Skeptics say women's tennis lacks riveting rivalries these days.
Gabriela Sabatini says major unpredictability is good for the game.
Halep: Younger Players More Courageous
The 49-year-old Sabatini was honored with the 2019 Philippe Chatrier Award—the highest accolade the International Tennis Federation bestows upon an individual—following an outstanding playing career and dedicated service to the game and community-based projects since.
The Hall of Famer received the award in Paris 35 years after she won the 1984 Roland Garros girls' title to earn ITF Junior World Champion honors that year.
Naomi Osaka captured her second straight major title at the Australian Open in January, snapping a streak of eight different women winning the prior eight Grand Slam titles.
Sabatini said that depth and diversity make majors more competitive, which is good for the game.
"The level of tennis on women's is very good these days," Sabatini told the media at Roland Garros. "I see so many new athletes coming out. Physically, they are much more stronger. And I see some of them that I really like the way they play, and their charisma."
Sabatini, who was part of several rivalries throughout her career including battles vs. Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, said it's positive for players to enter a major truly believing they have a shot to win it.
"That could also be positive that you don't have the same players winning all the time," Sabatini said. "I see a lot of new players that I don't know and that I haven't seen before and that I'm surprised the way they play, which is, I think is good to have more competition.
"You still see Halep, you know, being up there. You know, some of them, okay, they did well in one year and another year not so much. Comes and goes. Naomi Osaka, yeah, she did well last year, she's not doing well. But, I mean, I think they have a lot of good competition, and I think that's why also they are having problems. Today they have to play very well every match to win a tournament. Is not easy. So I think it's also positive."
The stylish Argentinean possessed one of the best one-handed backhands of her era. Sabatini said she's become an Ashleigh Barty fan after seeing the Aussie use her one-handed slice backhand to win the Miami Open in March.
Sabatini captured her lone Grand Slam title defeating Graf in a pulsating 1990 US Open final. Graf later delivered the induction speech when Sabatini was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Game.
These days, Sabatini lives primarily in Switzerland and she spends time in Buenos Aires and Miami. Sabatini stays in touch with Graf and Seles, too.
"Yeah, when I talk about our rivalry, I think I was lucky to have Steffi Graf on the other side, because I was a better tennis player every time I play against her," Sabatini said. "A great competitor. And when we retire, I feel like we are friends.
"We stay in touch. We played a couple of exhibition matches afterwards. It's nice to, you know, once you retire, to share other things, you know, more the personal side. I think she's a great person. Well, then she will have to tell me how it feels to turn 50 (smiling). I always wish her the best, and I know she's doing very well."
Photo credit: International Tennis Federation Facebook