Steffi Graf German fan of Graf, Günter Parche. He claimed that he committed the attack to help Graf reclaim the world No. 1 ranking. More than two years elapsed before Seles competed again. Shortly after the stabbing, during a players meeting at the Italian Open in Rome, 17 of the world's top 25 WTA members voted against preserving Seles' world No. 1 ranking while she was sidelined. Since Graf skipped the Italian Open, she did not take part in the vote. During Seles's absence, Graf won 65 of 67 matches, three of four Grand Slam events and the year-end Virginia Slims championships.
1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's Singles injury. She was replaced in the draw by the highest-ranked non-seeded player Karina Habšudová, who became the #17 seed. 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's Singles Steffi Graf was the defending champion, and successfully defended her title, defeating Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final, 6–3, 7–5 to win the Ladies' Singles tennis title at the 1996 Wimbledon Championships, giving Graf the seventh Wimbledon title of her career. It was the second consecutive major final between the two women, with Graf also winning the French Open crown a month earlier. With this victory, Graf captured her seventh and final Wimbledon crown, while