Tennis Fans Straddle the Net for Graf

I was pleased by the attention that Steffi Graf’s retirement received by the L.A. Times. She is beloved not only by German fans, but by fans from all over the world.

As a twenty-something woman, I know that women in my generation have been encouraged by her strength, talent, hard work and finesse. Young girls today have many female role models to admire, but in my childhood and teen years Steffi Graf was one of the few female athletes I could look up to. Unlike many of her competitors, Graf was consistently a fit player. She showed women that to be a champion you had to work hard, giving many women, such as myself, an example of excellence to learn from.

I see young girls now watch the WNBA or admire the women in soccer, and I feel grateful to athletes like Steffi Graf who paved the way for them. But I’ll miss hearing the sound of Graf’s forehand slamming the ball across the court.

BEVERLEY BEVEN, Fullerton

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While Steffi Graf deserves praise for a brilliant career, all articles about her career missed the real story.

In the spring of 1993, Graf had 13 major titles. Monica Seles had been No. 1 in 1991 and 1992 and had a commanding lead in 1993. She had won seven of the last nine major titles. Not one single tennis expert thought Graf would regain the top spot. Everyone was trying to guess how many majors Seles would end up with.

Then a Graf fan knifed Seles so Graf could regain the top spot. It worked liked a charm. Seles was out for 2 1/2 years and never came close to her previous game. Graf then won nine more majors to finish with 22 and many call her the best ever. She owes her great legacy in part to her deranged fan.

MIKE LORRAINE, Simi Valley