Steffi Graf vs Martina Hingis Chase Championship 1996 - 1 of 15

[raichmaneuvers]

Would add the 92 U.S Open vs Sanchez as a bad match for Graf in 1990 and 1992. So really only 2 bad matches in 1990 and 1992 combined I can think of. In 1991 she had alot though.

[raichmaneuvers]

Slump is a strong word. I think Graf's only big slump was in 1991 which was awful for her standards mostly but some high points thrown in, just every erratic. 1990 and 1992 she lost to people who were playing very well so I wouldnt say that was a slump so much, the 1990 German Open final vs Seles was her only really bad match of either year. There were people other than Seles who gave Graf problems those years like Sabatini. Those people also werent much factor in the mid 90s, helping Graf.

[cashisking98]

And Graf benefited from Seles being gone. Had Monica been not stubbed, Graf wouldn't have won all these Slams. Seles OWNED Graf. FYI, Hingis OWNED Seles.

[Hoffenheim08]

@cashisking98

Seles "owned" Graf?

You mean by losing most matches to her? Even as #1?

Graf vs. Seles 10-5

Graf vs. Hingis 7-2

Oh, facts are a bitch ...

[saar144]

please re-upload this match. it's unwatchable with this soundtrack.

[yevshif]

I don't have the VHS anymore ... sorry :)

[lookscudkill]

I remember watching this match live on tv. The whole tournament coverage, actually. If Graf was completely healthy, then this would have been a 3 or 4 setter, most likely 3. Not many (even press) ever say that Hingis benefitted heavily from Graf's injury in 1997, which is both not fair and is common sense. Graf's absence changed history too much and Hingis got through. Hingis' 1997 and her enlarged ego was simply because Graf was not there and the other ladies did not yet adapt to her game.

[juju1305]

True, but the sames applies to the Seles absence 1993-1995...

[raichmaneuvers]

@juju1305 maybe Seles's peak was just always 1991-1992 though. Who is to say she would have won alot of slams from 93-95, she didnt win alot from 96-98 did she.

[juju1305]

@raichmaneuvers seles won the first slam from 93 and if you find that her 96-98 level of performance is similar to that when she was number one, I strongly recommand you rewatch some videos... :) with 15 kilos/30 lbs more, se could not sustain the same type of performance.

[raichmaneuvers]

@juju1305 I agree she got worse. That is what I meant when I said maybe 91/92 was just her peak. She did not show the same level of fitness, form, or tennis in later time. She started 93 strongly but who knows what would have happend the rest of 93, 94, and 95. Serena is similar in that her peak only lasted 2 years- 2002 and 2003. The rest of her career she was more overweight and less excellent. Although in her case she won many slams not even at her peak, especialy once Henin retired.

[juju1305]

@raichmaneuvers yes, this is plausible, but she would have had a chance. Graf also had a "slump" in 90-92 but was still winning 1 slam per year. If you look at the early 93 matches, Seles was was even better than 92, the 93 AO final is one of her greatest matches, from a technical point of view (even by today's standards), against a Graf who was back at her best level, as the rest of her year shows.

[raichmaneuvers]

@juju1305 actually I think Graf's best ever level was 1988-1989. I dont think she ever got back there even in other years she won 3 slams. The Graf of 88-89 would have never struggled vs the likes of Fernandez or Coetzer in slams for example. I think that is also what I mean. It seems rare to me players are at their career best level for more than 2 years. I dont think Martina ever was as good as 83-84 even though she was awesome many other years.

[juju1305]

@raichmaneuvers I tend to disagree. Graf was beaten in slams by Coetzer in times where Amanda was at her peak and Steffi unjured. I think that Steffi was at her best in 95-96, of course she did not repeat the 1988 golden slam feat, but gamewise, i think that was the top of her game. I think she was playing a lot closer to the baseline than she did back in 88-89 (she did not need to at that point) :)

[raichmaneuvers]

@juju1305 fair enough.  I respect your opinion.

[juju1305]

@raichmaneuvers thanks :) as for Martina I agree, but there were still a lot of fabulous performances from her even later on (and losing only one match in a calendar year is totally unattainable today).

[2strong2cool]

Steffy Graff - nice body hacket face

[Hoffenheim08]

Nice, friendly and intelligent face.

[2strong2cool]

Hawk nosed scarecrow

[JBlue1982]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this match! Please don't remove!!

[valfred19]

thanks yevshif....its good to see videos like this one. I haven;t had the chance to watch this season ending championships...im a huge fan of S Graf since I was a kid. Well done Yevshif...I saw some of the videos like(Rubin vs Graf 99, Seles vs Graf 99, Venus vs Graf 99 etc.) that you uploaded. I hope to see more. Thanks again.

[egg1080]

graf s the best

[yevshif]

no problem ... :)

[Peteypooooo]

Thanks so much for posting!! I've always wanted to see this match