Steffi Graf Reflects on why she called out Martina Hingis for controversial behaviour at 1999 French Open final: “Craziest match ever”

 

The 1999 French Open final between Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf is remembered as one of the most controversial matches in tennis history.

Hingis, at just 18 years old, was on the verge of her first Grand Slam victory, but the match took a dramatic turn when she disputed a line call during the second set. Despite the umpire reviewing the mark and upholding the call, Hingis walked over to Graf’s side of the net to show her the mark, angering the Parisian crowd, who jeered loudly.

Hingis, refusing to continue playing, demanded the tournament referee intervene. Referee Gilbert Ysern denied Hingis’s request and threatened her with disqualification.

After a point penalty, Hingis returned to the court, but the crowd, now firmly behind Graf, fueled her struggles. Graf broke Hingis’s serve, won the second set 7-5, and took control of the match.

In the third set, Hingis’s frustrations continued, culminating in a lengthy bathroom break and an underarm serve on match point at 5-2 down—further irritating the crowd. Graf sealed the win with a 6-2 final set, claiming her 22nd Grand Slam title. Hingis, in tears, fled the court, her dream shattered.

Graf, reflecting on the match, called it “one of the craziest” she had ever played. She also pointed out that Hingis’s pressure to win may have clouded her judgment, advising the young Swiss player to show more respect for her opponents.

Hingis, who never won another Grand Slam singles title, later admitted that the emotional toll of the match had overwhelmed her. Despite her potential, the 1999 final marked a turning point in Hingis’s career, while Graf’s victory solidified her place among the all-time greats.