Steffi Graf vs. Kimiko Date Wimbledon 1996 SF
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- Опубліковано 25 лис 2023
- One of the most memorable, unscripted light-hearted Grand Slam moments happened at the 1996 Wimbledon semifinals in a duel between Steffi and Kimiko Date.
Steffi won the first set 62 but was down 2:4 in the second set. While serving ahead 40-15, and about to serve a first serve to try to close out the game, a male fan interrupted the contest by shouting loudly, “Steffi will you marry me?”
Steffi paused and smiled and was clearly amused by the shocking disruption of her concentration. After about ten seconds, it was clear to see Steffi enjoyed the spontaneity, timing, and humor of the question and then launched her witty reply to her suitor, “How much money do you have?” The mystery man did not answer his potential conquest.
After the romantic interlude was completed, the match resumed and on the very next point, Steffi netted a forehand on her first shot. Steffi then proceeded to lose that game and the set 26. Because it was early evening and darkening quickly, Wimbledon officials decided to half the match and complete the third set the next day.
TV commentators Tracy Austin and Dick Enberg both agreed the momentary lapse of focus from Steffi and her graceful decline of the life-changing proposal did not help her play. “I think that actually hurt her,” Enberg noted. “It was very rare to see Steffi joke around at that point of a match,” observed Austin.
After an evening to ponder the situation, Steffi regained her top form the next morning. The following day was sunny and perfect conditions, and Steffi got herself back on track and thwarted Date’s career-best play, which was her deepest run into a Grand Slam. Graf attained the victory on her third match point to set up a final vs Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.
Steffi 💖
Enjoy! - Спорт
When Date was on, she was such a treat to watch. She played some stunning tennis in that second set.
Very true. Her shots were very laser-like. So flat and hard.
Absolutely and grass really suited her game. She even gave Venus an incredibly tough battle on Centre Court at Wimbledon at the age of 40 when she surprisingly came out of retirement in her late 30's
agreed, Date moved very well and her flat groundstrokes stayed very low and skidded off the grass
@@mohawk393939本当にビーナス相手にフルセットの素晴らしい試合でしたね！😉❤️😉👍️✨ 🎾😃☀️
Great match, Graf superb mobility versus Date superb timing
今見ても、とんでもなくレベル高い。高速フラットやドライブで続くハイテンポなラリーで見応えすごいです。徐々にヒートアップして中盤厳しいジャッジの応酬でした。10:20のラリーはケガがなくて本当に良かった。そして有名な16:20のシーンも。サスペンドは本当に悔しかった。いまのように、屋根があったらなぁ…
The great thing about tennis is all players have something unique about them. However some players are a lot more unique than most. Kimiko Date was just superbly unique in the way she hit the ball. So little power and leverage but her flat shots had such a sting. When she was on, she was at times almost unplayable in the baseline rallies as she just seemed to know the path of the ball, the height of the net and the length of the court to the finest of margins so effortlessly.
Graf was very Very lucky this was suspended - if they had started playing 90 min earlier, we could have seen a different ending
One of the great women’s SFs at Wimbledon, even if it wasn’t that close in the end.
Steffi Graf, the best female tennis player ever.
lol, Serena would destroy her 6-0 6-0. If out her 5th after Serena, Martina, Monica, and Chris
@@yussepig6629 Titles speak louder than words. None of the tennis players you mentioned won the Grand Slam, including Serena...
@@yussepig6629 Serena couldn't beat bammer.😂😂 Forget about her beating the GOAT Steffi.
Their head to head was 1-1 (2-1 to Steffi including non ranking Hong Kong Open)
@@yussepig6629ahaaaaahaaa absolutely hilarious. Love your sense of humour.
Date Krumm is phenomenal
I loved Kimiko's unorthodox style. The philosophy of "Japanese efficiency" was clearly imbued in her technique.
16:13 best punchline ❤
Amazing to think that Kimiko Date is actually left handed !!
What a great match .
can clearly see that Steffi was unwell here. She coughed quite a few times.
She had allergies but I wouldn't say that she was unwell. I think her biggest problem in this match (besides Kimiko's amazing tennis of course) was that this match got delayed a long time. And she was in a big hurry to win as fast as possible so that she could have a day off before the final and prepare for it. In the second set, she started playing rushed and hasty tennis. Combine that with Kimiko's inspired tennis, Kimiko reeled off six games in a row. And in retrospect, I think Graf was a bit lucky that the match was delayed due to darkness. I'm not necessarily saying that Date would've won if the match had not been delayed but she did have all of the momentum at that moment.
@@gk891 There were a lot of long deuce games in the 2nd set. If Graf had won just one of those in the early to mid part of the set I say there is still a very good chance she wins in straights. However Date outtoughed her and won a few of those and ran out the set. Given that Steffi is probably lucky the match was stopped and didn't continue into a 3rd that day. It was a big momentum breaker.
Date was a natural on grasscourt, when she was on she was a treat to watch.
That having said Graf played sub par in the 2nd set, her game was error prone and her 1st serve didnt work.
Kimiko Date deserves more
The Japanese woman players around this period were awesome: Date was one of the top ones - she and others went on to cause all sorts of dificulties for the Williams sisters and other top women ....
You can see here , they think out there; move the ball and the oponent into swkard positions - and guessing the same time
Watched another ( cant remember her name ) Japanese woman years later tire out Serina Wimiams - made her look slow .....like no others seemed able to do 8:14
If they let the match carry on, the outcome might've been different... That's all I'm gonna say... 😐
yes👍
第２セットを伊達公子氏が取り、グラフは相当焦っていたはず。
サスペンデッドにならなかったら伊達公子氏は決勝に行けた。でも事実は残酷😂
素晴らしい試合をした2人(2023年の現在で見てもハイレベル)に拍手👏😉❤️✨✨😊
6:16: HRH Katharine, Duchess of Kent (Green suit) looks alone almost in the empty Royalbox. She loves Steffi ;) - The others came later after dinner. Steffi starts the first set very quickly after a long men's match
Do you have date vs seles in sf princess cup?
I am also curious to see that match. Kimiko nearly won that match and held multiple match points.
Title needs fixed to SF not QF.
I love Gabriela, dear Steffi, nothing to personal
I have never been a fan of Graf's serve or groundstrokes. They looked so awkward to me.
I think a lot of the current Chinese players copied after Date's style of play, but with little success.
The difference between men and women. If a man was asked to marry he would not respond with " how much money do you have?"!
So boring stefanie
So boring @mazzaccaro1
@@jamesyu5212 what? But in this match, not Always. Steffi Graf was a Genius of forehand.