Two sublime and graceful tennis champions had become the unquestionable best in their era.
Both were blessed with excellent serves, spectacular forehands, intuitive all-court play, versatility across all playing surfaces, and incredible fanfare, and were practitioners of the artistic single-handed backhand.
They had made tennis their own. First, it is them. Then there is the field.
To topple (and how!) this well-constructed empire arrive two feisty left-handers with double-handed backhands—determined challengers who had conquered the red clay of Roland Garros in their teens.
The challenger with a vice grip on the champion, with the latter almost driven to despair by that destined rival, who literally ground her (him) into submission, time and again.
Steffi Graf vs. Monica Seles. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal. Think about it.
The two sporting rivalries look remarkably similar. The former may just have been the preamble for chapters to come.
They have comparable playing styles, especially Nadal and Seles. Check.
Hitting winners from anywhere in or around the court.
Creating great angles out of the blue and power uncommon in tennis.
Both are patrons of tremendous courage and willpower, which enabled them to become a fan favorite everywhere they played.
Don't forget their unrivaled ability of grunting their lungs out.
The workman's brute force overpowers the dancer's artistry.
When Graf and Seles were co-ranked and stepped onto the court together, the electricity, the anticipation, the excitement before the match, for watching these two talented superstars was of the highest level—it's fondly recollected by old tennis passionates.
Something tennis fans today will relate to the Roger-Rafa face-offs.
In the 15 matches they played, Monica beat Steffi only five times, clearly different from the dismal record Federer has against Nadal both in Grand Slams and overall.
Yet four of those five victories of the Yugoslavian came in Grand Slams, thrice in finals (with a lone defeat on the Grass of Wimbledon back in the 1992 final).
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