"When I first saw Steffi Graf, I thought she was better than even Chris Evert at 12": When 14-year-old German left Kate Latham in awe after near upset
Steffi Graf was displaying signs of greatness even at 12 years of age, with American tennis player Kate Latham believing that she was better than Chris Evert at the same age. Latham got the opportunity to witness Graf's talent firsthand when the German was 14, with the duo locking horns in a closely contested encounter in 1983.
That year, Latham entered the Virginia Slims of Utah as the third seed, beating Anne Minter 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 to advance to the second round. Graf claimed a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Claudia Pasquale to set up a meeting with the American.
Latham appeared to be on the verge of victory after winning the opening set 7-5 and taking a commanding 5-0 lead in the second set. However, Graf mounted an impressive comeback to win the second set and force a decider. The German also fought back from a 3-0 deficit in the third set, but the American held her nerve to claim a 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-4 victory.
Despite eventually beating Steffi Graf, Kate Latham was left in awe of the then-14-year-old's talent. Speaking to the press after her win, Latham predicted that the German would develop into an exceptional player.
"This kid is going to be really good. I ran more in today's match than in any other match in my career," Latham said.
Latham also recalled the first time she saw Graf play when she was just 12, expressing her belief that the German was already better than her peers, even surpassing Chris Evert at the same age.
"When I first saw her, she was 12 and I thought she was better than anybody even Chris Evert at 12. There's really no answer for pace, It looks to me like she has a chance to be a really great player," she said.
Latham's coach Nick Carter was equally impressed by the then-14-year-old's skills, emphasizing that only quitting the sport could prevent Steffi Graf from becoming a great player.
"The only way she (Graf) won't be a great player is if she quits," Carter said.
"It’s their turn to be scared of me" - When 16-year-old Steffi Graf sent warning to Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova ahead of 1986 French Open
Steffi Graf herself had strong faith in her abilities as a teenager, sending out a warning to her rivals Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova before the 1986 French Open.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, the then-16-year-old expressed confidence in her chances at the claycourt Major, disclosing that while she once felt intimidated by Evert and Navratilova, it was their turn to be "scared" of her.
"Navratilova is still the No. 1 in the world. And Chris Evert Lloyd is still unchallengeable for No. 2 when she plays faultlessly. But they don’t like playing on clay," Steffi Graf said.
"Whether I can get even closer to them in Paris, well, we’ll just have to wait and see. Before, I used to be a little bit scared of playing Martina and Chris. Now, it’s their turn to be scared of me," she added.
However, Steffi Graf fell short in the quarterfinals of the 1986 French Open, suffering a 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 loss to Hana Mandlikova. Meanwhile, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova set up a blockbuster title clash in Paris, with Evert claiming a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory for her seventh Roland Garros title.