Steffi Graf in a tight third set that included a 16-minute long, 13-deuce game on Sanchez Vicario's serve at 5-5. In August Monica Seles made her much anticipated return to tennis at the Canadian Open. It was decided to grant her a joint number one ranking with Graf who took her first loss of the year in the first round to Amanda Coetzer. The US Open was Monica Seles's first Grand Slam event since the 1993 attack, with much anticipation again around a potential Seles-Graf final. After surviving a scare in a three-setter against Amanda Coetzer in the first round, Graf reached
Steffi Graf end of the year, the municipality of Brühl, her hometown, gave her the title of honorary citizen. Speculation was rife at the beginning of 1989 about the possibility of Graf winning another Grand Slam. Some noted observers, such as Margaret Court, suggested that Graf could achieve the feat a couple more times. And the year began as expected, with Graf extending her Grand Slam tournament winning streak to five events at the Australian Open, defeating Helena Suková in the final. Her 6–3, 6–0 defeat of Argentina's Gabriela Sabatini in a semifinal was described by veteran observer Ted Tinling as "probably