"The game needs this probably more than the players"- When Steffi Graf spoke about importance of rivals like Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles

After winning the 1996 US Open, Steffi Graf claimed that the presence of rivalries in tennis was something the sport needed more than the players.

Graf had entered the tournament as the defending champion and top seed. She reached the final following straight-set wins over Yayuk Basuki, Karin Kschwendt, Natasha Zverev, Anna Kournikova, Judith Weisner, and Martina Hingis.

In the summit clash, the German faced second seed Monica Seles, in what was a rematch of the 1995 final. Graf beat her rival 7-5, 6-4 to successfully defend her title.

In her post-match press conference, a reporter asked the German if every champion needed a rival. The reporter cited the examples of Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

Graf responded that the players needed to be challenged and that the presence of a rival was something tennis needed more than them at times.

"In a way, you know, why we are out there is to be challenged and why we train or why I train hard is because I want to play the best and I want to play the best against the other best. So, in a way, you definitely need it a lot, but on the other hand, I mean, the game needs this probably more sometimes than the players need it," Steffi Graf said.

Graf did not win another Grand Slam until her 22nd and final Major triumph at the 1999 French Open, where she beat Martina Hingis in the title clash. Her Grand Slam tally was the highest for a woman in the Open Era until Serena Williams bettered it by winning the 2017 Australian Open.

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Steffi Graf had rivalries with the likes of Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

Steffi Graf after the 1993 Wimbledon final

Steffi Graf had fierce rivalries with a number of players throughout her career, most notably Monica Seles, Martina Navratilova, and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

Graf and Seles faced each other just 15 times, but the level of competition in their matches was always high, especially before the latter's stabbing incident in Hamburg. The German led 10-5 in the head-to-head between the two.

Graf and Navratilova locked horns on 18 occasions, with their head-to-head tied at 9-9.

Graf's rivalry with Sanchez Vicario was rather one-sided; she led 28-8 in the head-to-head. However, the two played a number of high-stakes matches and faced one another in the final of each of the four Grand Slams at least once.