The Graf–Navratilova rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova , widely regarded as two of the greatest tennis players of all time. They met 18 times during their careers, and their head-to-head is even at 9–9,[1] with Graf having a 4–2 record in major finals but Navratilova having a 5–4 record in overall major matches (winning their last major meeting despite being 34 at the time). They contested three consecutive Wimbledon singles finals (1987 , 1988 , 1989 ). Notably, despite how even their rivalry was, the age difference between Navratilova and Graf is more than 12.5 years. It should also be noted that Navratilova won their first 3 encounters when Graf was 16 years old. Graf won 6 of their final 8 matches.
List of all matches [ ]
Legend
Graf
Navratilova
Grand Slam
4
5
WTA Tour Championships
1
2
WTA Tour Events
4
2
Total
9
9
Graf–Navratilova (9–9)
No.
Date
Tournament
Surface
Round
Winner
Score
Graf
Navratilova
1.
1985
US Open
Hard
Semifinals
Navratilova
6–2, 6–3
0
1
2.
1985
Maybelline Classic
Hard
Final
Navratilova
6–3, 6–1
0
2
3.
1986
Virginia Slims Championships
Carpet
Semifinals
Navratilova
6–2, 6–2
0
3
4.
1986
German Open
Clay
Final
Graf
6–2, 6–3
1
3
5.
1986
US Open
Hard
Semifinals
Navratilova
6–1, 6–7(3–7) , 7–6(10–8)
1
4
6.
1986
Virginia Slims Championships
Carpet
Final
Navratilova
7–6(8–6) , 6–3, 6–2
1
5
7.
1987
Miami Open
Hard
Semifinals
Graf
6–3, 6–2
2
5
8.
1987
Roland Garros
Clay
Final
Graf
6–4, 4–6, 8–6
3
5
9.
1987
Wimbledon
Grass
Final
Navratilova
7–5, 6–3
3
6
10.
1987
US Open
Hard
Final
Navratilova
7–6(7–4) , 6–1
3
7
11.
1988
Wimbledon
Grass
Final
Graf
5–7, 6–2, 6–1
4
7
12.
1989
Wimbledon
Grass
Final
Graf
6–2, 6–7(1–7) , 6–1
5
7
13.
1989
US Open
Hard
Final
Graf
3–6, 7–5, 6–1
6
7
14.
1989
Virginia Slims Championships
Carpet
Final
Graf
6–4, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2
7
7
15.
1991
US Open
Hard
Semifinals
Navratilova
7–6(7–2) , 6–7(6–8) , 6–4
7
8
16.
1992
Zurich Open
Carpet
Final
Graf
2–6, 7–5, 7–5
8
8
17.
1993
Pan Pacific Open
Carpet
Semifinals
Navratilova
4–6, 6–3, 6–3
8
9
18.
1994
Pan Pacific Open
Carpet
Final
Graf
6–2, 6–4
9
9
Breakdown of the rivalry [ ]
Hard courts: Navratilova , 5–2
Clay courts: Graf , 2–0
Grass courts: Graf , 2–1
Carpet courts: Equal, 3–3
Grand Slam matches: Navratilova , 5–4
Grand Slam finals: Graf , 4–2
Year-End Championships matches: Navratilova , 2–1
Year-End Championships finals: Equal, 1–1
Fed Cup matches: None
All finals: Graf , 8–4
All matches: Equal, 9–9
Set tallies [ ]
Graf
Set score
Navratilova
1
8–6
0
2
7–6
5
4
7–5
2
4
6–4
2
2
6–3
7
6
6–2
6
3
6–1
3
0
6–0
0
22
Total sets
25
224
Total games
232
See also [ ]
References [ ]
118 WTA Titles: 107 Singles & 11 Doubles
Entourage
Title-winning/medal-winning doubles partners
Career Rivalries Year-end No.1 Grand Slam titles
Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
WTA Tour titles
WTA Finals & analogues WTA 1000 & analogues
Pre-Category 5 (1986—1987) Category 5 (1988—1989) Tier I (1990—2008)
National representation
Olympic medals BJK Cup wins & analogues Hopman Cup wins
Tennis portal