Steffi Graf: The Golden Slam and Life on Her Terms

In 1988 a 19-year-old Steffi Graf dismantled a French Open final in 34 minutes on her way to the only calendar-year Golden Slam ever achieved. This episode explores how her father Peter built a controlled, isolated tennis machine starting in the family living room.

We follow her record 186 consecutive weeks at number one, the family scandals and her father’s tax-evasion imprisonment, her grueling late-career injuries, and her decision to retire at the height of her powers to reclaim her identity as Stephanie.

  • Peter Graf’s restrictive scheduling and isolated training
  • The 1988 Golden Slam across three surfaces plus Olympic gold
  • 186 consecutive weeks ranked world number one
  • Family scandals and her father’s imprisonment for tax evasion
  • Retiring in 1999 and founding Children for Tomorrow

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