Steffi Graf is a German tennis player. Multiple world champion, winner of the women's tennis association tournament became the Gold medalist of the Olympic Games in Seoul in singles, bronze - in the doubles. The six-time French Open tennis winner has won multiple wins at Wimbledon.
For a whole decade, Stefanie Maria Graf held the title of best racket in the world. She is the only one who managed to win the “Golden Grand Slam” on 4 types of coverage and become a seven-time gold winner at the world championship.
Star start
The biography of the future celebrity began in 1969. The child was born on July 14 in Mannheim. Father Peter Graf was involved in the sale of cars and was an insurer, mother Heidi Schalk was in charge of the house. The family soon had another child, the brother of the future celebrity Michael. My father played great football, was fond of boxing. He was also a qualified tennis coach.
The baby went to court at the age of 3. Abilities immediately manifested themselves. The father who trained her quickly realized that his daughter had great prospects. Stefania attended a sports school. At the age of 9, the coach of the national team of the country, after consulting, predicted a bright future for the young tennis player. He prophesied her glory as one of the three strongest athletes in Europe, but the parent sought to make her daughter the best.
The girl became the world champion among juniors at 12. Thirteen-year-old Steffi entered the list of the youngest professional tennis players in the history of sports. From 14, Graf began individual training. All the efforts of the teenager were directed to tennis.
The debutante took part in competitions for adult players at 18. She defeated all professional and more experienced rivals.
Steffi's play was distinguished by a tough and at the same time aesthetic manner. In 1986, for the first time, Graf managed to beat the best racket in the world. Martina Navratilova did not know defeat, she had no equal in the sports world. But in 1987 it was Graf who became the first for seven matches in a row. In 45 meetings, she won, becoming the youngest victorious Roland Garros. During the same period, the world champion title was won. However, the rapid ascent was interrupted by defeat at Wimbledon.
Completion of a career
Until 1990, it was the Graf who dominated the tennis Olympus. Then she was pushed aside by Gabriela Sabatini and Monica Seles. It was more and more difficult to resist such rivals. Steffi kept the record for the number of gold in tournaments and competitions in the world qualification until 2008. For 377 weeks she remained at the top of the professional rating. This indicator was recognized as the best among both women and men.
The confrontation with Monica Seles began in 1989. The Yugoslavian sportswoman has become a worthy rival. Several times she managed to beat the Graf. The continuation of her career was prevented by psychological trauma in 1993. In 1996, Steffi was among the most promising candidates for the Olympic "gold" preparing to participate in the games in Atlanta. Training had to be interrupted due to injury.
After a series of setbacks, doctors diagnosed joint problems. This did not prevent Stefania from becoming the first in the Roland Garros tournament in 1999 and reaching the final of the Wimbledon Grand Slam. In this fight, the determined German woman lost to the rising star Lindsay Davenport. A month later, Graf announced the end of her sports career. She left professional tennis.
After leaving Steffi, she stopped working with the brands Wilson and Adidas. She did not continue to interact with sponsors. The athlete gave up the prospect of becoming a coach, did not give interviews and did not take part in advertising.
Matters of the heart
For herself, the champion found more interesting types of creativity. In 2004 she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
On the way to sports heights, the girl did not think at all about her personal life. In the press, information has repeatedly appeared about the romance that flared up between tennis player Alexander Mronets and Stefania Graf. However, the girl was so fascinated by the improvement of skills that fans quickly realized that the information was irrelevant.
In 1992 Stefi met racing driver Michael Bartels. Young people started dating. But tight workout schedules got in the way of that relationship. The couple saw each other no more than a couple of times a month, and even then only between competitions and preparation for them.
In 1999, there was a fateful meeting with Andre Agassi. He was distinguished by no less rapid and bright take-off in the world of sports than Steffi. The acquaintance took place at one of the tournaments. From the very beginning, those around them perceived their romance as a publicity stunt. Agassi managed to become famous for her outrageousness, Steffi, on the contrary, was distinguished by modesty.
New priorities
Nobody thought that a relationship could grow into something more. However, after the wedding in 2001, the athletes became husband and wife. The first child was born in the family, the son of Jaden Jill. The press immediately began discussing the prospects of the "star baby" in the sport that the parents had previously chosen for themselves. But Stefi and Andre refused to comment on all the forecasts, citing the fact that the choice of their future is the business of their boy, and not of journalists. In 2003, Jaden had a sister, Jazz Yele.
The union between opposites turned out to be harmonious. In an interview, Agassi speaks of her spouse with invariable tenderness and warmth. Steffi is happily married. After completing her career, she was actively involved in charity work. The champion and tournaments do not stop visiting.
Now the tennis player appears on them as a guest. The Count was fond of art. She is especially attracted by the work of the Impressionists. She often visits such exhibitions. The athlete loves to listen to music, read.
Among the priorities was the support of the spouse. Steffi was one of the organizers of her husband's charity competitions, helping him in running his business and implementing projects.
The champion's fans have started a Twitter community dedicated to her idol. Steffi herself does not maintain pages on social networks.
