Steffi Graf’s victory over Monica Seles in the 1995 US Open final was one of the most significant moments in tennis history. It was their first meeting since Seles was attacked on court in 1993, an incident that shook the sport deeply.
The attacker, Gunter Parche, was a Steffi Graf fan who wanted to see her regain the No. 1 ranking. Seles, then the world’s top player, was stabbed during a match in Hamburg, forcing her into a two-year hiatus. Her return to Grand Slam competition set up a long-awaited rematch.
Seles entered the US Open as the second seed and played exceptionally well, reaching the final against Graf. In a hard-fought battle, Graf triumphed 7-6(6), 0-6, 6-3, securing her 18th Grand Slam title. She later called it the most significant win of her career.
In her post-match comments, Graf highlighted the challenges she had overcome, including personal distractions. Meanwhile, Seles kept details of their net-side conversation private, but both expressed mutual respect. Their rivalry remains one of the most compelling in tennis history.
