Graf dominates biggest rivals on their best surfaces

[davey25]

Steffi Graf tended to overpower her biggest rivals even on their favorite surfaces.

Here is Graf utterly dominating Monica Seles on her favorite surface of hard courts first in 1991, then in 1996:

1991 U.S Open Womens Hard Courts Final: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiFHwjWBNnI&feature=related

1996 U.S Open Women Final: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvY2oUMcBdI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vywwtfd1V0I&feature=related


Here is Graf dominating Navratilova on her favorite surface of grass first in 1988, then in 1989:

1988 Wimbledon Womens Final: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWGYOouR69Q&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNoIU0_Ar4A&feature=related

1989 Wimbledon Womens Final:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4W-WKkyz1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kxOq4yMg8g&feature=related



Just beating her biggest rivals on their favorite surfaces is not enough. She prefers to destroy them on their favorite surfaces. Then when she plays her greatest rivals in their primes on their least favorite surfaces, destroying them is not enough, humiliating them is is what she prefers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra9jA8uD9Vk 92 Wimbledon womens final vs Seles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFjo6PxqAQ 16 year old Graf mauling prime Navratilova on clay in the Berlin final.

 

[HollerOne5]

Seles' favorite surface is clay bro. Nice try though.

 

[davey25]

Seles' favorite surface is clay bro. Nice try though.

Really. I dont think that was ever the consensus. Her favorite surface was slow to medium hard courts first, then clay, then indoors and faster hard courts, then grasss a distant last.

 

[LDVTennis]

Seles' favorite surface is clay bro. Nice try though.

I thought the '99 French Semi between Seles and Graf was virtually a one-sided match.

Excluding the first set, it was a pretty routine match for Steffi. She got up early in the second set and held for the set. In the second set, she broke early, got broken back, broke again decisively, and served out the match.

Had Steffi's slump in the early 90's never happened, this is how I would have expected their matches on clay to go. Once Steffi goes "all-court" on Monica in that match, there really isn't much Monica can do.

 

[reversef]

Is Graf still playing?
I think all those threads should be in the former players forum.

 

[davey25]

Graf is still an active player. She is very active in exhibition tennis.

 

[MotherMarjorie]

Mother Marjorie thinks this should be moved to the former pro section.

 

[MotherMarjorie]

Steffi Graf tended to overpower her biggest rivals even on their favorite surfaces.

See 1991 French Open semifinals: ASV d. Steffi Graf 6-0, 6-2

 

[abmk]

Really. I dont think that was ever the consensus. Her favorite surface was slow to medium hard courts first, then clay, then indoors and faster hard courts, then grasss a distant last.

which is why you said USO courts ( fast hard courts ) were monica's fav surface .... , nice LOGIC FAIL !

obviously you will twist anything to prove your agenda in any case !

 

[Centered]

Navratilova head-to-head in singles:

Steffi Graf 9–9
Monica Seles 7–10

Zina Garrison 33–1 (who beat Seles and Graf at 1990 Wimbledon, and was then beaten 4-6, 1-6 by Navratilova in the final)

Gabriela Sabatini 15–6
Margaret Court 5–2
Billie Jean King 9–5
Lindsay Davenport 1–0
Jana Novotná 6–1
Virginia Wade 18–6

 

[davey25]

Navratilova head-to-head in singles:

Steffi Graf 9–9
Monica Seles 7–10

Zina Garrison 33–1 (who beat Seles and Graf at 1990 Wimbledon, and was then beaten 4-6, 1-6 by Navratilova in the final)

Gabriela Sabatini 15–6
Margaret Court 5–2
Billie Jean King 9–5
Lindsay Davenport 1–0
Jana Novotná 6–1
Virginia Wade 18–6

Navratilova won 16 of her 18 slams and reached almost all her slam finals aged 25 to 33 from 1982 to 1990. 14 of her 18 matches vs Graf were in that time. Graf won 20 of her 22 slams and reached almost all her slam finals aged 18 to 27 from 1988 to 1996. 8 of her 18 matches vs Navratilova were during this time. Navratilova avoided Graf on rebound ace and clay on Graf emerged to #1. Yet despite this their head to head is tied.

Navratilova and King played for the first time ever not until Navratilova was already 20 and King was 33 years old. King had returned to tour after retiring due horribly bad knees, otherwise the two would have never even played each other. King was a shadow of her old self in her surprising final career stage aged 33-38 on very bad knees, and did not reach a single major final. Their last meeting ever was a 24 year old Navratilova vs a 37 year old King. King still won over a third of their meetings. Kings wins included a 35 year old King spanking reigning Wimbledon Champion 22 year old Navratilova 6-1, 6-2 on grass in 1979, and 36 year old King spanking 23 year old now 2 time Wimbledon Champion Navratilova 6-1, 6-3 on indoor carpet in 1980.

Navratilova and Court played all their matches after Court also returned from retirement for a final few years, aged 33 and 35 and already having gone through a series of pregnancies. Navratilova was in her early 20s for all 5 matches. A 33 year old Court upset #2 seed Navratilova at Wimbledon in 1975 in the quarters.

Had neither King or Court surprisingly returned for a final career stint already aged 33 upon its start, well past their prime, and which neither achieved any real success, Navratilova would have never even played either women.


Some other head to heads you did not mention:

Navratilova vs Austin: Navratilova leads 20-14. If one exluded the first 6 meetings with a 15 year old Austin and the last 4 meetings with a broken bodied/soon to take very early retirement Austin in 1982, the head to head would actually be 13-11 in the favor of the teenaged Austin.

Navratilova vs Sukova: 26-6. Including a loss to a Sukova in one of the biggest matches of her career at her peak at the 84 Australian Open, which denied her the Calender Slam she never achieved, yet Graf managed at only 19 (and would have attained again twice more without two injury related DNP at the Australian Open). The same Sukova Graf is 21-1 against, and only lost to Sukova at age 14 in their first ever meeting before reeling of 21 straight wins against.

Navratilova vs Goolagong- 15-12. A great player but one of the biggest underachieving greats in tennis history who Court, King, and Evert all have a destructively lopsided head to head against.

Navratilova vs Conchita Martinez- 1-4.

Navratilova vs Natasha Zvereva- 8-5. Including 3 losses in the same year while still ranked #2 in the World behind Graf, and only 1 year removed from the best 5 year stretch of her career. The same player who has a 1-20 lifetime head to head vs Graf.

Navratilova vs Betty Stove: 16-3. The same big serving but grossly overweight and unathletic Brenda Schultz clone who Chris Evert never lost once to. In fact 31 year old Betty Stove made her first Wimbledon final at the expense of 21 year old Navratilova.

 

[Centered]

Navratilova's doubles and mixed titles versus Graf's.

Any way to spin that one? Somehow she managed to play singles, doubles, and mixed.

And, I suppose Martina was a spring chicken when she beat Graf and Seles...

Like it or not, Navratilova maintained an even record against Graf despite being much older.

 

[hoodjem]

Graf is still an active player. She is very active in exhibition tennis.

This is stretching it quite a bit.

Just like Edberg, Courier, Mac, Borg, Wilander, Pernfors, Rafter, Lendl--they're still active also.

 

[Centered]

horribly bad knees

Like the way Navratilova had had two knee operations prior to winning at Wimbledon in 1990?

Navratilova vs Conchita Martinez- 1-4.

Yes, Conchita was the lone player with a game that was the perfect foil for an aged Navratilova. It's really unfortunate luck for Martina that she had to play her of all people in the 1994 Wimbledon final.

 

[davey25]

And, I suppose Martina was a spring chicken when she beat Graf and Seles...

No but she is the latest blooming player in history. At age ages 18-20, the ages when Graf and Seles were dominant, Navratilova couldnt even beat 31 year old Betty Stove, Wendy Turnbull, 33 year old semi retired Margaret Court, or Janet Newburry in slams. At ages 23 and 24 she was still losing to Wendy Turnbull, 17 year old Mandlikova, Pam Shriver, Sylvia Hanika, regularly in slams. If Navratilova had played prime Graf and Seles while she was aged 18-24 she would have fared even worse than she did in her 30s.

And was King a spring chicken in her mid 30s on her busted knees a spring chicken when she was not only beating but smacking down a 20 something Navratilova on occasion on her favorite surfaces. Atleast Graf or Seles never lost 6-2, 6-1 to a mid 30s Navratilova on clay or rebound ace which is the equivalent of what reigning Wimbledon winner Navratilova let mid 30s King do to her more than once.

Doubles and mixed doubles is a valid criteria for greatest ever for some people. I am not going to argue that either way as it is personal opinion. Many distinguish between singles and doubles altogether and I am one of those.

 

[Centered]

Doubles and mixed doubles is a valid criteria for greatest ever for some people.

Yes, people who recognize that tennis includes doubles and mixed, and that it's quite an achievement in terms of skill, focus, and endurance to simultaneously excel in all three.

At age ages 18-20 when Graf and Seles were dominant Navratilova couldnt even...

She's from a different generation, had to deal with being a closeted lesbian, and was cut off from her culture and family because of defection. Clearly, Navratilova managed to excel despite being well beyond her physical peak, but had she been in different circumstance, with the luxury of being around her family and her native culture (had that culture not been repressive/controlling), it's less likely she would have turned to binge eating and had such mediocre coaching at times in her early career.

Things worked out very well for her, all told. But, it seems clear that if she had emerged during a time when women's tennis was very fitness-minded (the mentality that she brought to the game) as Graf and Seles did, she would have done better in her younger years because she wouldn't have been alone in a new land coping with cheeseburgers. The flipside of this, though, is that perhaps she would have had more injuries because of the increasing focus on hard courts and hard hitting.

In any case, she managed to overcome her problems with the Czech government, homophobia, and isolation to dominate women's tennis with an 86-1 year and a ton of titles in doubles as well as singles. She also managed a 9-9 record against the much younger Graf.

More than Navratilova, though, the player whose career was hampered the most by circumstance was Seles.

 

[davey25]

All valid points. Still I refuse to accept this idea Navratilova was at this big disadvantage because she was facing the much younger Graf when you talk about head to head. Their first 2 or 3 years playing Navratilova was still in the stretch of the best tennis of her career facing a 16 or 17 year old Graf. Are you even going to try and suggest Navratilova was the one at a disadvantage when she played Graf in 1985 and 1986 as far as where both their careers where at, when their first 6 meetings came. Or even that Navratilova was the one disadvantaged being in the Wimbledon and U.S Open finals for the 6th straight year facing Graf in her first ever finals at both events in 1987. Graf was certainly not at an advantage for anymore than a half of their matches.

 

[Starfury]

Is Graf still playing?
I think all those threads should be in the former players forum.

I'd say davey placed this thread here, since it is supposed to contrast Graf and his nemesis Federer :roll:

 

[davey25]

It is true Graf is far more the true GOAT of her gender than Federer as she stands out in so many ways that he just doesnt. However my threads on Graf are in no way co- related to Federer all the same.

 

[Jchurch]

It is true Graf is far more the true GOAT of her gender than Federer as she stands out in so many ways that he just doesnt. However my threads on Graf are in no way co- related to Federer all the same.

I will have to say nein to that. I bet even Graf would say nein to that.

 

[Gen]

You can say whatever you want, but

- 22 slams vs Federer's 17
- calendar golden slam (1988 ) which Federer doesn't have
- Olympic gold medal which Federer couldn't get in three attempts
- 107 tourneys won vs Federer's 67
- 377 consecutive weeks as No.1 vs Federer's ?
- finished 8 years as World No.1 vs. Federer's 5

Steffi is times better than Federer. Do your homework, buddy.

 

[dropshot winner]

You can say whatever you want, but

- 22 slams vs Federer's 17
- calendar golden slam (1988 ) which Federer doesn't have
- Olympic gold medal which Federer couldn't get in three attempts
- 107 tourneys won vs Federer's 67
- 377 consecutive weeks as No.1 vs Federer's ?
- finished 8 years as World No.1 vs. Federer's 5

Steffi is times better than Federer. Do your homework, buddy.

Steffi Graf played against little girls, and Nadal wasn't stabbed.

I'd say it's at least a tie .

 

[Deleted member 77403]

You can say whatever you want, but

- 22 slams vs Federer's 17
- calendar golden slam (1988 ) which Federer doesn't have
- Olympic gold medal which Federer couldn't get in three attempts
- 107 tourneys won vs Federer's 67
- 377 consecutive weeks as No.1 vs Federer's ?
- finished 8 years as World No.1 vs. Federer's 5

Steffi is times better than Federer. Do your homework, buddy.

22 slams - 16 slams

 

[Gen]

Sorry, I lost the count

 

[Gen]

Steffi Graf played against little girls, and Nadal wasn't stabbed.

I'd say it's at least a tie .

I've never known that Navratilova qualified as a little girl More of a big boy. Conchita Martinez was also quite weighty in all respects. Gabriela Sabatini could play a good match or two. IMO the field in the 1980-1990 was much better than it is now, and girl's tennis was much more interesting.

 

[davey25]

Steffi Graf played against little girls, and Nadal wasn't stabbed.

I'd say it's at least a tie .

Seles never did close to the personal damage to Graf that Nadal could do to Federer. Comparing the two are night and day in that regard.

 

[davey25]

You can say whatever you want, but

- 22 slams vs Federer's 17
- calendar golden slam (1988 ) which Federer doesn't have
- Olympic gold medal which Federer couldn't get in three attempts
- 107 tourneys won vs Federer's 67
- 377 consecutive weeks as No.1 vs Federer's ?
- finished 8 years as World No.1 vs. Federer's 5

Steffi is times better than Federer. Do your homework, buddy.

Bingo. Words of wisdom. Plus the field Graf faced was considered a much stronger womens field than the field Federer has mostly faced is viewed as a mens field.

 

[dropshot winner]

Seles never did close to the personal damage to Graf that Nadal could do to Federer. Comparing the two are night and day in that regard.

Personal damage? What are you talking about? Federer doesn't have a personal problem with Nadal, he just hates playing Nadal because the match-up forces him to do many things differently, even more so on clay.

Besides, if Graf is so much greater than Federer, her longest consecutive stay at #1 would be longer than Federer's.

 

[Iceman778]

yes may it happens but i cant think it happens

 

[fed_rulz]

I'd say davey placed this thread here, since it is supposed to contrast Graf and his nemesis Federer :roll:

Amen to that.

 

[davey25]

Personal damage? What are you talking about? Federer doesn't have a personal problem with Nadal, he just hates playing Nadal because the match-up forces him to do many things differently, even more so on clay.

Nadal has beaten Federer in a slam final on every surface. Nadal has beaten Federer in 5 slam finals and 1 slam semi. Nadal has beaten Federer twice as often as Federer has beaten Nadal. Nadal reduced Federer to tears and tarnished his legacy at one point. Nadal humiliated Federer in a slam final, allowing him only 4 games in 3 sets once. I would say that is alot of personal damage as far as his tennis career goes.

Contrast that to Seles. Seles beat Graf in a few slams on Seles's favorite court during a bad Graf slump she probably was going to lose 2 of the 3 anyway. Seles never came close to denying Graf a Wimbledon title, in fact when she came across Graf on Graf's turf Graf was a lion waiting to pounce all over the meat, while when Federer cames across Nadal on his own turf he is more like a mouse awaiting the lion in the last 2 finals. Seles has only beaten Graf half as many times as Graf has beaten her. Seles has never thumped Graf in a match and her best slam victory over Graf was 7-6, 6-4. Seles didnt even have a winning head to head vs Graf during her 2 year period of dominance of the womens game when a slumping Graf was losing to a variety of players and only playing Seles once in awhile.

The difference is quite evident.

 

[akv89]

Seles never did close to the personal damage to Graf that Nadal could do to Federer. Comparing the two are night and day in that regard.

Yeah, comparing two players of different genders playing on different tours in different periods of time like Nadal and Seles is ridiculous. It's perfectly reasonable however to compare Federer to Graf...
In fact, I was stuck in a similar situation during lunch today when deciding between apples and oranges.

 

[pmerk34]

Nadal has beaten Federer in a slam final on every surface. Nadal has beaten Federer in 5 slam finals and 1 slam semi. Nadal has beaten Federer twice as often as Federer has beaten Nadal. Nadal reduced Federer to tears and tarnished his legacy at one point. Nadal humiliated Federer in a slam final, allowing him only 4 games in 3 sets once. I would say that is alot of personal damage as far as his tennis career goes.

Contrast that to Seles. Seles beat Graf in a few slams on Seles's favorite court during a bad Graf slump she probably was going to lose 2 of the 3 anyway. Seles never came close to denying Graf a Wimbledon title, in fact when she came across Graf on Graf's turf Graf was a lion waiting to pounce all over the meat, while when Federer cames across Nadal on his own turf he is more like a mouse awaiting the lion in the last 2 finals. Seles has only beaten Graf half as many times as Graf has beaten her. Seles has never thumped Graf in a match and her best slam victory over Graf was 7-6, 6-4. Seles didnt even have a winning head to head vs Graf during her 2 year period of dominance of the womens game when a slumping Graf was losing to a variety of players and only playing Seles once in awhile.

The difference is quite evident.

All you ever do is make excuses for Graf's losses.

 

[dropshot winner]

Nadal has beaten Federer in a slam final on every surface. Nadal has beaten Federer in 5 slam finals and 1 slam semi. Nadal has beaten Federer twice as often as Federer has beaten Nadal. Nadal reduced Federer to tears and tarnished his legacy at one point. Nadal humiliated Federer in a slam final, allowing him only 4 games in 3 sets once. I would say that is alot of personal damage as far as his tennis career goes.

Contrast that to Seles. Seles beat Graf in a few slams on Seles's favorite court during a bad Graf slump she probably was going to lose 2 of the 3 anyway. Seles never came close to denying Graf a Wimbledon title, in fact when she came across Graf on Graf's turf Graf was a lion waiting to pounce all over the meat, while when Federer cames across Nadal on his own turf he is more like a mouse awaiting the lion in the last 2 finals. Seles has only beaten Graf half as many times as Graf has beaten her. Seles has never thumped Graf in a match and her best slam victory over Graf was 7-6, 6-4. Seles didnt even have a winning head to head vs Graf during her 2 year period of dominance of the womens game when a slumping Graf was losing to a variety of players and only playing Seles once in awhile.

The difference is quite evident.

You must be dizzy from going in circles all the time...

 

[davey25]

All you ever do is make excuses for Graf's losses.

I didnt make excuses for Graf's losses. I stated what happened. Where is Seles's win over Graf at Wimbledon like Nadal has over Federer, and another final he should have won but lost in 5 after choking. There is only a 6-2, 6-1 final loss that I see. Where is Seles's 6-1, 6-1 win over Graf in a slam final which is the equivalent of the 2008 French Open final. Where is the period Seles was winning almost all her matches with Graf, she didnt even have a winning head to head during her time ranked #1 as I showed.

Graf would never let a rival, be it Navratilova, Seles, Hingis, or anyone else do the kind of personal damage to her that Federer allowed Nadal to do to him. She is too great, too proud, and too assured in her own abilities. She is the true GOAT of her gender in a way he simply isnt.

 

[davey25]

You must be dizzy from going in circles all the time...

You must be dizzy making excuses for Federer's ineptitude vs Nadal and why it means nothing to his supposed GOAT status. Along with the other holes in his resume compared to past greats.

 

[Joe Pike]

Steffi Graf tended to overpower her biggest rivals even on their favorite surfaces.

Here is Graf utterly dominating Monica Seles on her favorite surface of hard courts first in 1991, then in 1996:

1991 U.S Open Womens Hard Courts Final: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiFHwjWBNnI&feature=related

1996 U.S Open Women Final: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvY2oUMcBdI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vywwtfd1V0I&feature=related


Here is Graf dominating Navratilova on her favorite surface of grass first in 1988, then in 1989:

1988 Wimbledon Womens Final: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWGYOouR69Q&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNoIU0_Ar4A&feature=related

1989 Wimbledon Womens Final:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4W-WKkyz1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kxOq4yMg8g&feature=related



Just beating her biggest rivals on their favorite surfaces is not enough. She prefers to destroy them on their favorite surfaces. Then when she plays her greatest rivals in their primes on their least favorite surfaces, destroying them is not enough, humiliating them is is what she prefers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra9jA8uD9Vk 92 Wimbledon womens final vs Seles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFjo6PxqAQ 16 year old Graf mauling prime Navratilova on clay in the Berlin final.

Yes, when Graf was on she was unbeatable.
Consider whom she destroyed in slam finals:
Zvereva (who had beaten Navratilova in the quarters) in the 1988 FO final (6-0 6-0).
Navratilova (who had led Graf 7-5 2-0) in the 1988 Wimbledon final (5-7 6-2 6-1), breaking her in the last seven service games!
Seles in the 1992 Wimbledon final (6-2 6-1).
Sanchez in the 1994 AO final (6-0 6-2).

 

[Joe Pike]

Navratilova head-to-head in singles:

Steffi Graf 9–9 ...

With almost 90 percent of the matches on fast courts, favouring Navratilova.
Navratilova played her last match against Graf on a slow court when Graf was 17 years old ...

 

[davey25]

Graf's biggest rivals were scared to play Graf on their less favorite surfaces. Navratilova avoided clay and barely played on it after being destroyed by a 16 year old Graf in Berlin in 1986. She also began to skip the Australian Open on rebound ace, only playing it twice. Seles skipped Wimbledon in 1991 to avoid facing Graf. It was hard enough to face Graf on your favorite surfaces, nobody wanted to even try on their less favorite ones.

That is something I admire about Evert and Court as well. Like Graf they did not duck anyone, they played alot on all surfaces throughout their whole careers. Even when Navratilova was killing Evert for awhile, Evert went to any grass, carpet, or fast event she could find. She did not back down from the challenge. Navratilova only played in more than the occasional clay court event Evert or Graf were in when she was 110% confident, otherwise no mas, and once she learnt she wasnt great on rebound ace she avoided it too.

 

[BTURNER]

The moment I read words like: 'when she was on..." , or 'peak - [insert personal name] or "When - was playing in the zone.... " I know it is all about cherry picking to arrive at a set conclusion. I don't care about how good someone was when they were at their best. I care just as much about thier mediocre and poor days because those are as much part of their record and legacy as any other.

 

[Joe Pike]

The moment I read words like: 'when she was on..." , or 'peak - [insert personal name] or "When - was playing in the zone.... " I know it is all about cherry picking to arrive at a set conclusion. I don't care about how good someone was when they were at their best. ...

I do, though.
Especially who plays at her peak in slam finals.
Destroying #1 or #2 players in slam finals says something.

 

[BTURNER]

I do, though.
Especially who plays at her peak in slam finals.
Destroying #1 or #2 players in slam finals says something.

Joe, So often looking looking at the peak means a choice to ignore the slopes, and the crevasses. I give attention Graf being destroyed in the semi's by Sanchez at RG, or Navratilova's loss to Horvath, or Evert's loss to McNeil as those great triumphs. then I do the really hard part. I refuse to rationalize or entertain excuses.

 

[davey25]

The moment I read words like: 'when she was on..." , or 'peak - [insert personal name] or "When - was playing in the zone.... " I know it is all about cherry picking to arrive at a set conclusion. I don't care about how good someone was when they were at their best. I care just as much about thier mediocre and poor days because those are as much part of their record and legacy as any other.

Well I would say Graf is the 2nd most consistent player of the Open Era after only Evert. Navratilova certainly wasnt more consistent, she dropped as low as #5 in the World after ending two straight years at #1, before returning to #1. Considering the 81 Australian Open ended in Janauary 82 she went two straight years without any kind of major title win- 1980 and 1981, in the middle of her other years being ranked #1 and winning Wimbledons and other major titles. In her 2 best years ever she suffered a 3rd round loss and a semifinal loss to a much lower seed in slams. Court gave up a chance for more consistency by taking breaks to have babies, and sometimes being rusty for a bit upon her returns. And as much as I like Serena dont even get me started on her in this category compared to the others I mentioned.

 

[BTURNER]

Well I would say Graf is the 2nd most consistent player of the Open Era after only Evert. Navratilova certainly wasnt more consistent, she dropped as low as #5 in the World after ending two straight years at #1, before returning to #1. Considering the 81 Australian Open ended in Janauary 82 she went two straight years without any kind of major title win- 1980 and 1981, in the middle of her other years being ranked #1 and winning Wimbledons and other major titles. In her 2 best years ever she suffered a 3rd round loss and a semifinal loss to a much lower seed in slams. Court gave up a chance for more consistency by taking breaks to have babies, and sometimes being rusty for a bit upon her returns. And as much as I like Serena dont even get me started on her in this category compared to the others I mentioned.

If you are using career W/L stats, as your measure of the above, you should re-assess Court. Some stats have her right up there or higher than both Graf and Evert, but that includes the amateur years and lots of time competing in the New Zealand International and the Queensland Grass Championships ( Names are made up for humor purposes ) Nevertheless Court hardly ever registered an early round loss rusty or not until age became a after. She has high cred on the consistency standard

 

[dannykl]

Well I would say Graf is the 2nd most consistent player of the Open Era after only Evert. Navratilova certainly wasnt more consistent, she dropped as low as #5 in the World after ending two straight years at #1, before returning to #1. Considering the 81 Australian Open ended in Janauary 82 she went two straight years without any kind of major title win- 1980 and 1981, in the middle of her other years being ranked #1 and winning Wimbledons and other major titles. In her 2 best years ever she suffered a 3rd round loss and a semifinal loss to a much lower seed in slams. Court gave up a chance for more consistency by taking breaks to have babies, and sometimes being rusty for a bit upon her returns. And as much as I like Serena dont even get me started on her in this category compared to the others I mentioned.

The consistency of Evert over her career is amazing.
Today players just can't be consistently dominant as Evert, Graf or Court.
The Williams, the Belgians and the Russians are just not consistent enough as the legends.