Two game-changing champions produced a pulsating match that stands as one of the most compelling in their often-riveting 15-match rivalry.
Seles' determination and her trademark two-fisted drives powered to her third consecutive French Open final. The two-time champion showed her familiar fighting spirit in twice roaring back from third-set deficits during the fortnight: She dug out of a 1-4 third-set hole in the fourth round to defeat 150th-ranked Japanese Akiko Kijimutu, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, before battling back from a 2-4 deficit against fourth-ranked Gabriela Sabatini to score a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal victory.
Seles rode a 20-match Roland Garros win streak into the final, which was a rematch of the 1990 final. Graf, who scored successive three-set wins over Natasha Zvereva and 1989 champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario to reach her fifth French final in six years, was intent on reclaiming the title she last won in 1988 with a 6-0, 6-0 annihilation of Zvereva.
Watch the video highlights and take a moment to focus on Graf's feet. Tap dancing on the terre battue in preparation for the next shot, Graf glides around the court as if no shot is beyond her reach. The pace of play is refreshing. There's little down time between points as neither woman dawdles too much in fiddling with strings or reaching for towels: They get the ball and get it after it.
Seles was a sniper who revolutionized women's tennis by playing a bold baseline game. She cornered Graf on her backhand side, lashing drives down the line and bending short angles with disruptive power. The woman who took the ball so early it that it looked like she was hitting half-volleys from the baseline possessed a lethal return of serve and a stirring shriek that accompanied her shots.
This was territorial tennis, as the two champions dug in and refused to relinquish much ground behind the baseline. Declarative strikes were sometimes countered with even sharper angles in a clash that produced some periods of shotmaking brilliance.
A resilient Graf fought off four championship points serving at 3-5 in the third set. But when Seles served for the title, she pulled the trigger prematurely in committing four unforced errors to be broken. The left-hander would break back for an 8-7 lead, but Graf again broke for 8-all. Serving for the match once again at 9-8, Seles closed a captivating two-hour and 43-minute triumph when Graf flattened a forehand into net.
“That’s the hardest I’ve ever had to work for a Grand Slam title,” Seles said afterward.
A dramatic match bursting with crackling baseline exchanges made its mark on both crowd and players.
"It definitely was a special match," Graf said.
It was Seles’ third consecutive French Open title and marked the last time she would rule Paris. In a sustained span of dominance, she won eight of the 11 Grand Slam tournaments she entered from 1989 to 1993.
No. 5: Graf d. Hingis (1999 Final)
No. 4: Gaudio d. Coria (2004 Final)
No. 3: Seles d. Graf (1992 Final)
No. 2: Lendl d. McEnroe (1984 Final)
No. 1: Evert d. Navratilova (1985 Final)
