"To have a family that supports me, I have that" - When Steffi Graf turned emotional about her mom & dad coming together to watch her win French Open

Steffi Graf won the final Grand Slam title of her career at the 1999 French Open, and afterwards, she couldn’t help but express how much it meant to have her family, friends, and boyfriend there to support her. She shared that their presence gave her hope, especially after battling through multiple injuries leading up to the tournament.

In 1998, Graf underwent surgery to repair cartilage damage in her left knee and was plagued by several physical setbacks that limited her appearances on tour. By early 1999, although she had begun to find some rhythm again, her fitness remained a concern. Still, she defied the odds with a stunning run at Roland Garros, defeating Martina Hingis in a dramatic final to claim her 22nd Grand Slam title.

After her win, the German said in a press conference that just having her father Peter, her mother Heidi, and her boyfriend in Paris made it easier to cope with everything she had been dealing with. She said:

"Usually, I play for myself. What is extremely helpful is to have a family that supports me, and I have that. That's been in the last few weeks very important."

"The way I was playing, injuries and everything, it wasn't going -- it wasn't such a happy time. It's been great to have everybody here and support me, boyfriend, all kinds of friends," she added.

On her way to the title, Steffi Graf defeated Magdalena Maleeva, Ines Gorrochategui, Asa Svensson, Anna Kournikova, Lindsay Davenport, and Monica Seles, before facing top seed Hingis.

Steffi Graf retired from tennis 2 months after French Open 1999

Steffi Graf pictured at the 1999 French Open | Image Source: Getty

Steffi Graf, one of the most decorated players in tennis history, claimed 107 titles throughout her career, including a remarkable 22 Grand Slams. She retired from the sport at the young age of 30, much to the surprise of her fans.

"I have no regrets because I have the feeling I have achieved everything I could," she told the media of her decision.

Graf's final match took place on August 13, 1999, at the San Diego Open (now the Citi Open), where she faced Amy Frazier in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, she had to retire during the match while trailing 6-4, 5-7, 1-2 due to a left thigh injury.

Just a few weeks later, on August 30, 1999, she made the official announcement of her retirement from professional tennis.