“Everyone that came in the locker room was saying it was an incredible match”: When Steffi Graf beat 19-year-old Venus Williams in Wimbledon thriller

Steffi Graf faced Venus Williams only once in her career, and that memorable showdown came in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1999. After the match, the German herself was impressed by the high level of tennis both she and her opponent brought to the court that day.

The clash between Graf and Williams at Wimbledon was iconic, not just for the tennis, but because it marked the former’s final appearance at the tournament. She came in as the favorite, fresh off a French Open title, while Williams was the rising star with nothing to lose.

The German started strong, using her trademark groundstrokes and slice to take control early and win the first set. But the American bounced back quickly, regrouping and unleashing her aggressive game to dominate the second. The third set was a thrilling decider, and in the end, it was Steffi Graf who edged it out, winning the match 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

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Speaking to the media after the match, Graf said that both she and Venus played “unbelievable” tennis, and that’s what mattered most to her. She added that several people, including legends like Pam Shriver and Virginia Wade, came up to her in the locker room to say they felt the same.

"We played unbelievable tennis, and that's what counts to me," Steffi Graf said. "Everyone that came in the locker room Wade, Pam Shriver you know, Virginia was saying it was an incredible match, and that's how I see it.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion then said of Venus Williams:

"She has the game. She got some balls I thought were over.”

Steffi Graf was most dominant at Wimbledon, where she claimed seven of her 22 Grand Slam titles. Her final Wimbledon title came in 1996, and she made it to the final in 1999, where she lost to Lindsay Davenport.

Just weeks later, in August of that year, she officially retired from professional tennis.

When Steffi Graf was impressed by Venus Williams and her sister Serena Williams

Steffi Graf once praised Venus and Serena Williams, saying she was genuinely impressed by the way they played and carried themselves on court. In 2004, after her induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame, she even predicted that the Williams sisters were the ones most likely to match or surpass her total of 22 Grand Slams.

“There’s certainly so much talent out there. You can see it probably with Serena and Venus Williams,” Graf said. “They have got incredible talent. They are physically so strong.”

“You know, it’s a matter of, also, the desire, and there’s a lot of options for young girls, you know, if it’s attractive enough to stay around tennis as long,” she added.

The German continued:

“But I think that the talent is out there. It’s a question of desire, as well as physically, how they are able to keep up.”

While Venus Williams fell short of that mark, finishing her career with seven Slams, Serena Williams proved Graf right. She surpassed the German’s record at the 2017 Australian Open, winning her 23rd Major while pregnant with her first child, Olympia.

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About the author

Pritha Ghosh

Pritha is one of the driving forces behind Sportskeeda's tennis & baseball coverage, serving as an assistant content manager and editor. What began as a casual escape from her tiring biotechnology degree course in early 2022 has blossomed into a passion she loves, cherishes, and breathes every day.

Pritha’s love for the sport was spawned by her dad who showed her clips of "GOAT" Steffi Graf’s matches. Despite a thwarted dream of playing professionally due to injury, she finds solace in reporting the sport, while also mentoring other writers to ensure every article is error-free and top-notch. She double checks credible sources, such as the tournament/player handles and big tennis media outlets, and gives proper credit where required.

Pritha's journey at Sportskeeda is marked by nearly 2000 articles and close to 12 million views, with the "dream-come-true" moment of having her article shared by Chris Evert serving as a highlight of her career. A lifelong Wimbledon fan, Pritha also adores Rafael Nadal, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka.

When she's not seeking unique angles to elevate tennis coverage at Sportskeeda, she loves to channel her inner astrophysics "nerd" by exploring new sci-fi series and movies. A big Lionel Messi, Lewis Hamilton, and Randy Orton fan, she is always ready to engage in sports conversations anytime, anywhere, albeit not without a cup of coffee.

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