Editing Steffi Graf (section)

====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>