"Steffi is the best all-around player of all time, regardless of the surface."
-Martina Navratilova, said in 1996.
"That's really surprising," "She's meant so much to Wimbledon and the game, she's such a great ambassador for tennis. But she's leaving on her own terms. Not all great athletes get to do that."
-Pete Sampras (when he heard the news of Steffi's goodbye from Wimbledon)
"She's had an unbelievable career.She did it with lot of class,went out and got the job done.
She let her racquet do the talking.I've always looked up to her and the way she approached the game.She worked and was a great athlete."
-Pete Sampras(when Steffi announced her retirement on Aug,13,1999)
"Its certainly a loss to tennis.In my opinion she 's the best lady that has ever played.
She dominated on every surface she played."
Andre Agassi(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Steffi has two of the biggest weapons in the game with her forehand and serve. She is also the fastest in the game. But the reason why she is so great is her ability to win big points in big matches. Even with all her injuries,her sheer desire and ability to get the job done under pressure has pulled her through so many matches, and that makes her the best ".
Tracy Austin(Tennis) (said in 1997)
"She was one of the greatest player,may be even greatest.She has achieved everything
that she wanted.She can go and achieve new things.She felt the time was now."
Richard Krajicek(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Its always sad when such great athlete retires.It's a shame.She was very important for women's game and the men's tennis is tennis."
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"She's had an amazing career.She really can't ask for more.She has been unfortunate with injuries,but she's had one of the great careers."
Tim Henman (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"I will never forget watching Steffi practice the last few years. It was amazing to me that she had such intensity and desire to practice after all these years. I could never do that every single day.That's what makes her so tough , she just never lets down, ever".
Monica Seles (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"She is a great competitor and a great player.She's always been a role model for so many kids out there,but at same time she's at top of her game.It's nice to see her go out on top in tennis doing the best."
Serena Williams(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"I idolized Steffi when I was growing up and wanted to play like her. She is such a great competitor and never gives up. I most admired that she was always a fighter "
Mirjana Lucic (Tennis)
"An all time great tennis player.I'm glad that she was able to retire from women's tennis on her own terms. I hope she will keep some involvment and commitment to sport for rest of her life.We will miss her great athletic ability"
Billi Jean King (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"She's obviously the one of greatest player that has ever played.She really learned to appreciate the game.She has a great place in history of women's tennis."
Lindsay Davenport (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Graf's forehand is the single best stroke in the history of women's tennis.
She simply has outclassed everyone".
Mary Carillo (Tennis commentater)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Most champions cannot be the best in every aspect of the game.I lacked the physical,Martina Navratilova had difficulty with the mental and Billie Jean never had the power.But Steffi has it all - the mental, physical,power and speed.She has shown more intensity andpassion for the sport than any other player over such a long period of time .She is the best athlete in the game".
Chris Evert,Tennis ( said in 1997)
"Steffi has done so much for the German sport. I, personally, regret that she quits. She was a top athlete and a personality."
Erich Ribbeck(German national soccer coach )
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Steffi Graf is, without a doubt, one of the biggest German athletes,"
Beckenbauer(Foot Ball)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Steffi is a class act," .. "As a motivated, well-conditioned, disciplined and competitive athlete, she has been a role model for women athletes in all sports."
Bart McGuire,( chief executive officer of the WTA Tour.)
"She was a great legend, an icon and still is," " . . . We were not like sisters, not best friends. We both had the same goals. But everybody is going to remember her as Steffi Graf, the great.""steffi is the great shape of sport of all time"
Martina Hingis (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
''She's a great legend: all she brought to the game is amazing, the athleticism, the way she handled herself. 'Nobody is like her; nobody ever will be like her."
- Martina Hingis, also quoted in the Times .
"A great name has been lost from German sports," "I find it unfortunate, as she had recently shown what great achievements she was capable of. On the other hand, after so many injuries, I can understand her decision."
Ralf Schumacher (Formula One driver),added his voice to the chorus of fellow Germans lamenting Graf's departure.(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"With her unique sports successes, Steffi Graf inspired many young people to take up tennis and has made it the popular sport that it is here,"
Baden-Wuerttemberg Gov. (Foot Ball)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"For me, Steffi Graf is one of the outstanding athletes of our century."
Erwin Teufel ( The governor of Baden-Württemberg, the German province where Steffi came from.)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"It was a big shock," . "I think it's very sad, especially for the sport of tennis, because she is such a great champion and a good person. It's going to be hard to replace someone like Steffi."
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Some people try and get respect; Steffi has earned respect. People know who she is and she knows who she is, and that's all that's important to her."
Rennae Stubbs(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
Having worked with Steffi for years, I am amazed that she is still so intense and eager to improve. She loves to practice. But what separates her from other champions is her ability to mobilize all of her energies into a single moment for one goal-to win. She is able to concentrate solely on hitting the ball and winning the match.
Heinz Gunthardt (Graf's longtime coach)
She brought women's tennis to another level by moving better and
hitting harder and simply being a better athlete on court.
Jana Novotna(1998 wimbledon champion)
"Graf is better than Sampras much the same way Elizabeth Taylor is a more gifted thespian than Robert de Niro."
- Jon Wertheim 1999
"Graf was pure-off. She never really competed with her contemporaries or for a place in history. She played for something else, driven by a force that lesser mortals did not even begin to suspect existed.
To watch Graf on tennis court in her most exalted moments was like watching Budda in meditation."
- Nirmal Shekar 1999
"There's a new natural law in the universe, as undeniable as gravity: Steffi Graf cannot be stopped. Life has done everything to put her through hell - thrown her father in jail, put her through debilitating surgeries, brought back Monica Seles - but she has beaten all of it back like so many small balls.
She has now reached a point defying all athletic logic."
- S.L. Price 1996, Sports Illustrated
"Some girls like tennis but they don't enjoy practicing it every day. She does. She loves tennis. In practice she runs for every ball. If the first ball is a short one she goes for it. I say yikes, why is she running for it now? It comes from her father. He always told her to go for every ball as early as possible."
- Former Czechoslovak Davis Cup player Pavel Slozil, who coached Graf during her initial ascent to the top in the 1980s
"When I think of Steffi Graf, I just think of the greatest. She had the greatest footwork ever. She was so focused all the time. When I played her it was just a dream come true."
- Serena Williams, speaking at the Sony Ericsson Open in 2004
"You have never defined yourself by what you have achieved; rather, you have achieved by how you defined yourself... II has taken my breath away to see how you've quietly laid down your racket to pursue love and motherhood, with the same zeal and high standards you have always demanded of yourself… No one has ever known you to be infatuated by your own accomplishments, but the history books will record for posterity, your ability to embrace and rise above adversity, to play through injury, and to win again, and again, and again… Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the greatest person I've ever known."
- Andre Agassi's emotional speech about his wife at her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, 2004 (Andre is a zero meant divorced,druggist,injured in April,1999 and he inspired by the win of Graf at roland garros in June,1999.Interestingly he won next day match and reached all next four slams finals and won 3 out of 4.They started dating just before US open(August),1999 and married In 2001.)
"I'm like a little girl in front of Steffi,"
"I'll always be a big fan. It's always emotional for me."
- Justin Henin ,2010
-Martina Navratilova, said in 1996.
"That's really surprising," "She's meant so much to Wimbledon and the game, she's such a great ambassador for tennis. But she's leaving on her own terms. Not all great athletes get to do that."
-Pete Sampras (when he heard the news of Steffi's goodbye from Wimbledon)
"She's had an unbelievable career.She did it with lot of class,went out and got the job done.
She let her racquet do the talking.I've always looked up to her and the way she approached the game.She worked and was a great athlete."
-Pete Sampras(when Steffi announced her retirement on Aug,13,1999)
"Its certainly a loss to tennis.In my opinion she 's the best lady that has ever played.
She dominated on every surface she played."
Andre Agassi(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Steffi has two of the biggest weapons in the game with her forehand and serve. She is also the fastest in the game. But the reason why she is so great is her ability to win big points in big matches. Even with all her injuries,her sheer desire and ability to get the job done under pressure has pulled her through so many matches, and that makes her the best ".
Tracy Austin(Tennis) (said in 1997)
"She was one of the greatest player,may be even greatest.She has achieved everything
that she wanted.She can go and achieve new things.She felt the time was now."
Richard Krajicek(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Its always sad when such great athlete retires.It's a shame.She was very important for women's game and the men's tennis is tennis."
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"She's had an amazing career.She really can't ask for more.She has been unfortunate with injuries,but she's had one of the great careers."
Tim Henman (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"I will never forget watching Steffi practice the last few years. It was amazing to me that she had such intensity and desire to practice after all these years. I could never do that every single day.That's what makes her so tough , she just never lets down, ever".
Monica Seles (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"She is a great competitor and a great player.She's always been a role model for so many kids out there,but at same time she's at top of her game.It's nice to see her go out on top in tennis doing the best."
Serena Williams(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"I idolized Steffi when I was growing up and wanted to play like her. She is such a great competitor and never gives up. I most admired that she was always a fighter "
Mirjana Lucic (Tennis)
"An all time great tennis player.I'm glad that she was able to retire from women's tennis on her own terms. I hope she will keep some involvment and commitment to sport for rest of her life.We will miss her great athletic ability"
Billi Jean King (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"She's obviously the one of greatest player that has ever played.She really learned to appreciate the game.She has a great place in history of women's tennis."
Lindsay Davenport (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Graf's forehand is the single best stroke in the history of women's tennis.
She simply has outclassed everyone".
Mary Carillo (Tennis commentater)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Most champions cannot be the best in every aspect of the game.I lacked the physical,Martina Navratilova had difficulty with the mental and Billie Jean never had the power.But Steffi has it all - the mental, physical,power and speed.She has shown more intensity andpassion for the sport than any other player over such a long period of time .She is the best athlete in the game".
Chris Evert,Tennis ( said in 1997)
"Steffi has done so much for the German sport. I, personally, regret that she quits. She was a top athlete and a personality."
Erich Ribbeck(German national soccer coach )
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Steffi Graf is, without a doubt, one of the biggest German athletes,"
Beckenbauer(Foot Ball)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Steffi is a class act," .. "As a motivated, well-conditioned, disciplined and competitive athlete, she has been a role model for women athletes in all sports."
Bart McGuire,( chief executive officer of the WTA Tour.)
"She was a great legend, an icon and still is," " . . . We were not like sisters, not best friends. We both had the same goals. But everybody is going to remember her as Steffi Graf, the great.""steffi is the great shape of sport of all time"
Martina Hingis (Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
''She's a great legend: all she brought to the game is amazing, the athleticism, the way she handled herself. 'Nobody is like her; nobody ever will be like her."
- Martina Hingis, also quoted in the Times .
"A great name has been lost from German sports," "I find it unfortunate, as she had recently shown what great achievements she was capable of. On the other hand, after so many injuries, I can understand her decision."
Ralf Schumacher (Formula One driver),added his voice to the chorus of fellow Germans lamenting Graf's departure.(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"With her unique sports successes, Steffi Graf inspired many young people to take up tennis and has made it the popular sport that it is here,"
Baden-Wuerttemberg Gov. (Foot Ball)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"For me, Steffi Graf is one of the outstanding athletes of our century."
Erwin Teufel ( The governor of Baden-Württemberg, the German province where Steffi came from.)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"It was a big shock," . "I think it's very sad, especially for the sport of tennis, because she is such a great champion and a good person. It's going to be hard to replace someone like Steffi."
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
"Some people try and get respect; Steffi has earned respect. People know who she is and she knows who she is, and that's all that's important to her."
Rennae Stubbs(Tennis)
(said when steffi's retirement Aug,13,1999)
Having worked with Steffi for years, I am amazed that she is still so intense and eager to improve. She loves to practice. But what separates her from other champions is her ability to mobilize all of her energies into a single moment for one goal-to win. She is able to concentrate solely on hitting the ball and winning the match.
Heinz Gunthardt (Graf's longtime coach)
She brought women's tennis to another level by moving better and
hitting harder and simply being a better athlete on court.
Jana Novotna(1998 wimbledon champion)
- Jon Wertheim 1999
"Graf was pure-off. She never really competed with her contemporaries or for a place in history. She played for something else, driven by a force that lesser mortals did not even begin to suspect existed.
To watch Graf on tennis court in her most exalted moments was like watching Budda in meditation."
- Nirmal Shekar 1999
"There's a new natural law in the universe, as undeniable as gravity: Steffi Graf cannot be stopped. Life has done everything to put her through hell - thrown her father in jail, put her through debilitating surgeries, brought back Monica Seles - but she has beaten all of it back like so many small balls.
She has now reached a point defying all athletic logic."
- S.L. Price 1996, Sports Illustrated
"Some girls like tennis but they don't enjoy practicing it every day. She does. She loves tennis. In practice she runs for every ball. If the first ball is a short one she goes for it. I say yikes, why is she running for it now? It comes from her father. He always told her to go for every ball as early as possible."
- Former Czechoslovak Davis Cup player Pavel Slozil, who coached Graf during her initial ascent to the top in the 1980s
"When I think of Steffi Graf, I just think of the greatest. She had the greatest footwork ever. She was so focused all the time. When I played her it was just a dream come true."
- Serena Williams, speaking at the Sony Ericsson Open in 2004
"You have never defined yourself by what you have achieved; rather, you have achieved by how you defined yourself... II has taken my breath away to see how you've quietly laid down your racket to pursue love and motherhood, with the same zeal and high standards you have always demanded of yourself… No one has ever known you to be infatuated by your own accomplishments, but the history books will record for posterity, your ability to embrace and rise above adversity, to play through injury, and to win again, and again, and again… Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the greatest person I've ever known."
- Andre Agassi's emotional speech about his wife at her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, 2004 (Andre is a zero meant divorced,druggist,injured in April,1999 and he inspired by the win of Graf at roland garros in June,1999.Interestingly he won next day match and reached all next four slams finals and won 3 out of 4.They started dating just before US open(August),1999 and married In 2001.)
"I'm like a little girl in front of Steffi,"
"I'll always be a big fan. It's always emotional for me."
- Justin Henin ,2010
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