When Steffi Graf looks back at her remarkable career, one of the matches that stands out the most isn’t a Grand Slam final, nor even her Golden Slam run in 1988, but a decisive moment at the 1987 Lipton International Players Championships in Florida. At just 18 years old, Graf stunned tennis fans by dismantling Chris Evert, one of the game’s greatest champions, 6–1, 6–2. It was more than a victory — it was the symbolic beginning of a new era in women’s tennis.
Recently, Graf reflected on that match and revealed, perhaps for the first time, exactly what she said to Evert both before and after the encounter. The words, though simple, carried a weight that represented the “changing of the guard” between two eras of dominance.
Before the match, Graf admitted she was nervous — not just about the competition, but about facing a player she had grown up admiring. She shared: “Before we walked out, I told Chris, ‘I watched you so much growing up. I feel lucky just to be on the same court.’” It was a moment of humility from a teenager who had yet to fully realize the kind of dominance she herself would one day bring to the sport.
Evert, who had been the face of women’s tennis for over a decade, appreciated the young German’s words. According to Graf, Evert smiled and encouraged her to enjoy the stage, showing the same poise that had made her a role model for countless young players.
Once the match began, however, Graf let her racquet do the talking. With her trademark forehand blazing and her footwork sharper than ever, she overwhelmed Evert in just over an hour. The scoreline — 6–1, 6–2 — shocked many. This wasn’t a grinding battle of attrition; it was a statement victory. Graf wasn’t just beating a legend, she was signaling the arrival of a new one.
After the match, Graf’s respect for her opponent was clear. She revealed that when she met Evert at the net, she said: “Thank you for everything you’ve done for tennis. I hope I can play with the same strength you have for so long.” Those words weren’t simply polite — they were a teenager’s acknowledgment of the foundation Evert had built for players like her to thrive.
Evert, ever gracious, responded with words Graf still remembers vividly: “It’s your time now. The game is in good hands.” Coming from one of the most decorated and respected players in the sport, it was as close to a symbolic passing of the torch as tennis could have.
That brief exchange framed the 1987 Lipton final not just as a match, but as a pivotal turning point. Graf would go on to win her first Grand Slam title later that year at Roland Garros, and then dominate the tour in 1988 with her legendary Golden Slam — all four majors plus the Olympic gold medal. Meanwhile, Evert remained competitive but gracefully transitioned into the later years of her career, knowing the sport was ready for a new leader.
For Graf, the moment remains etched in her memory not only because of the win, but because of the humanity in that exchange. “Chris was always someone I looked up to,” Graf reflected. “What she said to me after that match gave me so much confidence for the future. It made me believe I could carry the sport forward.”
Decades later, fans still look back at that Lipton clash as more than a scoreline. It was the day Steffi Graf announced her arrival on the world stage, with her words to Chris Evert — both humble and powerful — symbolizing one era giving way to another.