worchester (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1990: Virginia Slims Championships (lost to Monica SelesMonica SelesMonica Seles is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was born in Novi Sad, Serbia, former Yugoslavia to Hungarian parents. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 1994 and also received Hungarian citizenship in June 2007...
) - 1991: Key Biscayne (lost to Monica SelesMonica SelesMonica Seles is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was born in Novi Sad, Serbia, former Yugoslavia to Hungarian parents. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 1994 and also received Hungarian citizenship in June 2007...
) - 1991: Wimbledon (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1992: Key Biscayne (lost to Arantxa Sánchez VicarioArantxa Sánchez VicarioAránzazu 'Arantxa' Isabel Maria Sánchez Vicario is a Spanish former professional tennis player...
) - 1992: Tokyo Nichirei International (lost to Monica SelesMonica SelesMonica Seles is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was born in Novi Sad, Serbia, former Yugoslavia to Hungarian parents. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 1994 and also received Hungarian citizenship in June 2007...
) - 1992: Filderstadt (lost to Martina Navratilova)
- 1993: Amelia Island (lost to Arantxa Sánchez VicarioArantxa Sánchez VicarioAránzazu 'Arantxa' Isabel Maria Sánchez Vicario is a Spanish former professional tennis player...
) - 1993: Rome (lost to Conchita MartínezConchita MartínezInmaculada Concepción Martínez Bernat is a former professional tennis player from Monzón, Aragón, Spain. She is the only Spanish woman to have won the singles title at Wimbledon, when she beat Martina Navrátilová in the 1994 Women's Singles. She also was the singles runner-up at the 1998...
) - 1993: Berlin (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1994: Amelia Island (lost to Arantxa Sánchez VicarioArantxa Sánchez VicarioAránzazu 'Arantxa' Isabel Maria Sánchez Vicario is a Spanish former professional tennis player...
) - 1994: Strasbourg (lost to Mary Joe FernandezMary Joe FernándezMary Joe Fernández Godsick is an American former professional tennis player...
) - 1995: Amelia Island (lost to Conchita MartínezConchita MartínezInmaculada Concepción Martínez Bernat is a former professional tennis player from Monzón, Aragón, Spain. She is the only Spanish woman to have won the singles title at Wimbledon, when she beat Martina Navrátilová in the 1994 Women's Singles. She also was the singles runner-up at the 1998...
) - 1995: Filderstadt (lost to Iva MajoliIva MajoliIva Majoli Marić is a former professional tennis player from Croatia. She upset Martina Hingis to win the women's singles title at the French Open in 1997. Majoli also won eight singles titles and one women's doubles title during her career.-Career:Majoli turned professional in 1991 at the age...
)
Doubles (16)
- 1985: Palm Beach Gardens (with Laura Gildemeister)
- 1986: Amelia Island (with Catherine TanvierCatherine TanvierCatherine Tanvier is a former tennis player from France, who emerged in the mid-1980s as one of the brightest young talents in the game...
) - 1986: French Open (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1986: Filderstadt (with Zina GarrisonZina GarrisonZina Lynna Garrison is a former professional tennis player from the United States. During her career, she was a women's singles runner-up at Wimbledon in 1990, a three-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion, and a women's doubles gold medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games.-Career:An African-American...
) - 1986: Chicago (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1987: San Francisco (with Zina GarrisonZina GarrisonZina Lynna Garrison is a former professional tennis player from the United States. During her career, she was a women's singles runner-up at Wimbledon in 1990, a three-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion, and a women's doubles gold medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games.-Career:An African-American...
) - 1987: French Open (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1988: Fairfax (with Helena SukováHelena SukováHelena Suková is a former professional tennis player from Czechia. During her career, she won 14 Grand Slam titles, 9 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles...
)
- 1988: Hilton Head (with Claudia Kohde-KilschClaudia Kohde-KilschClaudia Kohde-Kilsch is a former German tennis player. During her career, she won two women's doubles Grand Slam titles. She also won 10 singles titles and 26 doubles titles.-Career:...
) - 1988: Worchester(with Helena SukováHelena SukováHelena Suková is a former professional tennis player from Czechia. During her career, she won 14 Grand Slam titles, 9 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles...
) - 1989: French Open (with Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1990: Manhattan Beach (with Mercedes PazMercedes PazMercedes María Paz is a former professional tennis player from Argentina, who won three singles titles during her career on the WTA Tour. The right-hander reached her highest career ranking on April 29, 1991, when she became the number 28 of the world...
) - 1994: Rome (with Brenda SchultzBrenda Schultz-McCarthyBrenda Anne Marie Schultz-McCarthy is a Dutch tennis player. Primarily known for her maiden name Brenda Schultz, she married Sean McCarthy, a former American football player at University of Cincinnati, on 8 April 1995 and adopted his surname...
) - 1994: Philadelphia (with Brenda Schultz)
- 1995: Berlin (with Larisa NeilandLarisa NeilandLarisa Savchenko Neiland is a former tennis player who represented Latvia. A former number-one ranked doubles player, Neiland won two women's doubles Grand Slam titles. She also won two singles titles and sixty-five doubles titles.-Career:Neiland turned professional in 1983...
) - 1995: Manhattan Beach (with Larisa NeilandLarisa NeilandLarisa Savchenko Neiland is a former tennis player who represented Latvia. A former number-one ranked doubles player, Neiland won two women's doubles Grand Slam titles. She also won two singles titles and sixty-five doubles titles.-Career:Neiland turned professional in 1983...
)
Singles performance timeline
| Tournament | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | Career SR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam Tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
A | A | NH | A | A | SF | 3R | QF | SF | SF | SF | 1R | 4R | 0 / 8 | ||||||
| French Open | A | SF | 4R | SF | SF | 4R | 4R | SF | SF | QF | 1R | QF | A | 0 / 11 | ||||||
| Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
A | 3R | SF | QF | 4R | 2R | SF | F | SF | QF | 4R | QF | A | 0 / 11 | ||||||
| US Open | 3R | 1R | 4R | QF | F | SF | W | QF | QF | QF | SF | SF | 3R | 1 / 13 | ||||||
| Grand Slam SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 43 | ||||||
| Olympic Games | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Summer Olympics Tennis at the Summer Olympics Tennis was part of the Summer Olympic Games program from the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics, but was dropped after the 1924 Summer Olympics... |
NH | F | NH | A | NH | 3R | 0 / 2 | |||||||||||||
| Year-End Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WTA Tour Championships WTA Tour Championships The WTA Tour Championships is a tennis tournament played annually at the end of the season for the top-ranked players on the Women's Tennis Association tour. The month, city and number of players has changed since the first edition in 1972... |
A | A | 1R | 1R | F | W 1988 Virginia Slims Championships – Singles Steffi Graf was the defending champion but lost in the semifinals to Pam Shriver.Gabriela Sabatini won in the final 7–5, 6–2, 6–2 against Shriver.-Seeds:... |
SF | F | SF | SF | 1R | W 1994 WTA Tour Championships – Singles Steffi Graf was the defending champion, but she lost in the quarter-finals against Mary Pierce.-Seeds:# Steffi Graf # Arantxa Sánchez Vicario # Conchita Martínez # Jana Novotná ... |
QF | A | 2 / 11 | |||||
| Career Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournaments Won | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 27 | ||||||
| Year End Ranking | 74 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 29 | N/A | ||||||
- NH = tournament not held.
- A = did not participate in the tournament.
- SR = the ratio of the number of tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
WTA Tour career earnings
| Year | Grand Slam singles titles | WTA singles titles | Total singles titles | Earnings ($) | Money list rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-85 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 398,784 | n/a |
| 1986 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 264,139 | 8 |
| 1987 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 465,933 | 6 |
| 1988 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 995,399 | 3 |
| 1989 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 580,801 | 3 |
| 1990 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 975,490 | 4 |
| 1991 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1,168,561 | 3 |
| 1992 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1,207,565 | 4 |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 957,680 | 5 |
| 1994 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 874,470 | 6 |
| 1995 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 718,978 | 6 |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 178,050 | 37 |
| Career | 1 | 26 | 27 | 8,785,850 | 24 |
See also
- Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam finalTennis performance timeline comparison (women)This article presents in a tabular form the career tennis Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships and Olympic singles results of every woman who has reached the singles final of at least one Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships or Olympic tournament during her career...
- Graf–Sabatini rivalryGraf–Sabatini rivalrySteffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini are retired professional tennis players who played each other on 40 occasions between 1985 and 1995. Graf was the world #1 whilst Sabatini reached a career high of #3 they are both Grand Slam Champions. The German winning 22 titles whilst Sabatini won her only...