"Record for eternity" - Boris Becker revisits Steffi Graf's 'greatness,' shares his admiration for compatriot's historic Calendar Year Golden Slam

Boris Becker has revisited Steffi Graf's historic Calender Year Golden Slam in 1988. To this day, Graf remains the only player in the history of tennis to have achieved the staggering feat, which involves winning four Majors and the Olympic gold medal in singles throughout the same season.

1987 saw Graf ascend to the World No. 1 position for the first time in her career following her maiden Grand Slam title triumph at the French Open. As a result, at the 1988 Australian Open, the German was the top seed in the women's singles main draw. In the final in Melbourne, she defeated the legendary Chris Evert in straight sets [6-1, 7-6(3)].

Then came the 1988 French Open, where she successfully defended her Roland Garros crown by blowing Natasha Zvereva away 6-0, 6-0 in the final. This win in itself was another history-making achievement for Graf, as no other Major final since then has been a 'double bagel' affair.

The 1988 Wimbledon Championships title followed, but this time around, Graf found herself on the brink of defeat in the final to six-time defending champion Martina Navratilova. However, the German upped her game when it mattered most, eventually turning things around in her favor to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Graf completed the Calendar Grand Slam by clinching the US Open, defeating Gabriela Sabatini, her doubles partner at the time, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the final. She faced Sabatini again in the final of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and once again, it was the German who came out on top, winning 6-3, 6-3 to bag the Olympic gold medal and complete the Calendar Year Golden Slam at the tender age of 19.

Recently, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate Graf's historic 1988 feat. Becker took notice of the video and proceeded to reshare it with the caption:

"Important to remember Greatness in these fast times… Steffi won 4 majors plus Olympic Gold in 1988! That’s a record for eternity!!!"

Steffi Graf laid bare in 2012 that her 1988 Seoul Olympics triumph meant more than her Grand Slam wins

Steffi Graf (Source: Getty)

In a 2012 interview with CNN, Graf said that according to her, the gold medal she won at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was more significant than her achievements at the Grand Slams. The German cited the uniqueness of the Olympics as the reason behind her statement. She also revealed how she was completely unprepared for the reception she got when she returned to Germany.

"To me this was bigger than a grand slam, it was more special. It’s a different feeling, it’s very unique and definitely more special. I was a bit tired emotionally, probably physically as well. I just remember arriving at the airport and all the attention that I was getting, I just think I wasn’t quite prepared for it at that point," Graf told CNN in 2012.

Graf called time on her illustrious career in 1999 when she was the World No. 3, having won a staggering 22 Majors in singles; an Open Era record that would eventually be broken by Serena Williams.