When Martina Navratilova “felt sorry” for German during a paternity dispute, she said, “It’s a great shame, Steffi Graf did nothing to deserve it.”
In 1990, Steffi Graf faced a deeply personal crisis when German tabloid Bild published a report about her father Peter Graf’s paternity scandal. The tabloid claimed that Peter had an affair with model Nicole Meissner, who alleged that he was the father of her child. The revelation caught Steffi by surprise and had a profound impact on her, both personally and professionally. At the time, she was competing at the German Open and was shaken by the scandal, which led to her losing her 66-match winning streak to Monica Seles in the Berlin final, followed by a defeat to Seles in the French Open final. Graf’s struggles continued as she failed to defend her Wimbledon title, suffering a shock loss to Zina Garrison in the semifinals. Afterward, she even required emergency treatment due to a respiratory illness.
During this turbulent time, Martina Navratilova, a rival and respected figure in tennis, expressed her sympathy for Graf. Speaking during Wimbledon, Navratilova acknowledged the immense pressure Graf was under, emphasizing that the scandal was beyond her control. She said, “I feel sorry for that happening to her. She did nothing to deserve it and it’s a real shame.” Navratilova expressed hope that Graf would overcome the personal turmoil and return to focusing solely on her tennis career.
Chris Evert, another tennis icon, echoed these sentiments, praising Graf for handling the scandal with great dignity. She acknowledged the weight of the situation, stating, “Steffi seems to have the world on her shoulders. Her father is at the center of a sex scandal. She is concerned with her own health.” Evert expressed admiration for Graf’s resilience and wished for her to regain her peak form. She also observed that public perception of Graf had changed following the scandal, with fans showing more compassion for the German, who had previously been seen as a “cold-hearted German machine.”
Both Navratilova and Evert’s support highlighted the emotional toll the scandal took on Graf, yet also reflected their belief in her strength and potential to overcome the challenges she faced. Despite the difficult year, Graf went on to rebuild her career and cement her place as one of the sport’s greatest players.
