I will try to just recall major moments involving all 4 majors in tennis since Steffi Graf completed the Calendar Slam in 1988. This win represented a Career Grand Slam for Steffi Graf as well. 1. Steffi Graf follows the Calendar Slam with a Gold Medal in Singles (Bronze in Doubles as well) at the…
Tag: Steffi Graf
Memories of the 1988 Women’s US Open – Steffi Graf Slams the Competition
Okay, I need to shave. I have a lot of gray coming in that makes it look like my COVID-19 stubble is in some weird pattern.
US Open 2016: My Favorite Memories of Louis Armstrong – Part 2
These are a Bit Late, but Sometimes Life Gets in the Way of My Tennis Writing In Case You Missed Part – 1 As a reminder, I put in place a no Jimmy Connors rule as I have written quite a bit about Connors and the US Open over the years. 3. 1996 Steffi Graf d….
The Top 10 Female French Open Champions
The Top 10 Female French Open Champions Chris Evert – The draws Evert faced in the 1970s may not have been terribly deep, but Evert won this title 7 times with her first title coming in 1974 and her final title coming in 1986. Evert’s final two triumphs were three set thrillers against her #1…
The Top 10 Female Australian Open Champions
I found this list harder to compile than its male counterpart. I think my final reasoning is sound, but it is certainly not infallible. Top 10 Female Australian Open Champions Serena Williams – Serena claimed her first title in Melbourne in 2003 to clinch her first Serena Slam. Much like Jimmy Connors streak of winning the…
Serena vs. Steffi Revisited
Right after Sam Stosur won the 2011 US Open, I wrote one of my more revisited pieces on how Stosur used a Graf game plan to win that match. Between that match and 31 January 2015, Serena has added 3 US Open titles, 1 Wimbledon, 1 Roland Garros, 2 Gold Medals, and most recently 1…
2013 US Open Women’s Final Analysis
The First Set: Windy Start Serena and Vika both struggled early with the windy conditions, but through the first 10 games of the match Vika seemed more comfortable. The trouble for her was that she was tied at 5-5. With Serena serving at 4-5, Vika forced two deuces, but could not generate a break point/set…
Serena as the GOAT? Depends
Serena Williams has won so many big prizes and played tennis at such an exceptionally high level that GOAT questions arise whenever she is close to adding another major title. I recently, tried to clarify some of the issues surrounding the men’s GOAT debate by offering three lenses for viewing the problem. I think these categories…
French Open Memories: Steffi Graf 1987-1989
My first distinct tennis memories are matches between Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe in the 1982 Wimbledon men’s championship and the 1984 US Open semifinal. Both were five set thrillers, but I did not start following tennis regularly until Boris Becker won Wimbledon in 1985. French Open matches did not make much of an impression…
Olympic Tennis Review: 1988 Graf was Golden
Preview Olympic Tennis has had a lot of ups and downs. During some Olympic years, the tennis events have seemed at best like a 500 point tour level tournament while other years have produced high drama for the sport. With Davis Cup, Federation Cup, Hopman Cup, World Team Cup, and tennis’ four majors being held…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 