Steffi Graf goes emotional on recent interview How Her Father’s Scandal Shaped Her Career

Steffi Graf, one of tennis’s greatest champions, has always been known for her composure on the court. But in a 1999 interview following her retirement, she revealed how a deeply personal scandal involving her father, Peter Graf, impacted both her life and career.

In 1990, Peter was accused of fathering a child with model Nicole Meissner, sparking a media frenzy in Germany. Although the paternity suit was later dropped after DNA tests cleared him, the fallout from the scandal was profound.

Steffi, who had always been uncomfortable with the public spotlight, admitted that the scandal made her life much harder. “I was completely unprepared,” she said, reflecting on the intense media attention that followed.

“It really hurt… it made my life more difficult because I’ve never been comfortable in the spotlight.” The timing of the media coverage, she noted, seemed designed to generate the maximum publicity at her expense.

One of the most difficult moments came during the 1990 German Open final, where Steffi, emotionally drained, lost to Monica Seles. “I had absolutely no desire to set foot on the court,” she recalled. After the loss, Steffi smashed her racquet against a locker room wall, an outburst she described as “the first and last time” she had ever done such a thing.

Despite the personal toll, Steffi admitted that the scandal ultimately changed her career in some ways. “In some ways, my career changed for good after that,” she said. While her father made mistakes, she struggled with how sensationally the situation was portrayed, feeling that the media had little regard for her or her family’s emotional well-being.

The scandal may have intensified the challenges she faced, but Steffi Graf’s legacy as one of tennis’s all-time greats remains untarnished. Her ability to rise above the turmoil and continue her career is a testament to her resilience, even as she navigated the pain of unwanted public scrutiny.