‘Craziest match ever’ – Steffi Graf called out Martina Hingis for controversial behaviour at 1999 French Open final

The 1999 French Open Final had it all.

Precocious teenager and world no. 1 Martina Hingis squared off against 21 Grand Slam singles champion and tennis legend Steffi Graff.

Swiss sensation Hingis was the pre-eminent force in women’s tennis by the mid to late ’90s, having won the Australian Open in 1997 at the age of 16.

The child prodigy added Wimbledon and US Open titles that same year and claimed two more victories Down Under in 1998 and 1999.

Hingis also held a calendar year slam in doubles in ’98 and was the consensus best player in the world – but the French Open title still eluded her.

Five-time French Open winner Graff, meanwhile, was over ten years Hingis’ senior and hadn’t won a major title in three years, largely due to injuries.

To the surprise of many, the German caught fire at Roland Garros and beat third-seed Lindsay Davenport and second-seed Monica Seles en route to the final.

Graff and Hingis met on the hallowed red clay of Court Central (now Court Philippe Chatrier) in what turned out to be one of the most eventful and controversial finals in Grand Slam history.

Hingis won the first set 6-4 and led by a 2-0 margin in the second set.

The talented youngster looked to be cruising to a straight sets victory over the wily veteran but the wheels quickly fell off.

6

6

The match took a contentious turn when Hingis disputed a line call, despite the umpire upholding the call after reviewing the mark.

Hingis then broke convention – and the rules – by walking over to Graf’s side of the net and pointing to the mark she felt proved her point.

The Parisian crowd took exception to her behaviour and jeered loudly.

Hingis refused to play and returned to her chair while requesting that the tournament referee investigate further.

Tournament referee Gilbert Ysern emerged onto the court and denied Hingis the overrule while threatening disqualification.

She was given a point penalty from the umpire and eventually returned to the court, losing the game as Graf made it 2-1.

Crucially, though, Hingis had turned the increasingly hostile French crowd against her.

Fans were now firmly on Graff’s side, although Hingis still served for her first Roland-Garros championship at 5-4.

The crowd continued to chant “Steffi!” and cheered at errors committed by Hingis whose service game was broken.

Cameras caught a wry smile but inside she was clearly crumbling and the German took the second set 7-5 to force a decider.

6

Hingis further annoyed fans when she took a lengthy bathroom break after the opening game of the third set.

She returned wearing a different outfit and bandanna but was still on the receiving end of catcalling and booing from the crowd.

Soon after, she received a warning for breaking a racquet and had a verbal exchange with the umpire.

“Are we playing tennis or just talking a little bit?” an exasperated Graf said.

The 18-year-old’s arrogance and immaturity were on full display throughout the third set and she stunned Graf with an underarm serve to save match point at 5-2 down.

Graf raised her eyebrows and shook her head as the crowd whistled at the disrespectful move.

It was a sign the teenager was no longer taking the match seriously and unsurprisingly irritated those in attendance.

Hingis attempted another underarm serve on Graf’s second match point, only for it to sail long.

When Hingis complained about the crowd noise to the umpire, Graf said “Can we just play tennis, OK”.

The unforgiving Paris crowd took their toll on Hingis while simultaneously strengthening Graf.

The German took the third set 6-2 to claim her 22nd Grand Slam singles title while a distraught Hingis ran off the court in tears.

6

6

She only returned for the trophy presentation after being convinced by her mother Melanie.

“If my mother wasn’t there I wouldn’t have gone back,” she said. “Come on would you go out there if everyone boos you out?”

“This feels amazing; I feel French,” Graf said after the match. “This is by far the biggest, the most unexpected win I’ve ever had. It was one of the craziest matches ever; it had everything.”

She also suggested that Hingis might have placed too much importance on the match.

“You have to be respectful of your opponent, and sometimes she hasn’t been. It is something she really should take a closer look at because we’re all out there, trying hard.

“It’s a game out there, and sometimes I felt it was more than that for her. That’s what I didn’t really understand, because I mean, she has everything going for her. There will be other times,” she added.

“I don’t give up until I have this one also,” an emotional Hingis said on court.

Sadly, that never happened.

She reached four more Grand Slam finals but never won another major singles title.

Hingis retired from tennis for the first time in 2003 at the age of 22 because of injuries, and for a second time in 2007 after a comeback that lasted two years.

“I think I lost my mind,” later reflected on the 1999 French Open Final.

“There was so much pressure and I really wanted to beat her and win the title.”

Graf, meanwhile, retired a year later.

“This is the most incredible memory I’m ever going to have looking back on my tennis career – this is amazing,” she said.