Williams’ chase lands Graf back in spotlight
Retired German icon keeps low profile
In an Australian Open weekend when Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber loomed large, another name was mentioned almost as much: the great Steffi Graf.
Or Stefanie Graf, as she likes to be called these days. Saturday night, Kerber denied Williams Grand Slam title No. 22, an Openera record that belongs to her German countrywoman, Graf.
Kerber received a good-luck message from Graf before the final, as she tried to pull off what many thought was the unthinkable: beating Williams. But she did and got congratulations from Graf, who is a rare sight in tennis.
With her name in the head- lines again, many are wondering: Where is Graf these days? Graf, 46, lives in Las Vegas with husband Andre Agassi and their two kids, Jaden, 14, and Jaz, 12. She is seldom at tennis’ big events, making a rare appearance for a sponsor or her charity, the Children of Tomorrow.
“She made it very clear that once her career was over she would leave tennis,” said Doris Henkel, a freelance German journalist who covered 19 of Graf ’s 22 major titles. “She loved the competition, but all the rest was a burden for her. She didn’t like press conferences or the PR stuff, so it’s no surprise to me we don’t really see her.”
Tennis is filled with its greats in varying capacities around the sport. They’re commentators, coaches, tournament directors and agents. They make appearances at legends luncheons, play charity events and take selfies with fans.
But for Graf, the private life is where she has found joy. She told espn W as much in an interview in April: “I just don’t think of my career much. I think (it’s because) I had such peace of mind that I felt I gave my sport everything. I know I was obviously aware that I achieved a lot, but I think the comfort was that I felt like I gave everything to it and it gave me a lot in return. It gave me what I have now — Andre, my family and the time to spend with them. I’m extremely grateful.”
Graf declined to comment for this story. But she is far from a total ghost in tennis. In 2009, she handed over the Roland Garros trophy — 10 years after she won a sixth and final one herself — to Svetlana Kuznetsova. That year she also helped break in the Centre Court roof at Wimbledon, playing a mixed doubles match alongside Agassi.
Her absence at most events is accepted. “Stefanie has always been a private person,” said Eurosport analyst Barbara Schett, a former world No. 7. “She doesn’t need to come back and work the tournaments — she has her thing with her family and Andre, where she found the perfect match. It’s up to her if she wants to be involved. We have to respect that.”
Graf ’s ties to Kerber, 28, have been a focal point in light of her countrywoman’s first major title. In 2012, when Kerber made the Wimbledon semifinals, Graf chatted with her in the locker room. In March, Kerber spent time with Graf on the practice courts of her Las Vegas home as part of an Adidas player development program.
“That was a special moment for me, but I am not in touch with her in every tournament or every week,” Kerber said Saturday. “I have my team around me. Steffi told me two or three sentences ( before the match), which means a lot because it was Steffi.”
Kerber is the first German woman to win a major since Graf in the 1999 French Open and the first here since Graf in 1994.
But does Kerber’s success mean Graf will be more present on tour? Probably not.
“She gave the game so much; she was such a great champion,” Henkel said. “She brought joy to so many people.”