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A Tribute To A Living Legend - Page 4

© Michael Cecilio

Enter 1999 - the year of triumph. As much as this year will be remembered as her final year on the tour, it will also be remembered as the scene of her greatest triumph. Enter the French Open - where it all began for Steffi and where it all ended. Just prior to the French Open, Steffi was coming off an injury which left her unable to play as many lead up claycourt tournaments as she would have liked. The claycourt tournament which she did play - the German Open - saw her struggle with her form as she bowed out to a player she had beaten all of nine times (Julie Halard-Decugis).

Graf had a pretty easy road to the second week, but met her match in teen starlet Anna Kournikova. Anna's lack of experience against the veteran showed as she was unable to convert on three set points in the second set, eventually losing the second set and the match in a tiebreak. Graf clearly outplayed 2nd ranked Lindsay Davenport in the quarter finals, with Lindsay doing all she could to hang on in a three set battle. The semi finals pitted Graf against her long-time nemesis, 3rd seed Monica Seles. It was a battle which had all the class of two veterans and all the heart of two great competitors. It also showcased some brilliant tennis, with Graf winning in an epic struggle 6-4 in the third.

But the championship match was a thriller! Martina Hingis, much to the piquedness of the French crowd, had reached the final stage and was playing for her first French Open trophy. Thankfully, they had Graf to cheer for.

It was a fantastic battle to begin with, with some near perfect tennis from both sides on full display. In the course of the match, it seemed clear that Hingis was disturbed by several line calls. But the explosion began in the beginning of the second set, Hingis with a substantial lead over her opponent, began her display of petulance.......

And with all the class and professionalism of a veteran champion, Miss Steffi Graf won her sixth and final French Open title, out-poising her younger, brasher, and more fragile opponent for the Grand Slam championship.

Two weeks later, she would repeat the glory and reach the Wimbledon final. Along the way she would defeat Venus Williams in a memorable and entertaining three set quarter final, and Mirjana Lucic who gave Steffi a host of problems in the semis. She would not end her Wimbledon career as the champion, but undoubtedly she will long be remembered as the ultimate champion of the grass court major.

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