"Steffi Graf did nothing to deserve it, it's a real shame" - When Martina Navratilova 'felt sorry' for German amid paternity controversy
Martina Navratilova once sympathized with Steffi Graf as the German dealt with the fallout from her father Peter's paternity scandal. The controversy erupted in 1990, when German tabloid Bild published the shocking report that Graf's father Peter had an affair with model Nicole Meissner, who alleged he was the father of her child.
Graf, who was caught off-guard by the revelation, was competing at the German Open when the scandal broke, and it took an immediate toll on her performance. Monica Seles snapped the German's 66-match winning streak in the title clash in Berlin and also defeated her in the French Open final.
Subsequently, Steffi Graf failed to defend her Wimbledon title, suffering a shock defeat to Zina Garrison in the semifinals. Following the loss, the then-World No. 1 even had to be rushed for emergency treatment due to a respiratory illness.
Speaking to the press during Wimbledon, Martina Navratilova expressed her desire to see Graf overcome the "incredible pressure" she was under, especially since the ordeal was beyond the German's control.
Navratilova also disclosed that she "felt sorry" for Steffi Graf, hoping that she would put the challenge of her father's paternity scandal behind her and concentrate solely on tennis again.
"I just hope that Steffi gets herself together and that she is able to overcome the incredible pressures that she's feeling and that she had nothing to do with," Navratilova said (via the New York Times).
"I feel sorry for that happening to her. She did nothing to deserve it and it's a real shame. I just hope she gets through it and can concentrate on tennis again 100 percent," she added.
"Her father is at the center of a sex scandal... I'm pulling for Steffi Graf to get back to peak efficiency" - Chris Evert
Chris Evert echoed Martina Navratilova's sentiments and empathized with Steffi Graf after her loss to Gabriela Sabatini in the 1990 US Open final. The 18-time Grand Slam champion lavished praise on the German for handling the difficult ordeal of her father's paternity scandal with "great dignity."
"Steffi seems to have the world on her shoulders. Her father is at the center of a sex scandal. She is concerned with her own health. I admire Steffi, for emerging with great dignity while dealing with factors outside her control," Evert said.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion expressed her support for Graf to return to her peak level, emphasizing that she possessed immense talent. However, Evert also voiced concern about the German's ability to focus amid her family's turmoil.
"I'm pulling for Steffi to get back to peak efficiency. Who knows what will happen now in her life, including her father's situation? There's a world of talent in this woman, but only time will reveal what the Graf future focus will be," she added.
Chris Evert further observed that the public perception of Steffi Graf had shifted in the wake of the controversy, sharing that fans showed her more compassion after previously viewing the then-World No. 1 as a "cold-hearted German machine."