"Everything's been done for Steffi Graf ... I didn't have the facilities" - When Martina Navratilova said German was 'molded' into being World No. 1
Martina Navratilova once shared her thoughts about being replaced by Steffi Graf as the World No. 1. Although she expressed her admiration for Graf's skills, Navratilova also contended that the German had benefited from resources and facilities she hadn't been able to access, which contributed to her rival's rise to the top.
Since the introduction of the WTA rankings in 1975, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova dominated the top spot, only briefly yielding it to Evonne Goolagong Cawley for two weeks and Tracy Austin for 21.
Their dominance continued until an 18-year-old Graf ascended to the top spot just before the 1987 US Open. It marked the first instance since 1980 that neither Navratilova nor Evert would be the top seed at the New York Major.
In an interview with the New York Times before the US Open that year, Martina Navratilova opened up about being replaced by Steffi Graf as the World No. 1, hailing the German as a "champion." Despite her unfamiliarity with the then-18-year-old, the Czech-American remarked that Graf seemed like a good person.
''She's a champion. She's a very good player and person, even though at this point I don't know her well. I like her determination. That doesn't happen with too many people," Navratilova said.
Navratilova also asserted that, although the German's talent was undeniable, she had been "molded" into becoming World No. 1 with access to the best coaching, medical care and training facilities.
In contrast, the Czech-American admitted that she hadn't been able to devote multiple hours a day to practicing like Steffi Graf because she didn't have access to the same high-quality facilities.
"Besides her talent and her head, I think she's been molded into being number one. Everything's been done for her. She had top coaching, health care, training and athletic facilities since day one. At 18, she's practicing three and four hours a day, every day. I couldn't do that because I didn't have the facilities," she said.
"I need to play Steffi Graf, and I need to beat her" - Martina Navratilova threw down the gauntlet over World No. 1 ranking ahead of US Open 1987
During the same interview, Martina Navratilova described relinquishing the World No. 1 ranking to Steffi Graf as a "temporary setback," asserting that she simply needed to defeat the German.
Navratilova also threw down the gauntlet over the top spot, emphasizing that if one of them triumphed at the 1987 US Open, they would rightfully deserve the World No. 1 ranking.
'I'm just calling it a temporary setback. I don't think the rankings will stay that way forever. I know how the computer works. I need to play Steffi and I need to beat her," Navratilova said.
"If she wins the Open then she'll be number one; if I win I should be number one - I don't care if I don't play another match for the rest of the year," she added. "I have the game to beat her. It's just a matter of execution."
Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf set up a blockbuster title clash at the New York Major that year. Navratilova's faith in her abilities wasn't misplaced, as she claimed a 7-6(4), 6-1 win over the German to clinch her 17th Grand Slam title.