Chris Evert d. Steffi Graf - 1986 Lipton International finals

Considered at the time to be a blisteringly hard hititing match, Chrissie and Steffi exchange some dynamite winners in the finals of the Lipton International finals of 1986, a 2-week event only 1 tier down from the majors, and an event in which Chris never failed to at least reach the finals.

She hands Steffi a convincing defeat, but it's still a changing of the guard in that Steffi is beginning to reach her period of destiny and Chris at 31 is entering what she would later call "a new phase of her career...it's called end of career." Still, she had one last grand slam victory left in her, as she took the French title a few months later, and one other Slam final appearance at the '88 Australian Open.

*commentators are Arthur Ashe & Pam Shriver.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• chris
• evert
• steffi
• graf
• 1986
• lipton
• wta
• tennis
• ice
• maiden
• princess

[Marchjoy1963]

@serenakicksass This is a 16 year old Steffi, A 17 year old Serena lost to 29 year old Graf, (after back surgery)In fact only beat Graf once!And as far as lucky, well Graf never used injury times outs and fake injuries, to win slam titles,like Serena did.

[shottut]

@Licitate Oh really, I guess you have forgotten the rib-malfuction during the 2005 Australian Open Final. The same one in which she told a New York Times reporter she needed a massage !

[alin1975]

There is something so odd about the way Chrissy lines up her backhand (and I say this as a fan). I wonder if its just a quirk or if the technique evolved.

[Meade3763]

@Licitate

It is always a mistake to roll over. Because then you can't blow your opponent off the court.

Is this what you wanted to say?

[StewNWT]

this is still actually a pretty hard hitting match, even more so considering the era

Chrissa never hit shots for clean winners like that againbst Martina

[Nicklas4500]

That backhand pass at 1:12 is so beautifully struck. Poeple marvel at Henin's backhand but I think Evert's is the best in history, certainly as a passing shot or lob.