Steffi Graf Breaks 25-Year Silence with Emotional Reveal: “There’s One Match I Wish I Could Replay
By Alexandra Reid | June 2025
In a rare and intimate moment that sent shockwaves through the tennis world, 22-time Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf opened up about the one match that still lingers in her mind—decades after her retirement. During an exclusive sit-down interview at a recent Legends of Tennis gala in Monte Carlo, the famously private German icon shared a moment of vulnerability that instantly captivated fans worldwide.
“I don’t dwell much on the past,” Graf began with a soft smile, “but if there’s one match I could go back and play again—not to change the result, but to feel it all over again—it would be the 1999 French Open final against Martina Hingis.”
The tennis legend’s eyes sparkled with emotion as she recounted that iconic match, one that many fans already consider one of the greatest finals of all time. Graf, 29 at the time and considered past her prime, faced off against 18-year-old Hingis, who was at the peak of her dominance. The match was as much about generations as it was about grit, grace, and resilience.
“That day, I felt something shift,” Graf said, her voice almost a whisper. “The crowd… they weren’t just watching. They were with me. I’ve never felt energy like that—like I was playing for every fan who ever believed in me.”
The match is remembered for its drama, its tension, and Hingis’s controversial behavior, which rallied the Roland Garros crowd firmly behind Graf. Down a set and a break, Graf staged a stunning comeback, winning 4–6, 7–5, 6–2. As she collapsed to the clay in disbelief, it wasn’t just a victory—it was a farewell that felt like destiny.
“What people don’t know,” she revealed, pausing thoughtfully, “is that I had already made peace with retiring that year. That match was my love letter to the game. And to the people who stood by me through everything—injuries, losses, doubts.”
Graf would go on to play only a few more tournaments before announcing her retirement in August 1999. Since then, she has remained largely out of the spotlight, focusing on her family with husband and fellow tennis legend Andre Agassi, and her philanthropic work with the Children for Tomorrow foundation.
So why speak now?
“I’ve seen how the sport has grown. And I see young players—especially girls—watching old matches, trying to understand the legacy of tennis. If revisiting that moment helps inspire someone to never give up, to fight back when they’re counted out, then I think it’s worth talking about.”
Graf’s words resonated deeply. Within hours, the clip of her interview went viral, with hashtags like #Graf1999 and #SteffiSpeaks trending globally. Former rivals like Monica Seles and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario shared their own memories of that final, praising Graf not just for her game but for her humility.
Tennis fans around the world now find themselves returning to that June afternoon in Paris, rewatching every point with fresh appreciation.
In a world obsessed with numbers and records, Steffi Graf reminds us that greatness isn’t just about how many trophies you lift—but how you carry yourself when no one expects you to rise again.
And rise she did.