10 - French Open 1987: Steff Graf's First Slam

In Paris, 1987, Steffi Graf arrives as the rising No. 2 seed—crushing early rounds, surviving a tense semifinal with Gabriela Sabatini, and stepping into a final that feels like a referendum on the sport’s future. Across the net is Martina Navratilova, the reigning No. 1, brilliant but visibly under pressure to hold off the new era. In the deciding set, Martina surges to a lead and serves for the championship—only for the match to swing on free points, nerves, and a closing stretch where Graf stays steady and capitalizes. The result is a French Open final that doesn’t just crown a champion—it signals a changing of the guard.