Steffi Graf in three-set matches to claim her seventh title there in eight years. Monica Seles beat Graf in three sets in the final of the Australian Open 4–6, 6–3, 6–2. This cemented Seles as the dominant No. 1 player in the world, having won five of the previous six, seven of the previous nine, and eight of the previous 12 major singles titles. In that timespan of 12 majors, Graf had won twice (1991 and 1992 Wimbledon) in comparison. During a quarterfinal match between Seles and Magdalena Maleeva in Hamburg, Seles was stabbed between the shoulder blades by a mentally ill
1987 Italian Open (tennis) 1987 Italian Open (tennis) The 1987 Italian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Foro Italico in Rome in Italy that was part of the 1987 Nabisco Grand Prix and of 1987 Virginia Slims World Championship Series. The men's tournament was held from 11 May through 17 May 1987 while the women's tournament was held from 4 May through 10 May 1987. Mats Wilander and Steffi Graf won the singles titles. Mats Wilander defeated Martín Jaite 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 Steffi Graf defeated Gabriela Sabatini 7–5, 4–6, 6–0 Guy Forget / Yannick Noah defeated Miloslav Mečíř