I lived in Hong Kong at the time. My father and older brother were up at the wee hours of the morning, watching this match on the edge of our seats. It's why I fell in love with tennis
In 1988, Graf became the only player in history to complete the annual tennis Grand Slam. She won the Olympic gold medal and the four Grand Slam champions at the same time. After that, no one can achieve this record again. She is also the only player in history who has won more than 4 championships in the four Grand Slams. And her personality is very low-key. Beautiful, watching her play is a kind of enjoyment. My favorite player.
Winning 4 Majors in 1988 is the only time a Grand Slam was achieved. Rod Laver also in 1969. These are the only times a ‘Grand Slam’ is correctly referenced.
@@stephenmeitai7622 Margaret Court won all four Grand Slams in 1970, and thus in the Open Era. However, Margaret Court's Grand Slam has to be strongly underestimated, as the Australian Open did not have the status it has today at that time, and the field was correspondingly weak. Out of 43 players, 29 were from Australia and only four from abroad. It was even worse with Rod Laver.
Great final. I always felt that Steffi was playing against herself. So many unforced errors and bad serves like she’d lose focus. But when it matters most under pressure she delivered. GOAT
How different their careers could have gone had Sabatini won this. That volley at 30-15 was an easy put away by her standards. This loss really hampered her, while it gave Graf her only win against Sabatini between Fall 1990 and Wimbledon 1992. A much needed GS win for Graf who was really lacking in confidence.
That volley at 30-30 when serving for the match for Gaby. She should have won this match. This is Gaby's most heartbreaking loss against Steffi. What a shame!
Viendo este tenis de hace 32 años atras, es mucho mas potente y con estilo que el de hoy, por dios, que golpes!!! reves, voleas, derechazos....que tenistas!!!!
Best ladies final I have ever seen. Could have gone either way. Graf is a true great, but Sabatini had the grace and flair. She was like the female version of Roger Federer
Gabriela played 3 slam finals, one Olympic final and 4 doubles slam finals. In all of those 8 finals Steffi Graf was on the court as well. And it all came full circle when Steffi introduced Gaby into the Hall of Fame in 2006. 😍😍
@whaqued1892 Monica was only 15 and in her rookie year in 1989 when Graf defeated her...Graf was 20. As Monica got older and stronger, Monica beat up Steffi pretty good...poor Steffi. 😆 Monica won nearly all the Slams before the stabbing. And Graf lost 9 Slams during Monica's reign...poor Steffi. 😆
@@joeyconvery2055 But when Seles was #1 she was 2-5 H2H against Steffi. The worst record ever for a #1 player against any opponent. A record that most probably will never be broken. And imagine, those 2 Seles wins both were only tough 3-setters. Whereas the great Steffi blew the screamer off the court in 2-setters 3 times! Steffi won the Golden Slam at age 19. And we all know that players are usually even improving after that age! Sadly the nasty Graf Blackmail Scandal derailed Steffi bigly and her momentum and trajectory was interrupted. She would have won a lot of Grand Slams otherwise. That she has only one (in 1988) is a cruel joke.
My aall time favourite woman tennis player is Gabriela Sabatini. She challenged the best to win. But always the second best. Always adorable. Viva La Argentina ❤
Sabatini was playing out of her mind. Steffi was not moving that well, she was tentative, double faulted 7 times, and missed easy returns and passing shots. Steffi found a way to win not playing her best. She is the GOAT in my book for sure
I think part of Steffi’s dilemma was that she had lost 5 matches to Gaby in a row coming into this match and Gaby would win 8 of 9 during the streak. No wonder Steffi was a bit nervous. Gaby was playing the very best tennis of her career. Someone else suggested that if this was any other surface Gaby would have had a clear edge on this day. Somehow I actually agree. She had beaten Steffi on the dirt, quick indoor hardcovers and outdoor hardcourts but never beat Steffi on grass. I kind of wonder if Gaby truly believed she could truly do it against Steffi in grass.
@@moviefan4life166 Gaby won 7 of 8 during that streak. After 5 consecutive losses to her in 1990/91 Steffi won this Wimbledon final, lost two more matches in early 1992 and then completely outplayed Gaby in the Wimbledon 92 final.
Sabatini almost won that match but kudos to Graf to snatch the match when Sabatini was serving for the championship. Amazing mindset of a champion. Forever the GOAT Steffi Graf 🙌🙌.
Statistically, Gaby served harder second serves than Steffi in this match. Gaby was actually quite solid on second serves in this match and didn’t have to hit that many second serves. She attempted to take pace off the first serve to get a high percent in and it worked rather effectively. But in the critical moment at 5-4 and 6-5, she lost a bit of depth and placement on her first serve which cost her the match.
@@jm7804 well Gaby had atleast better serve than Sara Errani who even reached a F.O final in 2012. And what about Angelique Kerber who had such a poor serve even with stronger modern racquet but still able to beat Serena twice in a slam final lol 🤣 🤣🤣.
@@jm7804 check out speed of Chris Evert serve at her peak who had won 18 slams. I guess Sabatini serve was faster than her. Then you certainly can't criticized on Martina's achivement.😉😉😉
This match was the beginning of the end of Gabriela Sabatini career. She served for match twice and blew it. She didn't reach another slam final after Wimbledon final loss.
Incredible match. Sabatini had her in all sorts of trouble. She wisely 'aired the ball out' on some returns allowing her to get back into good position and nullify Graf's serve. Some of Sabatini's approaches were almost 'bluffs' but they rattled Graf just enough to get errors and keep her unsettled. This was probably Sabatinis weakest surface and she modified her game admirably. Its a pity someone had to lose. I don't think I've seen Steffi quite so vulnerable. That missed volley at 30-40 at 5:5 would likely have deflated most and Sabatini must surely have thought the title was hers when she stepped up to serve for the match at 6-5. 31:27 5-6, 30-30 Graf plays a remarkable point to turn the match around. Simply incredible will to win.
Well said…Gaby put sting or incredible finesse on every volley she put over the net in this match, all but the one at 6-5, 30-all. I’m a match where the margins are so fine, that one single volley swung the balance. I do think theee were few bluff approaches by Gaby in the 2nd and 3rd sets. Most were directed with depth and purpose to the Graf backhand and Graf was never at her best passing on a low bouncing court with a slice backhand. When Gaby made up her mind to attack, she was awfully tough to beat. Steffi was probably the best competitor ever and across all surfaces no less. Winning at least 4 at every major is unreal.
Your analysis of this ladies final is excellent and spot on, not much I can add here. Your right about Graf being very vulnerable here, yet somehow Steffi had a knack for wiggling out of jams in big matches. The 1993 Wimbledon final is a good example where Jana Novotna had Steffi on the ropes until Jana imploded. Also the '95 Ladies final against Arantxa Sanchez Vicario where Arantxa played her heart out but Steffi escapes with the win. Back to this '91 Ladies final, Sabatini had here chances to put Steffi away but that volley Sabatini missed which would have given her 2 match points was crippling. After the match Sabatini admitted she couldn't stop thinking about that missed volley as she was broken quickly with Steffi grabbing all the momentum back. Sabatini did beat Graf a couple more times after this match but Steffi turned the tables on Sabatini for good starting in 1993.
@Michael Paskos yes, I watched that final against Jana. Heartbreaking that was. she was one of my favorites in the tradition of attacking serve volley tennis like Mandlikova, her coach, and Navratilova. I was initially cool towards Steffi because I was a Martina fan, but her dedication to winning shotmaking ( instead of grinding for opponent errors like Everet) and her sheer class on and off the courts won me over with time. Great era of tennis that.
@@FrederickJohnSebastian I always had a soft spot for Jana, that loss to Steffi in '93 was terrible but I was happy Jana got herself one before she retired. Jana's game was tailor-made for grass courts, she could have easily won 2 or 3 Wimbly titles. As for Sabatini, I always expected her to reach another Wimbledon final after 1991 but it didn't happen. To be honest, I thought Sabatini outplayed Steffi for most of their '91 Wimbledon Ladies final. But all due credit to Steffi for keeping her composure during the late stages of the 3rd set. Also Sabatini's nerves got in the way as she tried to serve out the match, it came down to which girl would blink first. Anyway, it was a great era of tennis like you said and I thought Steffi and Monica were top cake but you had strong challengers like Sabatini, Jana, Arantxa, and Conchita Martinez. I can't figure out for the life of me how Conchita and Sabatini never won a French Open title as their games were perfect for the slow red clay? And most observers have Jana, Sabatini, and Conchita as the best one-slam winners from the Steffi-Monica era, it's hard to argue against that?
This was a very high quality match and Sabatini really should had taken it, it was the "one that got away". She had such an aesthetic all-round game but badly could had done with a bigger serve. A flatter forehand from time to time probably couldn't had hurt either.
Ese 30_30 fue increíble. Gabi tranquilamente pudo quedar en punto de partido . Le faltó muy poco. Tal vez no tuvo suerte . Además de la gran Stefi que tenía en frente claro. Igual Gabi tuvo una carrera algo rara .
That’s funny I was thinking the same exact thing. Gaby also let a 40-15 lead go in her first service game of the 3rd. If she had started tye 3rd more securely, I think she may have mustered tye confidence and belief to do it. She also had 2-2 0-30 in tte 3rd on Steffi’s serve but Graf held. This match was supremely tense throughout and you jtt it at couldn’t tell who would win it. It was a hugely important match for both, but Graf would go on to win so many slams whereas Gaby would not. Had Gaby won, I think we would have seen her win more. Gaby said afterwards the key moment for her was serving at 6-5 30-all and she played a perfect point but just needed a bit more sting on the backhand volley. Had she stung it, she’d be at match point serving with all the pressure squarely on Steffi….I’ve never seen Gaby lose a match to Steffi after reaching match point. That point was ultimately the decider of the match.
@@moviefan4life166I was just digging through the archives and apparently Gaby was up match point and lost against Steffi in 1986 at the US Clay court tournament. Very different situation in 1991 though.
Steffi knew and said so quite often that her TS BH was not reliable, too many unforced errors or put-away opportunities for her opponent. Her slice BH was far more effective. It created opportunities for herself to administer her bazooka forehand.
She hit over her BH quite often earlier in her career...in the 88 Wimbledon final against Martina, Graf pummeled her with that shot each time Navratilova approached to her BH. Graf's BH slice was very effective, especially on grass of that era where the ball skidded and stayed low. Martina described it as the deadliest slice she'd ever played against.
I watched this live on tv all those years ago and it still pains me to watch Gaby blow it. She served twice for the Wimbledon title. Gaby's career is littered with matches like this. I think eventually it took a toll on her drive to play.
With a better serve Sabatini would have won more Slams. She tried to bend her body too much but her timing wasn't the best and also she should have served with less spin imho.
Sabatini’s serve seems to massively underrated today. Maybe because it broke down a few times in crucial matches. Steffi Graf often had big problems with exactly the serve spin you criticize here. Why do you think Gaby beat Steffi so often?
@@carrerau7138 Early on, Sabatini's serve was very effective, as you noted. It was later that she got the yips, and her serve became a liability...almost as bad as Dementieva's. IMO her serve problems led to an early retirement.
On the subject bluff / bluff net approaches: 2nd set, Gabriela Sabatini breaking the serve of Steffi Graf to go up 4 games to 2! Good examples of simp,y chip and charge (even w/ forehandslice to make the server "disamused")
Really a huge change in women's tennis in 30 years. I watched another Sabatini game (against Pierce) and they were hitting sub-100 km/h second serves! Now some ladies can serve over 200 km/h bombs and even second serves are often 140 km/h kicks. But nevertheless I rather watch Gabriela playing than Ons or Aryna... Scoreboard: MISS S. GRAF. Did they have BACHELOR M. STICH for the gentlemen's finals?
The best AVERAGE first serve stats in a match never was faster than 180 km/h (Serena and Venus in the 2010s). In Wimbledon and at the USO last year the semi finalists served with 166 km/h on average (first serve). The fastest serve in Wimbledon 2023 was ONE Sabalenka serve with 195 km/h. The fastest serve at the USO 2023 was again from Sabalenka, with 193 km/h. Swiatek serves with up to 180 km/h. In 1990-95 the fastest serve came from Brenda Schultz-McCarthy with 190 km/h, second-fastest was Jana Novotna with 185 km/h. Sabatini was clocked at up to 166 km/h. The speed difference of about 15 km/h compared to 30 years can be attributed to the development of modern rackets. Has almost nothing to do with better athletic abilities.
@@carrerau7138 Thanks for this. Anyway I do not think racquets and strings have developed that much, Composites appeared and conquered the courts already in mid seventies and professionals in any case do not prefer light and stiff frames like we club level old geezers do.
@@tapioportimo2551 As I said Brenda Schultz-McCarthy hit the fastest serve in the early 90s with 190 km/h. After initially having retired due to injuries in 1999 she returned to the tour in 2005 in her mid-30, with limited success. But she hit serves up to 209 km/h (Look her up in Wikipedia). She attributed this stunning improvement on modern wide body rackets.
Steffi Graff ne faisait pratiquement que des revers slicés, et les tournait souvent. On voit que Gabriela s'était entraînée au revers le long de la ligne, voire décroisé, car elle savait que ce serait souvent pertinent ! Mais pas assez encore. C'est un coup négligé à l'entraînement, en général. On voit ici que, chaque fois qu'il passe, Gabriela gagne le point. Je dirais aussi que Gabriela avait opté pour un cordage assez tendu, privilégiant le contrôle, par rapport à la puissance. C'est un choix. En même temps, elle doit jouer des zones très risquées, alors que Steffi Graff se découvre beaucoup quand elle tourne son revers. Et ici, il ne manque souvent que quelques km/h à Gabriela pour punir son adversaire. Au lieu de cela, elle commet souvent la faute: légère, mais qui compte double, car elle perd beaucoup de points qu'elle devrait remporter. Et s'avère incapable de déborder son adversaire du fond du court, sur une surface pourtant rapide ! Une information qui ne tombera pas dans l'oreille d'une sourde !
C'est bien sûr plus facile à dire après qu'avant. Et même quand on croit le remarquer, cela reste plus facile à dire qu'à faire. Mais ces deux grandes championnes en sont capables, si elles en sont d'accord !
Twice gabby served for it. Both games the first point was a weak serve to Grafs forehand . So graf started each break a point up. A game of inches gabby played graf perfectly, r using her as graf like to hit her forehand late thus the unforced errors.
I was a huge fan of Steffi. Yet I must admit Gaby should have won this match. She served twice for the match but was betreated by her nerves. At this time of their careers, she had more variety in her game than Steffi, especially on the backhand wing. From the second set, she really dominated the metch, put much pressure on Steffi's backhand. It's a shame such a beautiful all-court player only won one single GS title. But her style is gorgeous !
@@stef1074 No, I think Steffi deserved to win this match. She hit 44 winners against Gaby's 23. And in the last 3 games (all won by Steffi) Steffi was 8-1 in winners and 1-1 in unforced errors. So Steffi took the match, Gaby didn't give it to her. Maybe you are confusing that match within a different one.
@@carrerau7138 No I'm not. If you had watched the whole match, Gaby really took a grip on Steffi in the second set. She had won 5 times in a row before this match, and you could see she was dominating her at the net and mentally. If u prefer, they both deserved to win. Steffi never gave up and she had more GS finals experience. I'm a huge Graf fan and I'm happy for her she could win this match.
@@stef1074 Gaby approach the net 65 times and won the point 39 times (60 %). Steffi approached the net 38 times and won the point 29 times (76 %). I would not call this "Gaby dominating at the net". But to each their own.
Gabriela Sabatini has a ground volly style of grass court tennis have playe long beautiful volly spells with beautifully good player Steffi. So both were not depended on Ace Server. The are better players to all.
This is the era of slice-backhand tennis which is effective. However, the service is not that great! Nowadays, only a few use slice-backhand. Most of the active players now just hit the ball harder and faster, engaging in long rallies! There is advantage and disadvantage to this.
Because of Monica Seles, Graf was became so weak that other players beat her often. If This situation was continued more several years Graf was forgotten from history. The stepping saved her, she must thank to it
Yes, the Seles voodoo caused Steffi to lose 6 of 8 matches against Sabatini in 1991/92. But didn't prevent Steffi from winning 3 of 4 matches against the Serbian Screamer. You idyot.
Steffi hit only 32 unforced errors, not bad at all in a 200-points match. Especially when we compare that to her 66 UEs in the famous 260-points FO 1992 final.
@@marckunz5197 it does. it is a question of when the errors happen. the point is just that this is not the Steffi that is her usual efficient self on grass....
@@anthonydecastro6938 At times in this match Steffi seemed nervous and too hectic. She had lost five times in a row to Sabatini before. I suspect that 1991 was overall one of the weaker years in Steffi's career.
@@rajusaha855 I knew I smelled something rotten as soon as I clicked on the vid. Illya Kuryakin/MaxE/GoTeam/Steven Meitai/Carrera U/Raju Saha and a host of other banned profiles are all the same sick individual liking and responding to his own posts...just as "IT" did in this thread.
I think Gaby played a very good match here. It was Steffi’s best surface and certainly gave Steffi the edge but who knows what would have happened on another surface on this day.
I don't think that any woman would be able to beat the #800-ranked male player. Steffi in her heyday once said that she might be on the same level as a #3,000 player.
Back then female tennis players respected each other and shook hands after the game. And today? One has Ukrainian whiners, who live in luxury outside their homeland, without any sportsmanship or manners and with panic attacks. It's about time to ban these riff-raffs.
I lived in Hong Kong at the time. My father and older brother were up at the wee hours of the morning, watching this match on the edge of our seats. It's why I fell in love with tennis
In 1988, Graf became the only player in history to complete the annual tennis Grand Slam. She won the Olympic gold medal and the four Grand Slam champions at the same time. After that, no one can achieve this record again. She is also the only player in history who has won more than 4 championships in the four Grand Slams. And her personality is very low-key. Beautiful, watching her play is a kind of enjoyment. My favorite player.
This match is the same as watching a match between two men ranked around 800th, so the records you showed apply only to female tennis.
Winning 4 Majors in 1988 is the only time a Grand Slam was achieved. Rod Laver also in 1969. These are the only times a ‘Grand Slam’ is correctly referenced.
@@MrAntman36 Maureen Connolly in 1953, Rod Laver in 1962, Margaret Court in 1970.
@@gregmcfarnon1140Those are in Pre-Open Eras
@@stephenmeitai7622 Margaret Court won all four Grand Slams in 1970, and thus in the Open Era. However, Margaret Court's Grand Slam has to be strongly underestimated, as the Australian Open did not have the status it has today at that time, and the field was correspondingly weak. Out of 43 players, 29 were from Australia and only four from abroad.
It was even worse with Rod Laver.
Steffi is the GOAT. And Gabby gave her great matches that we lucky fans got to watch. 🤗
Yes I Agree! Steffi Is The GOAT! Simply The Best!
What an incredible physique, too. She obviously worked hard to keep in shape.
Gabriela Sabatini IMHO is the most beautiful tennis player of all times! And her backhand was gorgeous!
Serena Williams?
@@trhansen3244 Her backhand was not gorgeous at all.
@@carrerau7138 I have to wonder if you would say the same if she were white.
@@trhansen3244 I would be even harsher.
I would say "ugly backhand". For instance Seles's or Davenport's.
In popularity, Gaby was the only rival of Steffi, but Steffi had more fans than Gaby.
This match looks amazing in HD! we can really appreciate that ferociously hit Graf forehand!!🤤🤤
One of the best matches ever!!
They are the two most graceful women’s tennis players I have ever witnessed, I swear!!!! ❤❤❤❤
This is a unforgettable game. I love this match.
such great high quality video… thank you so much
My FAVORITE Women's Finale of ALL TIME.❤
Topped only by Wimbledon 92 and FO 99!
Steffi Graf is still my all time GOAT to this day 🙌
I'm afraid,there won't be another Steffi graf or Gabriela sabatini ever ❤❤❤❤love them both
Great final. I always felt that Steffi was playing against herself. So many unforced errors and bad serves like she’d lose focus. But when it matters most under pressure she delivered. GOAT
How different their careers could have gone had Sabatini won this. That volley at 30-15 was an easy put away by her standards. This loss really hampered her, while it gave Graf her only win against Sabatini between Fall 1990 and Wimbledon 1992. A much needed GS win for Graf who was really lacking in confidence.
The volley at 30-30.
That volley at 30-30 when serving for the match for Gaby. She should have won this match. This is Gaby's most heartbreaking loss against Steffi. What a shame!
Viendo este tenis de hace 32 años atras, es mucho mas potente y con estilo que el de hoy, por dios, que golpes!!! reves, voleas, derechazos....que tenistas!!!!
Really great.Golden grandslamer the one and only one Steffi
Best ladies final I have ever seen. Could have gone either way. Graf is a true great, but Sabatini had the grace and flair. She was like the female version of Roger Federer
The serve was a problem, not much grace and flair in that ineffective movement. Apart from the serve great player indeed.
Steffi's game was more elegant than Gaby's. Take alone her footwork!!
One of the most important wins of Graf's career......a turning point mentally.
I love you Steffi always ❤ You are my all time favorite.
Gabriela played 3 slam finals, one Olympic final and 4 doubles slam finals.
In all of those 8 finals Steffi Graf was on the court as well.
And it all came full circle when Steffi introduced Gaby into the Hall of Fame in 2006. 😍😍
Monica beat up both of them!!😂
@@joeyconvery2055 Monica is 5-10 H2H against the GOAT, dummy!
@@joeyconvery2055 The head to head of Seles against those two is actually 11:3 versus Gabriela and 5:10 versus Steffi.
@whaqued1892 Monica was only 15 and in her rookie year in 1989 when Graf defeated her...Graf was 20.
As Monica got older and stronger, Monica beat up Steffi pretty good...poor Steffi. 😆
Monica won nearly all the Slams before the stabbing.
And Graf lost 9 Slams during Monica's reign...poor Steffi. 😆
@@joeyconvery2055
But when Seles was #1 she was 2-5 H2H against Steffi. The worst record ever for a #1 player against any opponent. A record that most probably will never be broken.
And imagine, those 2 Seles wins both were only tough 3-setters.
Whereas the great Steffi blew the screamer off the court in 2-setters 3 times!
Steffi won the Golden Slam at age 19. And we all know that players are usually even improving after that age! Sadly the nasty Graf Blackmail Scandal derailed Steffi bigly and her momentum and trajectory was interrupted.
She would have won a lot of Grand Slams otherwise. That she has only one (in 1988) is a cruel joke.
My aall time favourite woman tennis player is Gabriela Sabatini. She challenged the best to win. But always the second best. Always adorable. Viva La Argentina ❤
very classic and elegant players. No ugly two-handed backhands. Sabi has a beautiful service motion.
I'm 45 now. I was so depressed when I watched this on TV in Dublin aged 12. I LOVED Gabriella Sabatini
I mean, it was an amazing final
Both ladies played outstandingly
Beautiful talented champions, great match… Gabi ‘s game always gave Stefie fits, even if Steffi most often came on top, it was tight most matches
Sabatini was playing out of her mind. Steffi was not moving that well, she was tentative, double faulted 7 times, and missed easy returns and passing shots. Steffi found a way to win not playing her best. She is the GOAT in my book for sure
I think part of Steffi’s dilemma was that she had lost 5 matches to Gaby in a row coming into this match and Gaby would win 8 of 9 during the streak. No wonder Steffi was a bit nervous. Gaby was playing the very best tennis of her career. Someone else suggested that if this was any other surface Gaby would have had a clear edge on this day. Somehow I actually agree. She had beaten Steffi on the dirt, quick indoor hardcovers and outdoor hardcourts but never beat Steffi on grass. I kind of wonder if Gaby truly believed she could truly do it against Steffi in grass.
Graf was playing as good as Sabatini was allowing her to play mate. She was very aware of Sabatini's capabilities.
Jordanaus75.. Very well said.
@@moviefan4life166 Gaby won 7 of 8 during that streak.
After 5 consecutive losses to her in 1990/91 Steffi won this Wimbledon final, lost two more matches in early 1992 and then completely outplayed Gaby in the Wimbledon 92 final.
@@jordanaus75 No, Steffi played far worse than Gaby allowed her to play.
Sabatini almost won that match but kudos to Graf to snatch the match when Sabatini was serving for the championship. Amazing mindset of a champion. Forever the GOAT Steffi Graf 🙌🙌.
Sabatini almost won with her 38 mph second serve? LOL. Doesn't say a lot about Graf's GOATness
Statistically, Gaby served harder second serves than Steffi in this match. Gaby was actually quite solid on second serves in this match and didn’t have to hit that many second serves. She attempted to take pace off the first serve to get a high percent in and it worked rather effectively. But in the critical moment at 5-4 and 6-5, she lost a bit of depth and placement on her first serve which cost her the match.
@@jm7804 well Gaby had atleast better serve than Sara Errani who even reached a F.O final in 2012. And what about Angelique Kerber who had such a poor serve even with stronger modern racquet but still able to beat Serena twice in a slam final lol 🤣 🤣🤣.
@@jm7804 check out speed of Chris Evert serve at her peak who had won 18 slams. I guess Sabatini serve was faster than her. Then you certainly can't criticized on Martina's achivement.😉😉😉
Steffi won 4 slam finals in which her opponent served for the match.
2 of the most sexy and gorgeous women tennis players of the late 80s, and 90s. played good tennis as well.
Was so hard to pick a fav when these two played!
Top quality video, thanks again. Not the best tennis match but, the ending is unforgettable
This match was the beginning of the end of Gabriela Sabatini career. She served for match twice and blew it. She didn't reach another slam final after Wimbledon final loss.
Incredible match. Sabatini had her in all sorts of trouble. She wisely 'aired the ball out' on some returns allowing her to get back into good position and nullify Graf's serve. Some of Sabatini's approaches were almost 'bluffs' but they rattled Graf just enough to get errors and keep her unsettled. This was probably Sabatinis weakest surface and she modified her game admirably. Its a pity someone had to lose. I don't think I've seen Steffi quite so vulnerable. That missed volley at 30-40 at 5:5 would likely have deflated most and Sabatini must surely have thought the title was hers when she stepped up to serve for the match at 6-5. 31:27 5-6, 30-30 Graf plays a remarkable point to turn the match around. Simply incredible will to win.
Well said…Gaby put sting or incredible finesse on every volley she put over the net in this match, all but the one at 6-5, 30-all. I’m a match where the margins are so fine, that one single volley swung the balance. I do think theee were few bluff approaches by Gaby in the 2nd and 3rd sets. Most were directed with depth and purpose to the Graf backhand and Graf was never at her best passing on a low bouncing court with a slice backhand. When Gaby made up her mind to attack, she was awfully tough to beat. Steffi was probably the best competitor ever and across all surfaces no less. Winning at least 4 at every major is unreal.
Your analysis of this ladies final is excellent and spot on, not much I can add here. Your right about Graf being very vulnerable here, yet somehow Steffi had a knack for wiggling out of jams in big matches. The 1993 Wimbledon final is a good example where Jana Novotna had Steffi on the ropes until Jana imploded. Also the '95 Ladies final against Arantxa Sanchez Vicario where Arantxa played her heart out but Steffi escapes with the win. Back to this '91 Ladies final, Sabatini had here chances to put Steffi away but that volley Sabatini missed which would have given her 2 match points was crippling. After the match Sabatini admitted she couldn't stop thinking about that missed volley as she was broken quickly with Steffi grabbing all the momentum back. Sabatini did beat Graf a couple more times after this match but Steffi turned the tables on Sabatini for good starting in 1993.
@Michael Paskos yes, I watched that final against Jana. Heartbreaking that was. she was one of my favorites in the tradition of attacking serve volley tennis like Mandlikova, her coach, and Navratilova. I was initially cool towards Steffi because I was a Martina fan, but her dedication to winning shotmaking ( instead of grinding for opponent errors like Everet) and her sheer class on and off the courts won me over with time. Great era of tennis that.
@@FrederickJohnSebastian I always had a soft spot for Jana, that loss to Steffi in '93 was terrible but I was happy Jana got herself one before she retired. Jana's game was tailor-made for grass courts, she could have easily won 2 or 3 Wimbly titles. As for Sabatini, I always expected her to reach another Wimbledon final after 1991 but it didn't happen. To be honest, I thought Sabatini outplayed Steffi for most of their '91 Wimbledon Ladies final. But all due credit to Steffi for keeping her composure during the late stages of the 3rd set. Also Sabatini's nerves got in the way as she tried to serve out the match, it came down to which girl would blink first. Anyway, it was a great era of tennis like you said and I thought Steffi and Monica were top cake but you had strong challengers like Sabatini, Jana, Arantxa, and Conchita Martinez. I can't figure out for the life of me how Conchita and Sabatini never won a French Open title as their games were perfect for the slow red clay? And most observers have Jana, Sabatini, and Conchita as the best one-slam winners from the Steffi-Monica era, it's hard to argue against that?
@@michaelpaskos9052 That volley at 6-5 30-30 would have given Sabatini only one match point.
Beautiful to see one handed backhands
Both are my favourite players 🎉🎉🎉🎉
anybody missing the screaming? no right. what a lovely era this was. one of the great matches
This was a very high quality match and Sabatini really should had taken it, it was the "one that got away". She had such an aesthetic all-round game but badly could had done with a bigger serve. A flatter forehand from time to time probably couldn't had hurt either.
Does Steffi have springs in her (beautiful) legs?
Great match
This was a fantastic match between the two of them. So sad though when Gaby lost, I cries for hours. you will always be the best Gabriela.xxxxxxxxxxx
When Steffi won I cried for joy.
Люблю теннис 💯🤘🔥Все выпады,подходы,подхваты🔥🤘🙏
nobody could handle pressue like Steffi
Gabby should have won this title and could capture it .
No she should not.
The player always should be the winner of a close match who wins the crucial points at the end.
She couldn't close the door against Graf on this day, despite Graf not playing her best.
Great quality video
Sabatini has one the most beautiful looking tennis players ever
Absolute silence on court, god how I miss those days...
Ese 30_30 fue increíble.
Gabi tranquilamente pudo quedar en punto de partido .
Le faltó muy poco.
Tal vez no tuvo suerte .
Además de la gran Stefi que tenía en frente claro.
Igual Gabi tuvo una carrera algo rara .
Bei Gabriela Sabatini stand die Männerwelt Kopf. Auch heute noch eine wunderhübsche Frau.😉
Beide, Steffi und Gaby, sehen heute mit Mitte 50 immer noch super aus.
@@carrerau7138 Bis auf den Zinken von Steffi Graf gebe ich dir recht.
@@sokrates3900 Hat mich nie gestört.
i.pinimg.com/originals/8b/91/b4/8b91b41b6501e411d9621a6db7f12470.jpg
@@sokrates3900Schonmal selber in den Spiegel geschaut?
@@ricardagottschalk_duran2677 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 warum? Das dürfte dir ja wohl klar sein, oder?
The set point Gabi had to win the second set 6-2 that she missed turned out to be crucial. It would have left her serving first in that final set.
That’s funny I was thinking the same exact thing. Gaby also let a 40-15 lead go in her first service game of the 3rd. If she had started tye 3rd more securely, I think she may have mustered tye confidence and belief to do it. She also had 2-2 0-30 in tte 3rd on Steffi’s serve but Graf held. This match was supremely tense throughout and you jtt it at couldn’t tell who would win it. It was a hugely important match for both, but Graf would go on to win so many slams whereas Gaby would not. Had Gaby won, I think we would have seen her win more. Gaby said afterwards the key moment for her was serving at 6-5 30-all and she played a perfect point but just needed a bit more sting on the backhand volley. Had she stung it, she’d be at match point serving with all the pressure squarely on Steffi….I’ve never seen Gaby lose a match to Steffi after reaching match point. That point was ultimately the decider of the match.
@@moviefan4life166I was just digging through the archives and apparently Gaby was up match point and lost against Steffi in 1986 at the US Clay court tournament. Very different situation in 1991 though.
Steffi always the best, but Gabriela played a beautiful match and for the talent that had, she'd deserved to win too much more.
Gaby would have won a lot more if she hadn't played in the Golden Age.
Never understood why Steffi Graf elected to play that slice all the time when she had a perfectly good and effective topspin backhand.
Steffi knew and said so quite often that her TS BH was not reliable, too many unforced errors or put-away opportunities for her opponent.
Her slice BH was far more effective. It created opportunities for herself to administer her bazooka forehand.
She hit over her BH quite often earlier in her career...in the 88 Wimbledon final against Martina, Graf pummeled her with that shot each time Navratilova approached to her BH. Graf's BH slice was very effective, especially on grass of that era where the ball skidded and stayed low. Martina described it as the deadliest slice she'd ever played against.
@@broncoguy4862 Steffi TS BH was deadly as a passing shot only.
I watched this live on tv all those years ago and it still pains me to watch Gaby blow it. She served twice for the Wimbledon title. Gaby's career is littered with matches like this. I think eventually it took a toll on her drive to play.
Tolles Spiel😊 verdiente 2 Sieger
Not her best day by a long shot but she battled through it for the win.
With a better serve Sabatini would have won more Slams. She tried to bend her body too much but her timing wasn't the best and also she should have served with less spin imho.
Sabatini’s serve seems to massively underrated today. Maybe because it broke down a few times in crucial matches. Steffi Graf often had big problems with exactly the serve spin you criticize here. Why do you think Gaby beat Steffi so often?
@@carrerau7138 Early on, Sabatini's serve was very effective, as you noted. It was later that she got the yips, and her serve became a liability...almost as bad as Dementieva's. IMO her serve problems led to an early retirement.
On the subject bluff / bluff net approaches:
2nd set, Gabriela Sabatini breaking the serve of Steffi Graf to go up 4 games to 2! Good examples of simp,y chip and charge (even w/ forehandslice to make the server "disamused")
I think this loss broke Gabriela. She never reached another grand slam final and her victories over Graf became fewer and farer between.
Gaby won her next two matches against Steffi, both in Florida in spring 1992.
After that Steffi won their last 8 matches.
Beauty and the Beast
You are so gay!
Serena & Sharapova not playing there. You have comment on wrong video here.😂😂
@@rajusaha855 Serena & the Cheating Doper...is that better?
@@broncoguy4862 That coming from a Serena bootlicker is rich!
@sallybrookner4158 Because women are the beautiful gender.
She is female pete sampras
Her endurance is amazing
Sabatini was a good pro player, but never rose to the level of Graff.
Graf
Sabatini ❤
Steffi made a lot of unforced errors
sabatini could have won more imo, quite clinical how Graf finished her matches
*Final NOT Finale
No, it is "Finale" in German.
Really a huge change in women's tennis in 30 years. I watched another Sabatini game (against Pierce) and they were hitting sub-100 km/h second serves! Now some ladies can serve over 200 km/h bombs and even second serves are often 140 km/h kicks. But nevertheless I rather watch Gabriela playing than Ons or Aryna...
Scoreboard: MISS S. GRAF. Did they have BACHELOR M. STICH for the gentlemen's finals?
The best AVERAGE first serve stats in a match never was faster than 180 km/h (Serena and Venus in the 2010s). In Wimbledon and at the USO last year the semi finalists served with 166 km/h on average (first serve).
The fastest serve in Wimbledon 2023 was ONE Sabalenka serve with 195 km/h.
The fastest serve at the USO 2023 was again from Sabalenka, with 193 km/h.
Swiatek serves with up to 180 km/h.
In 1990-95 the fastest serve came from Brenda Schultz-McCarthy with 190 km/h, second-fastest was Jana Novotna with 185 km/h.
Sabatini was clocked at up to 166 km/h.
The speed difference of about 15 km/h compared to 30 years can be attributed to the development of modern rackets.
Has almost nothing to do with better athletic abilities.
@@carrerau7138 Thanks for this. Anyway I do not think racquets and strings have developed that much, Composites appeared and conquered the courts already in mid seventies and professionals in any case do not prefer light and stiff frames like we club level old geezers do.
@@tapioportimo2551 As I said Brenda Schultz-McCarthy hit the fastest serve in the early 90s with 190 km/h.
After initially having retired due to injuries in 1999 she returned to the tour in 2005 in her mid-30, with limited success. But she hit serves up to 209 km/h (Look her up in Wikipedia). She attributed this stunning improvement on modern wide body rackets.
Steffi Graff ne faisait pratiquement que des revers slicés, et les tournait souvent. On voit que Gabriela s'était entraînée au revers le long de la ligne, voire décroisé, car elle savait que ce serait souvent pertinent ! Mais pas assez encore. C'est un coup négligé à l'entraînement, en général. On voit ici que, chaque fois qu'il passe, Gabriela gagne le point. Je dirais aussi que Gabriela avait opté pour un cordage assez tendu, privilégiant le contrôle, par rapport à la puissance. C'est un choix. En même temps, elle doit jouer des zones très risquées, alors que Steffi Graff se découvre beaucoup quand elle tourne son revers. Et ici, il ne manque souvent que quelques km/h à Gabriela pour punir son adversaire. Au lieu de cela, elle commet souvent la faute: légère, mais qui compte double, car elle perd beaucoup de points qu'elle devrait remporter. Et s'avère incapable de déborder son adversaire du fond du court, sur une surface pourtant rapide ! Une information qui ne tombera pas dans l'oreille d'une sourde !
C'est bien sûr plus facile à dire après qu'avant. Et même quand on croit le remarquer, cela reste plus facile à dire qu'à faire. Mais ces deux grandes championnes en sont capables, si elles en sont d'accord !
Superbe match !
Graf.
At least show a little bit of respect.
Габи красавица
Gaby Saby was the best❤🎉
And Martina was sat watching thinking omg these younger players are now bigger better stronger than me
Es increíble como alguien sacando dos veces para ganar wimbledon no lo pueda ganar 😮
Don't forget that the GOAT was the opponent.
Navratilova, Sanchez and Hingis also served for slam titles against Steffi - and lost.
Twice gabby served for it. Both games the first point was a weak serve to Grafs forehand . So graf started each break a point up. A game of inches gabby played graf perfectly, r using her as graf like to hit her forehand late thus the unforced errors.
GS blew this,she had a great chance to win SMH
I feel so bad for Gabby 😢
I feel so good for Steffi 😀
I was a huge fan of Steffi. Yet I must admit Gaby should have won this match. She served twice for the match but was betreated by her nerves.
At this time of their careers, she had more variety in her game than Steffi, especially on the backhand wing.
From the second set, she really dominated the metch, put much pressure on Steffi's backhand.
It's a shame such a beautiful all-court player only won one single GS title.
But her style is gorgeous !
@@stef1074 No, I think Steffi deserved to win this match.
She hit 44 winners against Gaby's 23.
And in the last 3 games (all won by Steffi) Steffi was 8-1 in winners and 1-1 in unforced errors.
So Steffi took the match, Gaby didn't give it to her.
Maybe you are confusing that match within a different one.
@@carrerau7138 No I'm not. If you had watched the whole match, Gaby really took a grip on Steffi in the second set. She had won 5 times in a row before this match, and you could see she was dominating her at the net and mentally.
If u prefer, they both deserved to win. Steffi never gave up and she had more GS finals experience.
I'm a huge Graf fan and I'm happy for her she could win this match.
@@stef1074 Gaby approach the net 65 times and won the point 39 times (60 %).
Steffi approached the net 38 times and won the point 29 times (76 %).
I would not call this "Gaby dominating at the net".
But to each their own.
Gabriela Sabatini has a ground volly style of grass court tennis have playe long beautiful volly spells with beautifully good player Steffi. So both were not depended on Ace Server. The are better players to all.
Steffi and incredible player later let down by lack of confidence
Steffi was lethal
when tennis was much more interesting.....its become a horrible bore
It's a pity Sabatini had no powerfull serve. if It's been the case she would have won many GS
This is the era of slice-backhand tennis which is effective. However, the service is not that great! Nowadays, only a few use slice-backhand. Most of the active players now just hit the ball harder and faster, engaging in long rallies! There is advantage and disadvantage to this.
What don‘t you like about their service?
ナブラチロワと対戦すると機械のように正確なプレーをするグラフがサバチーニにはリズムが合わないらしく結構ミスを連発する。が、最後、グラフが勝利をもぎ取ったね。サバチーニ惜しかった～。。
maybe steffi's was just limited by pain?
Martina
Steffi
Serena
Who was the best?
Monica Seles, had her career destroyed by a staunch Steffi Graf Fan. Slaughtered like a pig, in Germany.
@@dakotamiller6274Seles was the best pig? 🤔
Steffi is the GOAT then it's Martina then Serena.
@@rajusaha855 Steffi, Court, Navratilova are the top three.
Sabatini’s serv was so terrible. Didn’t hurt a kid…
You don't beat Steffi a record 11 times with a terrible serve, son....
Because of Monica Seles, Graf was became so weak that other players beat her often. If This situation was continued more several years Graf was forgotten from history. The stepping saved her, she must thank to it
Yes, the Seles voodoo caused Steffi to lose 6 of 8 matches against Sabatini in 1991/92.
But didn't prevent Steffi from winning 3 of 4 matches against the Serbian Screamer.
You idyot.
@@carrerau7138well said. (Seles is an ethnic Hungarian from Serbia)
@@ranjittyagi9354The alliteration "Serbian Screamer" sounds better.
Sabatini the most beautiful women in the teniss history. I hate Steffi.
I always found Steffi sexier.
And I also like Sabatini.
leider wertloses zusammengeschnippeltes zeugs, sehr schade
Was ist daran so schwer zu verstehen, du Idiot?
"Das komplette Match vom 6.7.1991 in 34 Minuten reiner Spielzeit".
One of the worst matches that Graf has ever played!!! Her unforced errors must have been in the 50s!!!
Steffi hit only 32 unforced errors, not bad at all in a 200-points match.
Especially when we compare that to her 66 UEs in the famous 260-points FO 1992 final.
And even that error rate was enough to win against a Sabatini. That says something, doesn't it?
@@marckunz5197 it does. it is a question of when the errors happen. the point is just that this is not the Steffi that is her usual efficient self on grass....
@@anthonydecastro6938 At times in this match Steffi seemed nervous and too hectic. She had lost five times in a row to Sabatini before. I suspect that 1991 was overall one of the weaker years in Steffi's career.
@@marckunz5197Her 1991 was by far the worst year in the 1987-96 decade.
that Graff pathetic slice.............was she ever hitting a normal BH?
Still bitter, boy?
@@carrerau7138ou est le rapport petit mec ?
@@sinclair13100 Such doch selbst, Kleiner.
@@carrerau7138 ta stefi nous fais rire à tourner son revers....
@@sinclair13100 Ihre Gegnerinnen haben nicht gelacht, Bubi ….
Sabatini was the ultimate tomboy.
She had nothing of a tomboy about her! 😂
You do not know what the word means. All you want is to express your homophobia.
@@cush6827 That from a crypto-fascist like you is hilarious! 😆
@@carrerau7138 you clearly are a real-world fascist.
@@cush6827 I always found Sabatini very sexy.
Would have liked Steffi to marry her instead of Agassi.
Any other surface other than grass and Sabatini would have won this match.
No.
Maybe in a regular tournament, but Graf is 11-1 Vs Sabatini in slams meetings.
Definitely not.
@@rajusaha855 I knew I smelled something rotten as soon as I clicked on the vid. Illya Kuryakin/MaxE/GoTeam/Steven Meitai/Carrera U/Raju Saha and a host of other banned profiles are all the same sick individual liking and responding to his own posts...just as "IT" did in this thread.
I think Gaby played a very good match here. It was Steffi’s best surface and certainly gave Steffi the edge but who knows what would have happened on another surface on this day.
Graf incapable de faire un revers frappé.....
Ask Navratilova how Steffi beat her 4 times on fast surfaces in 1988/89, you clown. 😂
The same as watching a match between two men ranked around 800th
Are you gay?
If you keep on making that comment eventually we might even be able to imagine that there's a point to it . . .
Seems like a YOU problem.
@@broncoguy4862 What's your difficulty recognizing that men play better than women?
I don't think that any woman would be able to beat the #800-ranked male player.
Steffi in her heyday once said that she might be on the same level as a #3,000 player.
Never liked Steffi’s movements, she looks so clumsy
Never liked Einstein, he always came across as dumb.
...said nobody who actually knows tennis.
😂😂
a booring slice festival, what a deep level
Back then female tennis players respected each other and shook hands after the game. And today? One has Ukrainian whiners, who live in luxury outside their homeland, without any sportsmanship or manners and with panic attacks. It's about time to ban these riff-raffs.
Hello, Putin, how are things going?
Hey@@carrerau7138 how's the 🤡s president of Clownkraine doing?
@@Frank.Dittrich Winning!
@@carrerau7138 No, he's whining, that's all.
@@Frank.Dittrich Are you former Stasi?
I am asking for a friend.
So does anyone know Gab since birth ,she is looking more like a he ,trans?
Not every beautiful girl looks like a blond bimbo.