The One Word Steffi Graf Used to Describe Serena’s Outburst That Has Everyone Talking
Steffi Graf isn’t so much upset with Serena Williams as she is disappointed.
In a U.S. Open recap that appeared on her personal website, the 22-time Grand Slam champion issued a rare public criticism of Serena regarding her outburst at the tournament earlier this month.
“[Serena] was in the final at Flushing Meadows,” Graf wrote, “but was unfortunately, not in her usual fine form and once again disappointingly displayed some emotional behavior on the court.”
It doesn’t sound like much but coming from the guarded, private Graf, it’s the equivalent of a stinging rebuke. Graf doesn’t stir the pot. When told she’s the greatest player ever, she demurs and cites Martina Navratilova. She got married in a private ceremony to Andre Agassi. Other than charitable appearances, she manages to stay out of the limelight, even as her husband continues to stay in it. For her to go out of her way to mention Serena is a surprise; hardly earth-shattering but interesting nonetheless.
Graf was three months older than Serena is now when she retired in 1999. The German star was ranked No. 3 at the time, becoming the highest-ranked player to ever leave the sport. She played Serena twice that year, when Serena was an up-and-coming teenager. Both matches went three sets, with each player winning one.
