You can see Steffi is a step slower than years before, but managed to do what she did in so many of her matches - win them when not playing her best. Her average level of play was so much higher than most other players.
This was a subpar match for Grafs standards. So many unforced errors and she seemed much slower than usual, her shots lacking sting and depth. She won cos kournikova was playing even more erratic. And then she went on to beat the no 2, 3 and 1 in the world in her next three matches, unbelievable how much she improved from this match.
With all due respect to Serena, who many cheer was the GOAT, the more I reflect on matches past, I am of the mind that you could make an equal and legitimate case that Steffi is in fact the greatest. How she played, how she carried herself. The Martina Hingis match showed it, how composed she was, fearless. Steffi knew how to win and give zero to other players' drama without getting overly flustered; and she won, and won and won.
Steffi was a good and determined Player! Very businesslike! Very Serious also! I like Steffi, and as stated before, I like seeing her with Andre, and Married to him!
Well, put it this way, Steffi retired at 30 and Williams played 10 years longer, retiring at aged 40, with her notching up just 1 more GS title, than 'Fraulein-Forehand'. The comparison, speaks for itself.
But any discussion about Graf as the GOAT must involve a big WHAT IF...as in what if Monica Seles had not been stabbed in the back. Seles had won 7 of the last 9 Grand Slams and was beating Graf at all of the majors except for Wimbledon. 50% of Graf's slams came after the attack.
@@allanhee Seles never beat Steffi at the USO. And if you introduce a “what if“ regarding the stabbing you also have to accept “what ifs“ regarding the Graf Blackmail Scandal (which almost drove Steffi out of the sport forever) and Steffi‘s 1997 reconstructive knee surgery at age 27 (which virtually ended her career). If you don‘t accept those “what ifs“ you are just a dumb hater who deserves only scorn.
I never really watched Kournikova all that carefully back in the late 90s and early 2000s. But one thing I'm noticing is that although she gets good extension on her groundstrokes, it seems like overkill in that she's hitting them really really far from her body, at least on the forehand side. She also really seems to struggle with underspin or slice backhands which probably explains why she had a poor record against Novotna but also Spirlea as well.
By this point, Anna already peaked and reached her maximum possible level. But her PR and the awful media still kept putting her out there like she was so special. It was hilarious and a sad period in tennis. As for this match, Steffi did a fine job though she had moments where she lost her rhythm and Anna had some good points. All credit to Steffi for playing so well and calmly when down three set points, and for erasing them.
Mucha gente como rosa y susana manjares tuvieron su razón sobre Ana kournikova de que no tiene talento para ser ganadora y las atacan a esas pobres niñas que tienen razón
Anna never won a Singles Title? The only reason, it was reported, she was kept on the Tour was due to her Attractiveness! I guess the Men liked it! She cannot really play Tennis! Steffi whom I liked, was an excellent Tennis Player! Glad she Hooked up with Andre!
@@ryusin9307 Look, I followed Tennis when Arthur Ashe was playing and Andre Agassi was a kid with wild hair! If she ranked 8th in Singles, how come she never Won anything? Does not make Sense to me! The Moderators were the ones discussing Anna, and why she was kept on the Tour? Them, not me, and stated she was kept on because she was Attractive and a Draw! What did she draw - Men! I was wondering the same thing myself! Why was she on the Tour! A Draw means Money, tickets Sold! And 1st in Doubles? You got to be kidding! Who was her Partners?
@@barbaralauderdale5963 Exactly. She only reached No 1 in doubles on the back of the talents of Martina Hingis, nothing more. Kournikova refused to listen to advice from former players like Chris Evert, who suggested that she should step down a couple of tiers on the tour, to try and get a singles tour win on her CV/Resume and so she will be remembered for reaching the Worlds top 10, with average performances and being paid a lorry load of money, for being 'Attractive'. That's it.
@@barbaralauderdale5963 No one “kept her on the tour“. She earned that right by beating top players left and right. So don‘t play the ignorant clown here, please.
Hi Anthony, One of the rare example of a 'student' from the Bolletterie Academy, who was not limited to the one dimensional bassline-bashing method, was Pete Sampras. He knew how to counter punch on his ground strokes and serve-volley. It's a shame more current players don't have that approach, as the game of Tennis, would be much more interesting and enjoyable to watch. Cheers.
@@Logans3Run I think Nick Bollettieri did so much better with the men than with the women. the women were taught to project power, and power from the baseline. I guess Monica Seles was the model for that. but Monica was unique. I could not see how Kournikova could be a Seles clone, although every now and then she did surprise by the power she could generate. Kournikova was not without talent. but it was the tennis intelligence that she lacked.
@@anthonydecastro6938 Agreed. That said, when you're being paid millions of dollars in sponsorships and endorsements during her time on and off the court, becoming the highest paid female athlete from one year to the next, her motivation to really improve her game and work on her weaknesses, looks as though it lacked any serious drive to do so If people and organisations are willing to throw fortunes at you, then perhaps that explained it...
You can see Steffi is a step slower than years before, but managed to do what she did in so many of her matches - win them when not playing her best. Her average level of play was so much higher than most other players.
she's 28 here..not that old
This was a subpar match for Grafs standards. So many unforced errors and she seemed much slower than usual, her shots lacking sting and depth. She won cos kournikova was playing even more erratic.
And then she went on to beat the no 2, 3 and 1 in the world in her next three matches, unbelievable how much she improved from this match.
I bet there was so much hype for this match
With all due respect to Serena, who many cheer was the GOAT, the more I reflect on matches past, I am of the mind that you could make an equal and legitimate case that Steffi is in fact the greatest. How she played, how she carried herself. The Martina Hingis match showed it, how composed she was, fearless. Steffi knew how to win and give zero to other players' drama without getting overly flustered; and she won, and won and won.
Steffi was a good and determined Player! Very businesslike! Very Serious also! I like Steffi, and as stated before, I like seeing her with Andre, and Married to him!
Steffi won agains Hingis , because Martina had weak mentality.Otherwise Martina would win in 2 sets
Well, put it this way, Steffi retired at 30 and Williams played 10 years longer, retiring at aged 40, with her notching up just 1 more GS title, than 'Fraulein-Forehand'.
The comparison, speaks for itself.
But any discussion about Graf as the GOAT must involve a big WHAT IF...as in what if Monica Seles had not been stabbed in the back. Seles had won 7 of the last 9 Grand Slams and was beating Graf at all of the majors except for Wimbledon. 50% of Graf's slams came after the attack.
@@allanhee Seles never beat Steffi at the USO.
And if you introduce a “what if“ regarding the stabbing you also have to accept “what ifs“ regarding the Graf Blackmail Scandal (which almost drove Steffi out of the sport forever) and Steffi‘s 1997 reconstructive knee surgery at age 27 (which virtually ended her career).
If you don‘t accept those “what ifs“ you are just a dumb hater who deserves only scorn.
Stefi te amo.
Хоть я и из России, но всегда болел за Штеффи Граф и никогда особо не любил Курникову. Штеффи лучшая на все времена❤❤❤
Please could someone add English captions? THANK. :D
I never really watched Kournikova all that carefully back in the late 90s and early 2000s. But one thing I'm noticing is that although she gets good extension on her groundstrokes, it seems like overkill in that she's hitting them really really far from her body, at least on the forehand side. She also really seems to struggle with underspin or slice backhands which probably explains why she had a poor record against Novotna but also Spirlea as well.
Yh she never tightened up her forehand even though that side had some pop
she's also gorgeous
Good match!
By this point, Anna already peaked and reached her maximum possible level. But her PR and the awful media still kept putting her out there like she was so special. It was hilarious and a sad period in tennis. As for this match, Steffi did a fine job though she had moments where she lost her rhythm and Anna had some good points. All credit to Steffi for playing so well and calmly when down three set points, and for erasing them.
She wasn’t even 20. Injuries, dumb coaching move, derailed her career.
ugh anna should have won this
Mucha gente como rosa y susana manjares tuvieron su razón sobre Ana kournikova de que no tiene talento para ser ganadora y las atacan a esas pobres niñas que tienen razón
Кurnikova Best
Anna never won a Singles Title? The only reason, it was reported, she was kept on the Tour was due to her Attractiveness! I guess the Men liked it! She cannot really play Tennis! Steffi whom I liked, was an excellent Tennis Player! Glad she Hooked up with Andre!
Anna ranked 8th on single and 1st at double. How could she can't play tennis? LOL
@@ryusin9307 Look, I followed Tennis when Arthur Ashe was playing and Andre Agassi was a kid with wild hair! If she ranked 8th in Singles, how come she never Won anything? Does not make Sense to me! The Moderators were the ones discussing Anna, and why she was kept on the Tour? Them, not me, and stated she was kept on because she was Attractive and a Draw! What did she draw - Men! I was wondering the same thing myself! Why was she on the Tour! A Draw means Money, tickets Sold! And 1st in Doubles? You got to be kidding! Who was her Partners?
@@barbaralauderdale5963
Exactly.
She only reached No 1 in doubles on the back of the talents of Martina Hingis, nothing more.
Kournikova refused to listen to advice from former players like Chris Evert, who suggested that she should step down a couple of tiers on the tour, to try and get a singles tour win on her CV/Resume and so she will be remembered for reaching the Worlds top 10, with average performances and being paid a lorry load of money, for being 'Attractive'.
That's it.
@@barbaralauderdale5963 No one “kept her on the tour“. She earned that right by beating top players left and right.
So don‘t play the ignorant clown here, please.
Kournikova just did not have a tennis brain. same old same old. hit hard. every time. no subtlety in her game. the Bollettieri school of tennis.
if somebody is so nice , she/he dont need a brain. :)
Hi Anthony,
One of the rare example of a 'student' from the Bolletterie Academy, who was not limited to the one dimensional bassline-bashing method, was Pete Sampras.
He knew how to counter punch on his ground strokes and serve-volley.
It's a shame more current players don't have that approach, as the game of Tennis, would be much more interesting and enjoyable to watch.
Cheers.
@@Logans3Run I think Nick Bollettieri did so much better with the men than with the women. the women were taught to project power, and power from the baseline. I guess Monica Seles was the model for that. but Monica was unique. I could not see how Kournikova could be a Seles clone, although every now and then she did surprise by the power she could generate. Kournikova was not without talent. but it was the tennis intelligence that she lacked.
@@anthonydecastro6938
Agreed.
That said, when you're being paid millions of dollars in sponsorships and endorsements during her time on and off the court, becoming the highest paid female athlete from one year to the next, her motivation to really improve her game and work on her weaknesses, looks as though it lacked any serious drive to do so
If people and organisations are willing to throw fortunes at you, then perhaps that explained it...
The German vs the Russian. It's like ww2 here.
Except Germany won this time.
Same as Serena vs Roberta Vinci at the USO 15.
Except Italy won this time.