FULL VERSION 1999 - Graf vs Seles - French Open Roland Garros

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Copyrights - © INA - Institut National de l'audiovisual

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Commentary Copyrights - © NBCUniversal Media, LLC a subsidiary of Comcast (US)

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Thank you for your gracious use of this classic match!

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PertSnergleman's Review:
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It seemed almost like old times, with Steffi Graf and Monica Seles playing each other in a major championship. The difference was they weren't playing for the championship.

The two met in a semifinal of the French Open in 1999, and Graf endured to post a 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-4 victory in a match that was close but not classic. There was too much wind, too many unforced errors, too few jaw-gaping shots.

Still, it was nice to see the old-timers - if 20- something can qualify someone for that age group. And it was truly amazing they were back to this level - in contention at one of the four major championships - after their separate perils.

Like Elizabeth Taylor and Ronald Reagan, who also survived near-death encounters, Seles' ordeal gave her more of a following. The harder she fought to come back, the more the tennis world found itself loving her.

Monica was knifed by a vengeful fan, Graf on the other hand, was stabbed by age. It seemed as if she had been dominating the game forever. How can it be that she's only 29?

But her knees, ankles and wrists are much older. She's getting sympathy pangs from anyone who ever nursed an icebag. The ravages of time and tennis have prompted bone spurs in her right wrist, a fractured knee, a sprained ankle and a strained hamstring, among other woes.

A doctor once told me that tennis is the only sport that requires you to use all your muscles. Swimming is also near the top of the list.

Did Graf have to pay for her early superiority with injury after injury? Was this the price for her gift? Is each victory now savoured instead of taken for granted?

The one remarkable play in her match in 1999 with Seles was a long, backhanded drop shot in the second set. Graf made the shot silently, and the packed-house crowd responded with all the noise needed.

It was the 15th time Graf and Seles had met, with Graf holding a 9-5 edge.