SEOUL — On October 1, 1988, Steffi Graf solidified her place in tennis history at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center, defeating Gabriela Sabatini 6-3, 6-3 to capture the Olympic gold medal. This victory, achieved just three weeks after completing a calendar-year Grand Slam, marked the first time a player had secured all four major titles and Olympic gold in the same season, a feat that necessitated the creation of the term "Golden Slam."
Entering the tournament as the world No. 1, Graf arrived in South Korea following a demanding campaign at the US Open. Despite fatigue, her performance peaked during the final stages of the event. "I came here really tired," Graf stated. "I was not expecting too much of myself." After a dominant 6-0, 6-2 semifinal win over Zina Garrison, she faced Sabatini, the only player to have defeated her during the 1988 season. Graf maintained composure throughout the final, securing the second set and the match with a decisive break of serve.
Reflecting on the achievement, which occurred during the first Olympic tennis tournament since 1924, Graf expressed the magnitude of the moment. "I felt I would win after the fifth game of the second set," she noted. "But I actually had a very good feeling after the first game of the match. I was liking the way I am playing. It’s something not many people after me will achieve. It’s amazing."