"Very nervous all day, I didn't sleep at all last night" - When Steffi Graf opened up on her emotions before retirement ceremony

Steffi Graf is one of the greatest tennis players of all time; she had a glittering career which came to an end in 1999.

Graf's final professional match was in the second round of the TIG Classic in San Diego, where she retired against Amy Frazier due to a hamstring injury. Graf announced her retirement from the sport shortly after the match.

The German was honored at the 1999 year-end championships, which took place at Madison Square Garden in New York. She received a standing ovation from the crowd and was visibly overwhelmed.

Graf spoke to reporters afterwards, where she was asked about the emotions she felt during the ceremony. The German responded that she felt very nervous about the ceremony and that she did not sleep the night before.

"Very nervous. All day, I did not sleep at all last night, not one minute. Yeah, it's incredible. It's overwhelming to be out there, and, you know, I went on court and everybody stood up and cheered for such a long time. It was very moving for me," Steffi Graf said.

Given that the ceremony took place in New York, Graf was asked whether the city was a special place for her.

"Yeah, no doubt about it. I mean, I've said it many times and I've lived here for a few years and every time I come into the city, it's a special moment for me, just looking at the skyline, and always the fans are very knowledgeable and very much into it. A lot of matches to look back on and crowds that really got into it too," Steffi Graf said.

Steffi Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles in her illustrious career

Steffi Graf in action at the 1995 Wimbledon Championships

Steffi Graf had a sensational career, during which she won 22 Grand Slam titles. That was an Open Era record until Serena Williams surpassed it in 2017.

Graf enjoyed some terrific seasons but her most prolific year was 1988, when she won the Golden Slam, i.e. winning all four Majors and Olympic gold.

The German's last season was 1999, which she started by reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. She followed that up by winning her 22nd Grand Slam crown at the French Open, beating Martina Hingis in the final. Graf then reached the Wimbledon final, where she lost to Lindsay Davenport.