Greatest female player of all time.

​@@walkerpercy8702I 😢 😅😅

Seles attack is shadow on her legacy .

@@aleksandarfrick2656 Apparently it is not. Otherwise Steffi wouldn’t win all those GOAT polls all over the world and would not still be the most popular female tennis player of all time (by a wide margin). Most fans know that Seles profited far more from Steffi’s off-court problems and injuries than Steffi ever might have profited from this small stab wound Seles received in 1993.

Totally agree a lot of Serena's titles she beat her older and less powerful and speedy sister Venus This was my 21 at Birthday present this match to me only bettered by Becker v Level 1988 semi Final

The real GOAT

The Player is a dude.

Tennis from 30 years ago is massively more entertaining. Variety has gone these days. Screams like a lady giving birth or getting murdered are in. Very one-dimensional. Almost every match is a clone of the other. Occasional exception. I enjoy watching Kerber play. Her spirit is positive and ferocious. She is quite unpredictable.

@@stacked7476 that's curious since the best match of all time (wimbledon 2008) was played in this era

@@juankruh6816 I was talking about women’s tennis.

Simp

Exactly, no loud grunting , just excellent shot making.

absolutely well said.

Yes! Agree 150%. Plus without brain!

That power game started sort of with Stefi Graf. Then came Monica Seles, and she was really the first power player, and the first with the loud yell.

Not agrree.. on that day.. the technology on racket, string.. is not as good as advance as today... and the bio mechanic reaearch is now more advance.. so player can hit more efficient and faster.. don’t forget that the method of training also better which pro player can play with age more than 30 years

Monica Seles was already the most dominant player by this stage and was screaming , after her comeback her screaming got even louder. Having said that , it said a lot for the state of the womens game , an overweight woman steamrolling oppenents after not playing for 2 years . Apart from Graf of course.

Hoy es un tenis de pura potencia, antes se veian más globos, muchos drops, y de verdad el revés de Gaby, y su gran Willie, hoy en la actualidad, no se ve, Graf tenía potencia y determinación; en la actualidad, no hay jugadora que ejecute la gran Willie con la pureza técnica que lo hacía Gaby Sabatini.

💯

Well said, unbelievable shot. breathtaking

Davenport vs Venus Williams 2005, Petra vs Venus Williams 2014.

Agreed. It was literally written on the face of every spectator too. Fierce battle that was so very close. They both were such calm players too and went about their business with zero drama or fuss. This only seemed to add to the tension. So much was at stake

Quite true, and she also got the weakest backhand in history. If not for her footwork and speed to run around her weak backhand she would be out of tennis in 3 months.

@@oliverjuria993 I humbly disagree on that point. She has what is of reminiscent of Sampras's: it's deceptive and lulls the opponent, and it is also manipulates her rival into feeding her fearsome forehand. But, watch when Sampras or Graf is attacked at the net: Boom! a perfectly-executed topspin backhand.

@@oliverjuria993 The purpose of the background was to keep the ball low so it popped the ball up for her to run around and use the foreheand. It was a strategic move, not a weakness.

Weak? It was hell to hit that slice back. Ask any off Graf's contemporaries. That slice was so low, long and accurate.

I'm very agree with that! Sir. That's why Steffi Graf 🇩🇪 has the Best Fraulein forehand at that time.

Had Gaby been born 20 years later she would have won multiple slams.

That was an instinctive shot; the ball was way past the ideal hitting position.

glad u mentioned arantxa ... no body appreciates her :(

Well said! I do wonder if fatigue became a factor in the end. They kept showing the on court thermometer and it said 99 degrees in the sun. Gaby was known to fade in long matches and had anemia. I think she looked a bit tired in the last 5-6 games of the match. Her serve had been well placed, but she lost depth and placement in her last 3 service games. She held at 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 without much fuss and only lost serve once in the first set. Steffi went for more, but Gaby needed to place that first serve well in the backhand corner.

@@moviefan4life166Sabatini has more 3-set wins against Steffi Graf than any other player (7). Sanchez has 5, Navratilova 4, Seles 2.

Carrerau7138. Yes and she has 11 total wins over Steffi which is more than any other player as well. Still, she has plenty of 3 set losses to Graf, including bunches and bunches in 3 sets to Steffi, especially in majors. Beating Steffi in a major was no small accomplishment. It’s hard to know what happened when Gaby twice served for the match. I think it was a combo of nerves and fatigue. The temps at Wimbledon are usually very comfortable in the 70’s. To suddenly have to play a match at around 100 that requires defending Graf’s power, and using aggressive net rushing over 2 plus hours. I’d say the physical and mental toll were mounting for Gaby. She lost the direction and depth on her serve for the first time in the match in those final games. After the us open win in 90 Gaby said she needed to win in straights because she was exhausted. 14 times Graf beat her in 3 sets. In many, Gaby became drained in the end. She had to work so hard, running all over to use her heavy topspin and set up all court points. I think a more fresh Gaby serving with solid depth to Steffi’s backhand wins this match 6-4 in the 3rd. But Steffi is arguably the goat and has won lots of matches she probably shouldn’t have due to sheer will and nerves of steel plus her fitness.

@@moviefan4life166 Steffi won the first 8 three-set matches against 16/17-year-old baby Sabatini in 1985-87. But from 1988 to 1995 Sabatini won 8 of 14 three-setters.

Maybe in that match I cheered on Gaby because she had never won to Wimbledon and I think she would have deserved it at last once.But Steffi was incredible. That was her worst period and she won the same.

In this match was less unlucky snd generally also in the rest of her carrer. She would have merit to win more. Maybe she missed of instint killer, but she had Great class and talent.

1982 -1999 steffi graf! federer 1999 - now. who is who???? first come, first serve.

Many Seles fans hate her guts. But I've always liked Graf and I agree with the comparison.

@@JD-jc8gp Foot work is similar however Federer backhand is much better than Graf.

Is fed attractive? Lol

Yes there are many similarities to their game too. Both have very effective serves (may not be the biggest, but extremely effective) and both like to run around their backhands to hit a forehand.

seles

@@sayresrudy2644 In Seles‘s two best years 1991 & 1992 Steffi was 3-1 win/loss against Seles and 2-6 against Sabatini even though Seles was of course the better player. Steffi had more problems with the style of tennis Gaby played. Seles‘s game, however, suited her quite well. She gave Steffi the pace she loved.

@Big Time Nowadays it's not weak at all but still boring (mostly)

why ‘wonderful’?

Seriously? Women's tennis pre-Seles was so weak. Seeing Graf bowl everyone over with basically no outstanding attributes to her game shows how weak women's tennis was for so long.

@@volcrazy89 before seles it was ladies tennis and from seles it is PED tennis...and mu h boxing less tennis.😥

@@sujanyadebnath4622 yelling, howling, screaming, grunting, sighing, squabbling, glaring at umpires-tennis nowadays

Arguably the very best woman’s one handed backhand of all time….angles, topspin, flat, down the line rippers, the passing shots and lobs, the biting slice and the volleys at net. The flair factor really puts it over the top.

@@moviefan4life166 quite beautiful on par with Goolagongs IMO

@@moviefan4life166is our Hera with BJK and Goolagongs also now Barty oh and novotna

@@moviefan4life166 Justine Henin backhand is the best ever.

Harry. It’s very subjective and Justine had a beautiful backhand, but there was even a group of pro’s polled on this very topic and Gaby was the one that consistently mentioned as having the best one handed backhand. Mary Pierce in recently times also said if she was constructing the perfect player, she would have Gaby’s backhand because it was the prettiest backhand she’s ever seen. That says it all. Justine packed a big punch for a relatively short woman though and was always amazing to watch. She was so skilled!

@Ilya Kuryakin Seen one at Wimbledon museum. Since then, in love.

Sabatini won the USO 90. And the YEC 94. Bad luck that she had to play in the era of Evert, Navratilova, Graf, Seles. FOUR of the ten greatest players of all time!

@@carrerau7138 yes I remember her winning the US Open and I was hoping it would be the catalyst to more major trophies but sadly she wasn't up to it.

Both women had all the shots however Steffi had a far better serve. She was also mentally tougher.

1000% agree

Gaby beat Steffi more times than any other player ever, and no other player beat her 5 times in a row and on multiple surfaces like Gaby did. Tons of Steffi’s wind were also 3 setters. If someone beat Serena 11 times, including a us open final and year end championships, they sound obviously call them a rival.

@@moviefan4life166 Don't tell that to the nuttier Seles fans...it'll ruin their day. BTW the Graf-Sabatini head to head is 28-11 Graf...so, what about that rivalry again?

Agreed. In 39 meetings, Sabatini was only able to pull off the win 11 times against Graf. That's more like the Serena-Sharapova "rivalry", as in there isn't one.

Sharapova won twice against Serena. The last loss being a slaughter. Gaby was a full on legitimate rival. I don’t understand why the few comments here can’t see that. Facts: Gaby defeated Steffi 11 times, on all surfaces but grass and was 2 points from grass in this match. She won 7 out of 8 over a few years but yes let’s pretend she wasn’t a rival. Most of Steffi’s wins in 3 sets on 15 occasions. Steffi also in her own words described Gaby as one of her most difficult opponents due to her variety and athleticism. Steffi vs Gaby produced some of the most incredible matches of the 80’s and 90’s. Steffi said Martina was her greatest overall rival but Gaby was second, followed by Seles and Sanchez Vicario. All of these women were legitimate competitors and rivals to Steffii. Steffi was superior to them all.

@@broncoguy486229-11. But Sabatini was able to beat Steffi several times in Steffi‘s peak years. Seles never was.

All set up by a great return of serve and Steffi's great speed and balance around the court. No one has been able to emulate her in that department.

Yes. It was in effect the determinant of the match. Gaby had the momentum and hit a gorgeous forehand volley with great pace. I think Gaby felt the point was over as when Graf retrieved it, it was one of the only volleys of the match that Gaby just didn’t attack. If Gaby won that point, I think the adrenaline and Graf nerves would have won her the match point to follow. Graf’s athleticism saved this match. I honestly don’t recall any other player attacking Steffi at the net so aggressively as Gaby did at her very best. Gaby would have been number 1 in the world had she won those two points. The two women had fierce battles and Gaby did beat her more than any other player. Many of Graf’s wins were also 3 setters. Fitting that Gaby chose Steffi who was her best friend on tour to induct her into the hall of fame.

What exactly is the point of spoiling the end of the match for everybody. Quite rude and inconsiderate for the sole purpose of gloating and what else ?

sixpoint3 No my comments were not meant to gloat but to acknowledge Steffi’s greatness. Not sure why anyone would look at the comments before finishing the video. It’s meant to react to any part of the match, beginning or ending, so I find it very odd someone would read comments before completely watching the match but I guess some people think and act that way.

@@sixpoint3 spoiling?? What?? Quite moronic to read comments before watching full video

This was the closest she came to winning a second

She definitely had a mental block in slams vs Graf. She’s 10-19 vs Graf in regular tournaments but 1-11 in slams (1-2 in slam finals).

With that serve? And forehand? No

@@lb4585 nothing wrong with the forehand although it lost its potency in the later half of her career. Ironically her serve was better when she first arrived on tour. Evidence that messing around with something doesn't make it better. Sabatini should definately had won this match

That serve is painful to watch... blows my mind how defensively Graf returned it

Graf la meurtrière et pédophile!

Sabatini serve too weak she was a good height five foot nine or ten. But Gaby serve held her back it was hard for her to win free points.

That is uncanny….to her credit Graf held her nerve as she always did. I’ve never seen Graf choke ever, she usually won the close battles outside of the French in 92. She edged Novotna in 93 and Arantxa in 95. In slam finals, Graf was a machine. There were 3 serves at 6-5 Taft Gaby left too short/centered in the box. She did a great job throughout the match of placing her serves deep and close to the corners, but I think nerves impacted it when serving for the match and Steffi was committed to go for it. Steffi is legendary.

Beautiful everything! The most stunning the sport has ever had and equally kind, gentle and humble.

the same thing was said about Chris Evert and she didn't do badly.every player has their relative strengths and weaknesses.

@@tomloft2000 In Chris's favor though was her prime was in the wood racket era almost no woman had a 100 mph serve. But in Gaby's time both Steffi and Martina had great serves

Gabby also had stamina issues. She frequently pushed Steffi and Seles deep into 3rd sets but rarely won those matches. To win, she needed to do so quickly. There was speculation that she had a blood issue common to people of Southern European decent (she’s ethnically Italian) that limits energy reserves. Sampras was thought to have it as well.

What's particularly weird was in her younger days circa 85 i think, Gaby had a much stronger first serve. In fact, commentators used to claim it was a weapon

she came in time and time again at the us open 1990 ;)

just think if she had come along in the wood era.her serve would have rivaled Tracy Austin's as one of the worst ever in pro tennis.

Very true. Juan Nunez did get Gaby serving over 100mph at the end of her career. If she had that early on, she’d have won easily 4-5 plus slams.

Or EVEN Steffi…? 😆

@@carrerau7138 yes, even Steffi. What’s your point?

It is 29-11.

I was a fanboy of Sabatini since 85. Her serve was her biggest weakness. I never understood why she didn't do anything about it, since her entire game was so diverse and exceptional. I forgot Gaby lost match point on a FIRST serve...... I knew it was a floater, but seriously, that's Gaby's first serve? ouch

It’s not just the power. Steffi was quick and never tired.

Two of her greatest points ever!

I agree. With that first one, the running forehand far wide to the outside I doubt anyone else could ve reached that cross volley and return it so accurately plus getting to the next volley as well, sealing that point. This would ve been match point Sabbatini otherwise. Graf won at least one slam for 10 consecutive years, 1987 to 96​, but in 1991 she was closest to missing out, seeing she only managed to reach 1 sole slam final that year (only such year in the whole 87 to 96 time span). These two points were helping make sure Graf's streak wasnt broken, no, not even by prime sabatini in Grafs most difficult year. @@carrerau7138

Yes

In every other time Sabatini would have been a multiple slam winner. But she played in 1985-96. The era of Evert, Navratilova, Graf, Seles, Sanchez - the Golden Age of Women’s Tennis.

Agreed but dampeners were being used my Seles and Agassi before this match

Great commentator he was

Didn't he say that Pancho Gonzales was the best player he ever saw?

@@martydav9475 Pancho Gonzales started the professional touring business. Only a few males at the beginning, and mostly Australians. The professionals played on their limited tour, outside of the established amateur agenda. No grand slams for them then. Until the Open era in 1968, when the amateur establishment accepted the professionals in their famous tournaments.