Graf–Seles rivalry Graf–Seles rivalry Steffi Graf and Monica Seles are retired professional tennis players who between 1989 and 1999 engaged in a rivalry for the best female tennis player. They competed in 15 matches. Seles, a left-handed player, demonstrated powerful and precise hitting from the baseline on both wings. Graf, in contrast, had a formidable forehand, in addition to her penetrating serve, but mostly sliced her backhand. Their head to head rivalry was especially notable for Graf being dominant on tour in Seles' first years and then Seles being dominant at the grand slams winning three of the four matches they played
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