Wow Steffi, at such a young age at 16, was really hitting her forehand huge against her opponent. I agree with the comment that flat ball hitters were ideal for Steffi since her forehand feeds on pace. Steffi’s opponents and this generation also employed moon-ball tactics which makes sense seeing how her forehand evolved over the years and why she was famous for her jump forehand winners. I still marvel how fluid she moves to her backhand side and how quick (with hardly any take back or pause to prepare) she hits a inside-out/in forehand either cross-court or down-the-line. Her forehand was not just power but also deception... very deadly combination!
Thanks so much Kev for uploading a very rare gem. Gosh... how many forehands did she hit here? And to those who said she cant hit backhand.... well, she showed that she can even when she has not even reached 17 years of age!
Even by this point, baseliners like Casale who primarily hit a flat ball just fed Steffi’s strike zone and didn’t stand a chance. It was target practice for Steffi. By 1987 with an improved serve and backhand, along with getting much stronger physically, you either had to be Martina or hit heavy topspin like Sabatini to interrupt Steffi’s rhythm to eek out a win. Seles came along and discovered the other way to compete by carving up the court with sharp angles to create openings for hitting winners. Evert tried to do the same thing but did not possess a consistent knock out shot to blast the ball by Graf. Seles had two Howitzers off both wings which is the reason she had some success. This 1986 period was so exciting because you not only got to witness the rise of a new challenger to the throne, you also were witnessing a player who was going to totally change the way tennis was played. Graf’s forehand and the way she took the ball so early then hit it by coming up off both feet with that extraordinary wrist action, for both women and men, was transformational. This all-court aggressive style, coupled with new strings and racquets crafted the demise of the serve ‘n volley style.
Max E You are correct if anything she hit it late however he is right about the wrist action. I believe her speed helped as well she was so quick to get into position to be able to hit that shot.
Wow! Great upload. I’ve never heard of Steffi’s opponent here. Graf played so well (though, to be fair, she was in a different league to her opponent). Thanks.
If Steffi had had an even stronger serve and had been able to hit a little more top spin backhands down the line, very few players would have beaten her.
I think this Casale girl probably retired after this match...thinking there's no way in HELL I'm ever beating this girl!!! I'll just stop kidding myself...lol..Notice how both players smacking the heck out of the ball, yet no ANNOYING grunting....very refreshing from today's players!
Technically, that is to be precise, Graf v Sales is: 90 Seles (2) 91 Graf (2) 92 They split 1 & 1 and 93 Seles (1) and then of course the awful attack on the #1 player by a crazed Graf fanatic. Who knows what might have been?
Virginia Wade's comment, "Steffi plays the kind of tennis, that dreams are made of"...
Couldn't agree more Ginny...
What a gem! It's interesting to see just how many topspin backhands she was willing to hit at this young age!
She was and is amazing and stunning! Steffi was class and grace! The GOAT in my book
Thanks for upload...big Graf fan here!
Wow Steffi, at such a young age at 16, was really hitting her forehand huge against her opponent. I agree with the comment that flat ball hitters were ideal for Steffi since her forehand feeds on pace. Steffi’s opponents and this generation also employed moon-ball tactics which makes sense seeing how her forehand evolved over the years and why she was famous for her jump forehand winners.
I still marvel how fluid she moves to her backhand side and how quick (with hardly any take back or pause to prepare) she hits a inside-out/in forehand either cross-court or down-the-line. Her forehand was not just power but also deception... very deadly combination!
Commentators witnessing brilliance at a young age
It's so amazing how good her english already was in that young age
big forehand, amazing 👍 Steffi Graf.
Thanks so much Kev for uploading a very rare gem. Gosh... how many forehands did she hit here? And to those who said she cant hit backhand.... well, she showed that she can even when she has not even reached 17 years of age!
Even by this point, baseliners like Casale who primarily hit a flat ball just fed Steffi’s strike zone and didn’t stand a chance. It was target practice for Steffi. By 1987 with an improved serve and backhand, along with getting much stronger physically, you either had to be Martina or hit heavy topspin like Sabatini to interrupt Steffi’s rhythm to eek out a win. Seles came along and discovered the other way to compete by carving up the court with sharp angles to create openings for hitting winners. Evert tried to do the same thing but did not possess a consistent knock out shot to blast the ball by Graf. Seles had two Howitzers off both wings which is the reason she had some success. This 1986 period was so exciting because you not only got to witness the rise of a new challenger to the throne, you also were witnessing a player who was going to totally change the way tennis was played. Graf’s forehand and the way she took the ball so early then hit it by coming up off both feet with that extraordinary wrist action, for both women and men, was transformational. This all-court aggressive style, coupled with new strings and racquets crafted the demise of the serve ‘n volley style.
Max E You are correct if anything she hit it late however he is right about the wrist action. I believe her speed helped as well she was so quick to get into position to be able to hit that shot.
Thank you, you're spoiling us!
Wow! Great upload. I’ve never heard of Steffi’s opponent here. Graf played so well (though, to be fair, she was in a different league to her opponent). Thanks.
Thank you, Kev!
Back in 1983, Casale double bageled Zina Garrison in the first round at the French - First time a seeded player was so beaten by that scoreline
That insurance commercial would not go over well these days 😂
Back when clay was slow, like it's supposed to be.
If Steffi had had an even stronger serve and had been able to hit a little more top spin backhands down the line, very few players would have beaten her.
Very few players did beat her, but point taken.
I think this Casale girl probably retired after this match...thinking there's no way in HELL I'm ever beating this girl!!! I'll just stop kidding myself...lol..Notice how both players smacking the heck out of the ball, yet no ANNOYING grunting....very refreshing from today's players!
Seles took Graf down regularly for 3 straight years
Between 1990-1993 Seles was 4-3 in matches.
Technically, that is to be precise, Graf v Sales is: 90 Seles (2) 91 Graf (2) 92 They split 1 & 1 and 93 Seles (1) and then of course the awful attack on the #1 player by a crazed Graf fanatic. Who knows what might have been?
Lol, which “3 straight years“ are that to have been, you idyot?