Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams, once pleaded with her to pack up and leave during the 1999 Indian Wells final against Steffi Graf.

Concerned for her well-being, he believed she was taking unnecessary risks, especially since she was playing through a soft tissue inflammation below her right knee.

Williams was on a remarkable run at Indian Wells in 1999, then known as the Evert Cup. She powered through the draw, defeating Jessica Steck, second seed Lindsay Davenport, Cara Black, sixth seed Mary Pierce, and 12th seed Sandrine Testud to set up a showdown with fifth seed Steffi Graf in the final.

It was the second and last time the duo faced each other on the WTA Tour, as Graf retired later that year.

Their first meeting was in Sydney in 1999, where the 22-time Major champion secured the win. This time, however, Serena turned the tables, defeating the tennis legend 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to claim the singles title.

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However, Serena Williams’ father, Richard, had mixed feelings about his daughter’s victory. Reflecting on the match, he said (via Sports Illustrated in 1999):

“I begged her to pack up and go home, but she wouldn’t listen. Even though she won, I still think she made a mistake.”

“When I played Steffi Graf, it was just like a dream come true” – Serena Williams

Serena Williams | Image Source: Getty

Serena Williams has long admired Steffi Graf and has never hesitated to express her respect for the tennis legend.

During a media interaction at the 2008 Miami Open, Williams shared that playing against Graf was a dream come true, calling her someone she considered the greatest.

“I mean, Steffi Graff, what could – I mean, when I played her it was just like a dream come true,” Williams said.

“She was, hands down, one of the greatest players. One of the few players to win a Golden Slam: All the Grand Slams and the Olympics.”

The American added:

“Yeah, you know, when I think of Steffi Graff, I just think of the greatest. She had the greatest footwork ever. She was so focused all the time.

She was a great player, you know, both on and off the court that I had a chance to experience, and it was just an amazing experience. She was just awesome.”

For years, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams shared the record for the most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era, each with 22.

However, the latter surpassed it in 2017 by winning the Australian Open, claiming her 23rd Major and setting a new benchmark in women’s tennis.