"She's not a nightmare yet, I hope she doesn't become one" - When Steffi Graf commented on losing 1990 French Open final to Monica Seles
Steffi Graf and Monica Seles are two of the greatest tennis players of all time. They also had a short yet fierce rivalry during the 1990s.
Seles won her first Grand Slam title by beating Graf 7-6(6), 6-4 in the final, at the 1990 French Open. Graf remarked after that match that she would have won had she eked out the opening set.
"If I had won the first set I would have won the match, but I didn't," Graf said.
The then World No. 1 had four set points in the first-set tiebreak but she squandered them all. Graf claimed that she played each of those points "very bad."
"I played them very bad. At that stage you just have to go for at least one of them. You have to try and play smart. I was just too sure I was going to win it," the German said.
The French Open final was the second time Steffi Graf lost to Monica Seles, having previously being beaten by her in the 1990 German Open final. Despite the two defeats, the German did not consider the then-teenager a nightmare and hoped that she wouldn't become one.
"I've only lost twice to her so she's not a nightmare yet,' Graf said. 'I hope she doesn't become one."
Speaking about her victory, Monica Seles asserted that winning the tournament was incredible given that she wasn't expected to win.
"I really wasn't expected to win but it's great. It's incredible. This is where it started for me last year, getting to the semis, and now coming back and doing so well," Seles said.
Steffi Graf and Monica Seles locked horns in six Grand Slam finals
Steffi Graf and Monica Seles locked horns on 15 occasions, six of which were in Grand Slam finals. The very first meeting between the two came in the semifinals of the 1989 French Open, with Graf winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
The 1990 French Open final was the first meeting between the two in a Major final. They had another encounter in the title clash of the clay-court Major in 1992 and just like in 1990, Seles came out on top, winning 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.
Graf beat Seles 6-2, 6-1 in that year's Wimbledon final, which prevented the latter from completing the career Grand Slam. Seles then beat the German in the 1993 Australian Open final to establish a 3-1 lead over her in title clashes at Majors.
Steffi Graf and Monica Seles locked horns in another two Grand Slam finals after the latter's return from injury. Graf won both title clashes, at the US Open in 1995 and 1996.
The last meeting between Graf and Seles came in the semifinals of the 1999 French Open, with the former winning 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4.