Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova are also the GOATs alongside Steffi Graf: Chris Evert
Tennis legend Chris Evert has given her verdict on the GOAT debate, claiming that Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, and Martina Navratilova are all among the greatest players of all time.
It all started when Evert was asked by a tennis fan if winning the Calendar Slam - winning all four Grand Slam titles in the same calendar year - was as hyped in 1988 when Steffi Graf did it as it is today.
Furthermore, they believe that winning a Calendar Slam is more important nowadays, given all the hype generated by Novak Djokovic, who came very close to achieving that feat in the 2021 US Open but fell short.
@ChrissieEvert hi Chrissie, do you remember how the tennis world and i guess the world at large reacted to grafs 1988 campaign? I feel like if someone completed a calendar slam today everyone would react very strongly and i was wondering if that was also the case at the time," the fan asked.
@ChrissieEvert hi Chrissie, do you remember how the tennis world and i guess the world at large reacted to grafs 1988 campaign? I feel like if someone completed a calendar slam today everyone would react very strongly and i was wondering if that was also the case at the time
In response to the fan's question, Chris Evert stated that winning the Calendar Slam is more important and newsworthy in today's game and that Steffi Graf is the GOAT in her opinion.
"I feel the Majors, especially winning all 4 Majors in one Calendar year, are more important/ newsworthy in today’s game. It’s too bad, so many other stats important. To me, Graf is a #goat," Evert said.
I feel the Majors, especially winning all 4 Majors in one Calendar year, are more important/ newsworthy in today’s game. It’s too bad, so many other stats important. To me, Graf is a #goat. twitter.com/sogsupreme/sta…
After seeing all the comments on her post, the 18-time Grand Slam champion took to Twitter again to say that while Steffi Graf is a GOAT, so are Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams.
"After reading these comments, I want to say as much as Steffi was a goat, so were Martina and Serena. This text was more about the importance of GS’s , all in one year, which Steffi won! All are goats!!!" Evert wrote.
After reading these comments, I want to say as much as Steffi was a goat , so were Martina and Serena. This text was more about the importance of GS’s , all in one year, which Steffi won! All are goats!!! twitter.com/chrissieevert/…
Steffi Graf is the only player in tennis history to win the Golden Slam
Steffi Graf is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She won 22 Grand Slam titles in a 16-year professional career, second only to Serena Williams (23) since the Open Era began in 1968, and third only to Margaret Court (24) overall.
Graf has many accomplishments and holds many records, but one achievement in her career stands out: winning the Golden Slam. The German is the only player in tennis history to achieve that feat, male or female.
The Golden Slam is when a player wins all four Grand Slam titles - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open - in addition to the Olympic gold medal in the same year. Given the Olympics' four-year cycle, it is an extremely difficult feat to pull off.
However, Graff made it look easy in 1988 when she accomplished the Golden Slam at the age of 19, setting a record that may never be broken.
On This Day In Tennis: Stefanie Graf wins the "Golden Slam" by d. Sabatini in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. ms.spr.ly/6017rx3fF #USOpen https://t.co/1V6SU3AemI