Stats for 1988 RG final (Graf-Zvereva)

[krosero]

Graf d. Zvereva 6-0, 6-0.

There's something almost perverse about describing the match in stats, but here goes.

Graf won 49 points overall, Zvereva 13.

Graf made 14 of 28 first serves (50%), Zvereva 27 of 34 (79%).

Graf won 13 of 14 points on first serve (93%) and 11 of 14 on second (79%).
Zvereva won 7 of 27 on first serve (26%) and 2 of 7 on second (29%).

Graf made 3 aces, 1 df.
Zvereva made no aces or doubles.

Graf drew 7 return errors, of which I judged 2 as service winners.
Zvereva drew 4 return errors, none of which I judged as a service winner.


Graf made 14 clean winners apart from serves: 9 FH, 2 BH, 3 overheads. Of these, she hit four passes (3 FH) and 1 return winner.

Zvereva made 2 clean winners apart from serve, both BH passes.

At 1-love in the second set, NBC had Graf at 14 winners. I have the same if I include her two aces plus all the judgment calls I’d given her (2 service winners, 2 FH).

They had Zvereva at only 1 winner, a BH pass. She had drawn three return errors but had not hit any aces or other winners.

There was an average of 5.2 points per game, I think the lowest I’ve ever seen.

I didn't see any unforced errors stats during the match or in the print media. I also couldn't find published winners for the match as a whole. But I seem to have made judgment calls at the same pace as NBC, and in the end I gave Graf 24 total winners including service and all judgment calls.

 

[krosero]

New York Times:

The 18-year-old West German defeated Natalya Zvereva of the Soviet Union, 6-0, 6-0, in just 32 minutes. In French Open history no finalist had ever failed to win at least one game, and among all Grand Slam events, the last 6-0, 6-0 final was in 1911, when Dorothy Lambert Chambers defeated D. P. Boothby at Wimbledon.

The 17-year-old Soviet player had no reply for Graf's powerful serves and groundstrokes; she won just 13 points in the match. A one-hour rain delay in the first set proved to be longer than the match itself.

Different Routes
Zvereva had arrived at the final through the bottom half of the draw, which was weakened by Chris Evert's early loss. The Soviet player had caught second-seeded Martina Navratilova flat in the round of 16; in the semifinals, she went three sets, including a tie breaker, with a player closer to her level, Nicole Provis of Australia.

Graf, meanwhile, had rolled over all her opponents in straight sets, only straining slightly to beat fourth-seeded Gabriela Sabatini in a second-set tie breaker in the semifinal. Having also won the Australian Open this year, Graf will now aim at the third piece of the Grand Slam, Wimbledon, in two weeks.

Per NBC, in her side of the draw Zvereva broke 35 times and was broken 16 times.

Per Aussie tv, Graf lost 20 games in the tournament.

I thought it was interesting that Tony Trabert and Betsy Nagelson agreed that Graf’s weakest surface was grass. At that point she hadn't played many grass tournaments and had only made 1 Wimbledon final, losing in straights to Martina.

 

[Henry Kaspar]

I remember this match. Zvereva had a fabulous tournament, beating Navratilova on the way to the final in a close enounter, but then was no match for a dominant Graf. I felt sorry for Zvereva.

 

[boredone3456]

Zvereva was never really a match for Graf. Her head to head against steffi is something like 20-1 in Steffi's favor, and the only win for Zvereva came after a huge Graf injury layoff. Zvereva was a good player, but she more a doubles specialist who just could not consistantly keep it together against the big guns, despite being talented, sort of like Pam Shriver. This match was just Steffi going to town.

 

[grafselesfan]

Watching the match on youtube again I noticed two things. Graf in completely overpowering forehand, her forehand and all shots cooking, rushing to finish points, taking so little time in between points, just getting on a roll and wanting to keep crushing and winning and onto the next point quickly and getting in that sort of groove. Zvereva looking so slow and tired. She had a 3 set semifinal, maybe she wasnt fit enough yet to come back from that. Not moving well at all.

 

[Henry Kaspar]

Zvereva was never really a match for Graf. Her head to head against steffi is something like 20-1 in Steffi's favor, and the only win for Zvereva came after a huge Graf injury layoff. Zvereva was a good player, but she more a doubles specialist who just could not consistantly keep it together against the big guns, despite being talented, sort of like Pam Shriver. This match was just Steffi going to town.

This is the benefit of hindsight. Going into this match, Zvereva seemed to be a new sensation in the making. Graf was favorite to win the final no doubt, but people were looking forward to an interesting final. The 6-0 6-0 was a huge letdown. Zvereva seemed like a little shy girl that had by mistake been placed on a far too big stage. One couldn't but feel sorry for her.

 

[Lionheart392]

I bet the crowd was somewhat disappointed. Imagine if you got to your seat 15 minutes late, and half the match is already over!

 

[grafselesfan]

Zvereva overall in her career was a huge underachiever. It was evident that she was a very lazy person who didnt put the work in off the court, and it was evident during her matches often with her half hearted footwork at times. It was pretty bad she spent the majority of her career outside even the top 10 given her talent level, and never made another slam final. She really could do it all when she was playing well.

In this match it looked like she realized early there was little chance she would win it, as I mentioned earlier she was probably a bit tired too, so she simply didnt try that hard which in a slam final is disagraceful really. Though I must say Federer in part did the same thing in the 2008 French Open final.

 

[Lionheart392]

Zvereva overall in her career was a huge underachiever. It was evident that she was a very lazy person who didnt put the work in off the court, and it was evident during her matches often with her half hearted footwork at times. It was pretty bad she spent the majority of her career outside even the top 10 given her talent level, and never made another slam final. She really could do it all when she was playing well.

In this match it looked like she realized early there was little chance she would win it, as I mentioned earlier she was probably a bit tired too, so she simply didnt try that hard which in a slam final is disagraceful really. Though I must say Federer in part did the same thing in the 2008 French Open final.

I think she said for most of the match she was just thinking about what to have for lunch :shock:

 

[grafselesfan]

I think she said for most of the match she was just thinking about what to have for lunch :shock:

Pretty strange. I think that wierd samurai ponytail she wore in the late 90s typified her personality. She was an immense talent, but sort of a rebel without a clue. Of course her potential tennis in the 90s if she had maximized her potential was even alot higher than it would have been in 88 when she was only 17.

I do wish she had atleast made the final of Wimbledon 98. That was a great tournament for her, scoring her first ever wins over Graf and Seles. It was so dissapointed she lost to the blech Natalie whiner Tauziat from 6-1 and a break in the 2nd set up. Watching a Novotna-Zvereva Wimbledon final would have been nice, instead I was on pins and needles not only hoping Jana finally won Wimbledon but that the horror of Tauziat winning Wimbledon didnt happen. Why the heck was Chris Evert in NBC's booth so pro Tauziat that year anyway. Tauziat ripped Chris (and everyone else of the many players more talented, successful, better looking, richer, and more popular than her) to shreads in her ridiculous book, but I am not sure if the book had come out yet by that years Wimbledon.

 

[Lionheart392]

Pretty strange. I think that wierd samurai ponytail she wore in the late 90s typified her personality. She was an immense talent, but sort of a rebel without a clue. Of course her potential tennis in the 90s if she had maximized her potential was even alot higher than it would have been in 88 when she was only 17.

I do wish she had atleast made the final of Wimbledon 98. That was a great tournament for her, scoring her first ever wins over Graf and Seles. It was so dissapointed she lost to the blech Natalie whiner Tauziat from 6-1 and a break in the 2nd set up. Watching a Novotna-Zvereva Wimbledon final would have been nice, instead I was on pins and needles not only hoping Jana finally won Wimbledon but that the horror of Tauziat winning Wimbledon didnt happen. Why the heck was Chris Evert in NBC's booth so pro Tauziat that year anyway. Tauziat ripped Chris (and everyone else of the many players more talented, successful, better looking, richer, and more popular than her) to shreads in her ridiculous book, but I am not sure if the book had come out yet by that years Wimbledon.

Tauziat had a book? Who would want to read it?

 

[grafselesfan]

Tauziat had a book? Who would want to read it?

Yes she had a book come out where she came across as a bitter jealous cow. She insulted and complained about pretty much everyone- Graf, Evert, Seles, Kournikova, Mauresmo, Pierce, Martinez. She complained about how Mauresmo, Pierce, and Testud get more attention than her in France even though she is the better player (in her mind). Testud I could sort of see, but the other two, ROTFL, delusional women. She talked about the lesbianism of Mauresmo and Martinez (I dont believe Martinez have ever come out of the closest). She said all kinds of crazy things about Chris including that she wore shrilly shorts to influence line judges. She said Graf played this brute forceful tennis which wasnt nice to watch, not like the nice femine tennis of Hingis or something like that. She talked about Monica being unfriendly and cold and how her grunting should be not allowed. She actually took criticized the Williams for a bit of the same as both Graf and Seles and some other things too, though I dont remember them all. She complained about Anna getting so much more attention and money than a far less attractive and marketable player than her. The funny thing is if it wasnt for her fluke Wimbledon final I only consider Tauziat a similar caliber of tennis player to Kournikova, not much better or worse, in addition to having none of the other attributes Kournikova. In fact Kournikova IMO had far more tennis talent than Tauziat, she simply never came close to capatilizing on hers, while Tauziat pretty much maxed out her good but not great skills.

Like I said a bitter deluded pretender. I wont say journeywomen though I am tempted too since she was in the top 20 the vast majority of her long career, and for brief periods in the top 10, and did make that one fluke slam final, but she isnt that far above being classified as just a good journeywomen player either.

I browsed the book over at Chapters one time. I am glad I did since it was great comedy. That chip on her jaded shoulder is a mighty big one.

 

[Lionheart392]

Yes she had a book come out where she came across as a bitter jealous cow. She insulted and complained about pretty much everyone- Graf, Evert, Seles, Kournikova, Mauresmo, Pierce, Martinez. She complained about how Mauresmo, Pierce, and Testud get more attention than her in France even though she is the better player (in her mind). Testud I could sort of see, but the other two, ROTFL, delusional women. She talked about the lesbianism of Mauresmo and Martinez (I dont believe Martinez have ever come out of the closest). She said all kinds of crazy things about Chris including that she wore shrilly shorts to influence line judges. She said Graf played this brute forceful tennis which wasnt nice to watch, not like the nice femine tennis of Hingis or something like that. She talked about Monica being unfriendly and cold and how her grunting should be not allowed. She actually took criticized the Williams for a bit of the same as both Graf and Seles and some other things too, though I dont remember them all. She complained about Anna getting so much more attention and money than a far less attractive and marketable player than her. The funny thing is if it wasnt for her fluke Wimbledon final I only consider Tauziat a similar caliber of tennis player to Kournikova, not much better or worse, in addition to having none of the other attributes Kournikova. In fact Kournikova IMO had far more tennis talent than Tauziat, she simply never came close to capatilizing on hers, while Tauziat pretty much maxed out her good but not great skills.

Like I said a bitter deluded pretender. I wont say journeywomen though I am tempted too since she was in the top 20 the vast majority of her long career, and for brief periods in the top 10, and did make that one fluke slam final, but she isnt that far above being classified as just a good journeywomen player either.

I browsed the book over at Chapters one time. I am glad I did since it was great comedy. That chip on her jaded shoulder is a mighty big one.

LOL that sounds hilarious. 'She said Graf played this brute forceful tennis which wasnt nice to watch'. I think she actually means 'Graf played this brute forceful tennis which wasn't nice to be blasted off the court by'. I really want to read this book now. Maybe saying all this **** was the only way to get some copies sold.

 

[grafselesfan]

LOL that sounds hilarious. 'She said Graf played this brute forceful tennis which wasnt nice to watch'. I think she actually means 'Graf played this brute forceful tennis which wasn't nice to be blasted off the court by'. I really want to read this book now. Maybe saying all this **** was the only way to get some copies sold.

I am pretty sure making her book very controversial and brash, and word of that getting out, was the only way she could get it to sell. As she even pretty much admits to the whole world in the book nobody gives a damn about her really. It was always nice to see Graf and Seles pound her ass off court everytime they played her anyway, but now that she has revealed what a bitter cow she really is (well it was sort of obvious that was her personality a long time before that anyway) I especialy enjoy the thumpings they gave her.

 

[Moose Malloy]

It's pretty crazy to see the average age of the WTA back then - 7 of the 8 quarterfinals that year were teenagers(the old lady was 23 year old Sukova)

16 year old Arantxa Sanchez was already in her 2nd RG QF in 1988.

And this is an absurd stat - 18 year old Graf was the oldest semifinalist!

I recall the media acting like Chris and Martina were pretty old at the time, but the numbers show they were downright ancient.

 

[hothanded]

Only 13 points in a slam final? Truly the most pathetic slam final performance ever by anyone. And some Graf fans talk about Serena having weak competition, ROTFL!

 

[70後]

Graf played this brute forceful tennis which wasnt nice to watch, not like the nice femine tennis of Hingis

Now they say that about Serena and they run to Graf for "class", "elegance", "all court play". Isn't that funny?

As for RG 1988, Zvereva tanked it. No other way to put it. RG1988 was very poor. Some Graf fans, or perhaps not Graf fans, say it was PEAK Graf in that final.

At that RG Navratilova (lost to Zvereva), Evert (lost to 16 year old Sanchez). Both of them had gone way downhill by 1988.