Martina Navratilova once sympathized with Steffi Graf as the German dealt with the fallout from her father Peter’s paternity scandal. The controversy erupted in 1990, when German tabloid Bild published the shocking report that Graf’s father Peter had an affair with model Nicole Meissner, who alleged he was the father of her child.
Graf, who was caught off-guard by the revelation, was competing at the German Open when the scandal broke, and it took an immediate toll on her performance. Monica Seles snapped the German’s 66-match winning streak in the title clash in Berlin and also defeated her in the French Open final.
Subsequently, Steffi Graf failed to defend her Wimbledon title, suffering a shock defeat to Zina Garrison in the semifinals. Following the loss, the then-World No. 1 even had to be rushed for emergency treatment due to a respiratory illness.
Martina Navratilova once sympathized with Steffi Graf as the German dealt with the fallout from her father Peter’s paternity scandal. The controversy erupted in 1990, when German tabloid Bild published the shocking report that Graf’s father Peter had an affair with model Nicole Meissner, who alleged he was the father of her child.
