The German had an illustrious career, winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles. She announced her retirement from tennis in 1999, the year she won her sixth and final French Open crown.

Graf’s final match came against Amy Frazier at the 1999 TIG Classic in San Diego. The scorecard read 4-6, 7-5, 2-1 to the latter when the German was forced to retire due to an injury.

A few months later, a ceremony was held at Madison Square Garden to honor her. This was the same venue where the 1999 WTA Tour Championships (now known as the WTA Finals) were taking place.

Graf spoke to the press and was asked if her partner Andre Agassi made the transition into retirement any easier for her. The German responded by saying that he did and that he also brought her back to tennis, something she didn’t think would happen.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion also said that she was satisfied with the way she left tennis and that it gave her the peace to go on with different things in life.

Asked about her emotions during the ovation she received from the crowd at Madison Square Garden, Steffi Graf responded by saying that she was very nervous and did not sleep at all the previous night. She also said that the ovation was very moving for her.