Classic Matches: Graf v Vicario

1995 - Women's Singles Final
S Graf (Ger) bt A Sanchez Vicario (Sp) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5

With Monica Seles out of action after she was stabbed in Hamburg, everyone assumed the title was Steffi Graf's.

The German won her sixth title but was forced to work hard in the final by Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

The underdog dropped only five points on her own serve in the first set and took it with some exquisite tennis.

But Graf battled back, running through the second set before sealing the win with a break in a titanic 20-minute 11th game in the third set.

In total the game had 13 deuces and 18 game points .

Sanchez Vicario attacked Graf's backhand with such consistency that the German spent much of the game camped in the tramlines on the edge of the court.

When Sanchez Vicario seemed set to close out on what was her 13th game point, Graf threw herself across the court in an almost Becker-like fashion to reach the volley.

On her own sixth game point, Graf at last found a powerful backhand drive to seal the break of serve and effectively the match.

The Centre Court crowd applauded for the entire changeover, the euphoria continuing as Graf served out for the title.

Graf let out an enormous sigh of relief and a cry of joy. She won seven Wimbledons among her 22 Grand Slams but never was she forced to fight harder for victory.