Editing Steffi Graf (section)

===Second period of dominance===
====1993====
Graf began 1993 with four losses in her first six tournaments of the year: two to Sánchez Vicario and one each to Seles and the 36-year-old Martina Navratilova. Seles defeated Graf at the Australian Open 4–6, 6–3, 6–2. She struggled at the [[Qatar Telecom German Open|German Open]] in Berlin where she lost a 6–0 set to the unheralded [[Sabine Hack]] before defeating [[Mary Joe Fernández]] and Sabatini in three-set matches to claim her seventh title there in eight years.

During a quarterfinal match between Seles and [[Magdalena Maleeva]] in Hamburg, Seles was stabbed between the shoulder blades by a mentally ill German fan of Graf, Günter Parche. He claimed that he committed the attack to help Graf reclaim the world No. 1 ranking. More than two years elapsed before Seles competed again. Shortly after the stabbing, during a players meeting at the [[1993 Italian Open (tennis)|Italian Open]] in Rome, 17 of the world's top 25 WTA members voted against preserving Seles' world No. 1 ranking while she was sidelined. Since Graf skipped the Italian Open, she did not take part in the vote.<ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Robin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/30/sports/tennis-seles-struggles-with-injury-and-wta-decision.html |title=TENNIS – Seles Struggles With Injury and W.T.A. Decision |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 May 1993 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116004531/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/30/sports/tennis-seles-struggles-with-injury-and-wta-decision.html |archive-date=16 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Robin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/27/sports/tennis-for-seles-the-wound-still-hurts.html?pagewanted=all |title=TENNIS – For Seles, the Wound Still Hurts |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=27 August 1993 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081043/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/27/sports/tennis-for-seles-the-wound-still-hurts.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=16 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

During Seles's absence, Graf won 65 of 67 matches,<ref>{{cite news|title=Troubled WTA Tour limps through '94 season|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/html/cd/1994/199403/19940305/19940305007_2.html|work=[[China Daily]]|date=5 March 1994|access-date=1 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202012137/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/html/cd/1994/199403/19940305/19940305007_2.html|archive-date=2 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> three of four Grand Slam events and the year-end Virginia Slims championships. She won her first French Open title since 1988 with a three-set victory over Mary Joe Fernández in the final. Fernandez had two break points to take a 3–0 and double break lead in the third set. The win elevated Graf to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in 22 months. At Wimbledon, Graf defeated Jana Novotná to win her third consecutive, and fifth overall, ladies' title. In the third and deciding set, Novotná had a point to go up 5–1 on her serve. After breaking Novotná's serve, Graf won the next four games to take the match 7–6, 1–6, 6–4. Graf had a bone splinter in her right foot during this tournament (and for the next few months), finally resulting in surgery on 4 October.<ref>{{cite news |author=John Roberts |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis-graf-footloose-and-pain-free-germanys-world-no-1-in-intimidating-form-at-the-australian-open-1408464.html |title=Tennis: Graf footloose and pain-free: Germany's world No 1 in intimidating form at the Australian Open |work=[[The Independent]] |date=22 January 1994 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081051/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis-graf-footloose-and-pain-free-germanys-world-no-1-in-intimidating-form-at-the-australian-open-1408464.html |archive-date=16 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In the meantime, she lost surprisingly to [[Nicole Bradtke]] of Australia in a [[Fed Cup]] match on clay before winning the [[Acura Classic]] in San Diego and the [[Rogers Cup|Canadian Open]] in Toronto in preparation for the US Open. She won there, comfortably beating Helena Suková in the final after needing three sets to eliminate Gabriela Sabatini and [[Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere]] in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively. In the fall, Graf won the [[1993 Volkswagen Card Cup|Volkswagen Card Cup]] in Leipzig a day before her foot operation, losing only two games to Jana Novotná in the final. Graf lost to Conchita Martínez in her comeback tournament a month later in [[Advanta Championships Philadelphia|Philadelphia]]. However, she finished her year with a highlight, winning her first Virginia Slims Championships since 1989 by beating Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final despite needing painkillers for a back injury.

====1994====
Seemingly free of injury for the first time in years, Graf began the year by winning the [[1994 Australian Open|Australian Open]], where she defeated Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final with the loss of only two games. Graf later stated it was the best tennis she had ever played in a Grand Slam final.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlI8Q0rdRUU&t=74s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/nlI8Q0rdRUU| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Steffi Graf Interview – 1994 Australian Open|date=16 June 2016|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> She then won her next four tournaments in [[1994 Toray Pan Pacific Open|Tokyo]], [[1994 Newsweek Champions Cup and the Evert Cup|Indian Wells]], [[1994 Virginia Slims of Florida|Delray Beach]] and [[1994 Lipton Championships|Miami]] respectively. In the Miami final, she lost her first set of the year—to Natasha Zvereva—after winning 54 consecutive sets.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Charles Bricker|title=Wilander Having His Day In Court|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-03-22/sports/9503220016_1_atp-tour-second-seeded-steffi-graf-defeat-unseeded|publisher=[[SunSentinel]]|date=22 March 1995|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806214529/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-03-22/sports/9503220016_1_atp-tour-second-seeded-steffi-graf-defeat-unseeded|archive-date=6 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the Hamburg final, she lost for the first time in 1994 after 36 consecutive match victories, losing to Sánchez Vicario in three sets. She then won her eighth [[Qatar Telecom German Open|German Open]], but there were signs that her form was worsening as she almost lost to [[Julie Halard]] in a quarterfinal. As the defending champion Graf lost in straight sets to [[Mary Pierce]] in the [[1994 French Open|French Open]] semifinal.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Robin Finn|title=Pierce Applies The Pressure To Upset Graf|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/03/sports/tennis-pierce-applies-the-pressure-to-upset-graf.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 June 1994|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224190852/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/03/sports/tennis-pierce-applies-the-pressure-to-upset-graf.html|archive-date=24 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Ed McGrogan|title=This Date in French Open History: June 2|url=http://www.tennis.com/players/2012/06/this-date-in-french-open-history-june-2/36361/|publisher=Tennis.com|date=2 June 2012|access-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808101655/http://www.tennis.com/players/2012/06/this-date-in-french-open-history-june-2/36361/|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by a first-round straight-sets loss at [[1994 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] to [[Lori McNeil]], her only loss at Wimbledon between 1991 and 1997 and her first loss in a first round Grand Slam tournament in ten years.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Robin Finn|title=McNeil Ousts Graf in an Upset for the Ages|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/22/sports/tennis-mcneil-ousts-graf-in-an-upset-for-the-ages.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 June 1994|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816150950/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/22/sports/tennis-mcneil-ousts-graf-in-an-upset-for-the-ages.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Graf still managed to win [[Acura Classic|San Diego]] the following month but aggravated a long-time back injury in beating Sánchez Vicario in the final. Graf developed a bone spur at the base of her spine due to a congenital condition of the [[sacroiliac joint]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Jody|title=Houston Women's Tennis Championships Preview: Houston is first clay test for Graf's back|agency= The Houston Chronicle|date=9 April 1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Christopher|first1=Clarey|title=Graf Set for Her Comeback, Pained Mainly by Questions|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/14/sports/14iht-graf.html|access-date=16 March 2017|agency=The New York Times|date=14 February 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316113923/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/14/sports/14iht-graf.html|archive-date=16 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She began to wear a back brace and was unsure about playing the [[1994 US Open (tennis)|US Open]] but elected to play while receiving treatment and stretching for two hours before each match. She made it to the final and took the first set against Sánchez Vicario but lost the next two sets — Sanchez Vicario's last victory over Graf. In the middle of the second set, Graf suffered back spasms while reaching for a ball in the ad court.<ref>{{cite news |last=Araton |first=Harvey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/11/sports/usopen-94-sanchez-smiles-as-graf-winces.html |title=U.S.OPEN '94 – Sanchez Smiles As Graf Winces |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=11 September 1994 |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816105502/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/11/sports/usopen-94-sanchez-smiles-as-graf-winces.html |archive-date=16 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> She took the following nine weeks off, returning only for the Virginia Slims Championships where she lost in straight sets to Pierce in the quarterfinal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pierce tops Graf; Navratilova loses last|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L7ksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DRUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6797%2C1093300|work=Star-News|agency=AP|date=18 November 1994|page=3C|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-date=30 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030231314/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L7ksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DRUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6797%2C1093300|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Graf ended the year ranked No. 1 on the computer the ITF named Sanchez Vicario its World Champion for the year, while the WTA backed their official rankings and named Graf.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.itftennis.com/about/world-champions/women.aspx |title=ITF Tennis – ABOUT |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530150949/http://www.itftennis.com/about/world-champions/women.aspx |archive-date=30 May 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/stefanie-graf/ |title=International Tennis Hall of Fame |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822012418/https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/stefanie-graf/ |archive-date=22 August 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

====1995====
A strained right calf muscle forced Graf to withdraw from the [[1995 Australian Open|Australian Open]].<ref>{{cite news|author1=John Roberts|title=Calf injury forces Graf out of Australian Open|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/calf-injury-forces-graf-out-of-australian-open-1566944.html|work=[[The Independent]]|date=7 January 1995|access-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816153546/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/calf-injury-forces-graf-out-of-australian-open-1566944.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She came back in February, winning four consecutive tournaments in [[1995 Open Gaz de France – Singles|Paris]], [[1994 Virginia Slims of Florida – Singles|Delray Beach]], [[1995 Lipton Championships – Women's singles|Miami]] and [[1994 Virginia Slims of Houston – Singles|Houston]]. She then beat Sánchez Vicario in the finals of both the [[1995 French Open|French Open]] and [[1995 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]]. The 1995 Wimbledon final is regarded as one of the most dramatic women's major finals in history as Graf and Sánchez Vicario battled in a tight third set that included a 16-minute long, 13-deuce game on Sanchez Vicario's serve at 5–5.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Robin Finn|title=In a Classic, Graf Captures Wimbledon On Sheer Will|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/09/sports/tennis-in-a-classic-graf-captures-wimbledon-on-sheer-will.html|work=The New York Times|date=9 July 1995|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816194519/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/09/sports/tennis-in-a-classic-graf-captures-wimbledon-on-sheer-will.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In August Monica Seles made her much anticipated return to tennis at the Canadian Open. It was decided to grant her a joint number-one ranking with Graf who took her first loss of the year in the first round to Amanda Coetzer. The [[1995 US Open (tennis)|US Open]] was Monica Seles's first Grand Slam event since the 1993 attack, with much anticipation again around a potential Seles-Graf final. After surviving a scare in a three-setter against Amanda Coetzer in the first round, Graf reached the final with relative ease, while Seles went through her side of the draw in even more convincing fashion. Seles and Graf met in the final, with Graf winning in three sets, saving a set point in the first set. Graf then capped the year by beating countrywoman [[Anke Huber]] in a five-set final at the season-ending [[1995 WTA Tour Championships|WTA Championships]] in 2 hours and 46 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Robin Finn|title=Graf's Year Is Difficult One Till the End, but Successful|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/20/sports/tennis-graf-s-year-is-difficult-one-till-the-end-but-successful.html|work=The New York Times|date=20 November 1995|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816151915/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/20/sports/tennis-graf-s-year-is-difficult-one-till-the-end-but-successful.html|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=wta40>{{cite web|title=40 Love History: Five Set Finals|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3501154/title/40-love-history-five-set-finals|publisher=[[Women's Tennis Association]] (WTA)|date=18 October 2013|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809121158/http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3501154/title/40-love-history-five-set-finals|archive-date=9 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====Tax issues=====
In personal terms, 1995 was a difficult year for Graf, as she was accused by German authorities of [[tax evasion]] in the early years of her career.<ref>{{cite news|title=Steffi Graf Investigated for Tax Evasion|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-13-sp-23308-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=13 July 1995|access-date=5 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805191541/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-07-13/sports/sp-23308_1_steffi-graf|archive-date=5 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In her defense, she stated that her father Peter was her financial manager, and all financial matters relating to her earnings at the time had been under his control. Her father was arrested in August and was sentenced to 45 months in jail.<ref name="nyt96">{{cite web|author1=Robin Finn|title=Tennis;Graf finds real world full of ups and downs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/sports/tennis-graf-finds-real-world-full-of-ups-and-downs.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=9 December 2017|date=24 March 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210074054/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/sports/tennis-graf-finds-real-world-full-of-ups-and-downs.html|archive-date=10 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/25/sports/peter-graf-is-sentenced-to-prison-in-tax-case.html |title=Peter Graf Is Sentenced To Prison in Tax Case |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 January 1997 |first=Alan |last=Cowell |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527065715/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/25/sports/peter-graf-is-sentenced-to-prison-in-tax-case.html |archive-date=27 May 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> He was eventually released after serving 25 months. Prosecutors dropped their case against Graf in 1997, when she agreed to pay a fine of 1.3&nbsp;million [[Deutsche Mark]]s to the government and an unspecified charity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-25-sp-21887-story.html|title=Graf's Father Sentenced to Jail|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=25 January 1997|access-date=16 April 2020|archive-date=23 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423104656/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-01-25/sports/sp-21887_1_steffi-graf|url-status=live}}</ref>

====1996====
Graf again missed the [[1996 Australian Open|Australian Open]] after undergoing surgery in December 1995 to remove bone splinters from her left foot.<ref>{{cite news|title=Foot Surgery Sidelines Graf|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/12/16/foot-surgery-sidelines-graf/|work=Chicago Tribune|date=16 December 1995|access-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803123505/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-12-16/sports/9512160035_1_grand-slam-events-miss-monica-seles|archive-date=3 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Graf came back to the tour in March, winning back to back titles in [[1999 Evert Cup – Singles|Indian Wells]] and [[1996 Lipton Championships – Women's singles|Miami]], followed by a record ninth title at the [[1996 German Open (tennis)|German Open]] in May and a quarterfinal defeat in [[1996 Italian Open – Women's singles|Rome]] against Martina Hingis. She then successfully defended the three Grand Slam titles she won the year before. In a close [[1996 French Open|French Open]] final, Graf again overcame Sánchez Vicario, taking the third set 10–8.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Robin Finn|title=Graf Wins Wrenching French Epic|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/09/sports/tennis-graf-wins-wrenching-french-epic.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times|date=9 June 1996|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816152621/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/09/sports/tennis-graf-wins-wrenching-french-epic.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Graf had led 4–1 in the second set tiebreak, only to lose six points in a row and force a decider. Twice in the third set Sánchez Vicario served for the championship but was broken each time by Graf. It was the longest French Open women's singles final in history, both in terms of time (3 hours and 3 minutes) and number of games played (40).<ref name=collins>{{cite book|last=Collins|first=Bud|author-link=Bud Collins|title=The Bud Collins History of Tennis|year=2010|publisher=New Chapter Press|location=[New York]|isbn=978-0942257700|page=408|edition=2nd}}</ref> Graf then had a straight-sets win against Sánchez Vicario in the [[1996 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] final. That was the last competitive match Graf and Sánchez Vicario would ever play against one another. In July, a left knee injury forced Graf to withdraw from the [[tennis at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E1DE1F39F934A25754C0A960958260 |title=OLYMPICS;Injuries Force Sampras and Graf to Skip Games |work=The New York Times |date=17 July 1996 |access-date=17 May 2011 |first=Robin |last=Finn |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030231315/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/17/sports/olympics-injuries-force-sampras-and-graf-to-skip-games.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Graf played only one warm-up event ahead of the US Open, the [[1996 Acura Classic – Singles|Acura Classic]] in [[Manhattan Beach, California]], where she lost to Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals. She then successfully defended her title at the [[1996 US Open (tennis)|US Open]], defeating Monica Seles in the final. Her toughest battle came against rising star Martina Hingis in the semifinal, with Hingis unable to convert on five set points. Graf did not lose a set the whole tournament. She also won her fifth and final [[WTA Tour Championships]] title with a five set win over Martina Hingis, with Hingis cramping up in the fifth set.<ref name=wta40/>
In 1988, Graf became only the second tennis player in history to win a Slam on hardcourt, clay, and grass all in the same season. She repeated the feat in 1993, 1995, and 1996.