It has been established long ago here in r.s.t. that Graf was closing
the gap between her and Seles in last 12 months before the Seles
poking.
We know that
a) Graf had narrowed Seles's lead in the WTA rankings from 58 to 21
points (= 63 %),
b) Graf had made FO final for the first time in 2 years,
c) Graf had made AO final for the first time in 4 years,
d) Graf had made 3 of 4 slam finals (only 1 of 4 before that).
But would Graf's career/form trajectory have continued from spring of
1993 (when the Seles poking happened) until winter of 1994?
Well, we know that
a) Graf won 74 of the next 76 matches after Hamburg 1993 (while only
80 of 87 in the 12 months before Hamburg 93),
b) made USO final in 1993 for the first time in 3 years (and won it),
c) made YEC final in 1993 for the first time 4 years (and won it),
d) thrashed ASV at AO 1994 6-0, 6-2 (while struggling against same
player at AO 1993),
e) belted Navratilova at Tokyo 1994 with 6-4, 6-2 (while losing to same
player at Tokyo 1994).
So obviously Graf was even better in 93/94 than in 92/93 (when she had
come very close already).
I try to visualize how Seles could have prevented Graf from overtaking
her.
Doesn't work ...
Max
--
"A few sports stars win something rarer than trophies or championships
- an enduring place in the public's affections. Steffi Graf is one of
them. She hung up her racket five years ago after winning an amazing 22
Grand Slam titles, but that doesn't mean she is any less busy or
beloved."
(TIME Magazine, "European Heroes", October 2nd, 2004)