FACTOIDS
Full Name: Gabriela Sabatini
Nickname: Gabriela
Birthday: May 16, 1970
Height: 5’9”
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sports: Tennis
Profile
Hailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gabriela Sabatini became the WTA Tour's most impressive newcomer in 1985 and received Rookie of the Year honors. As the first woman from Argentina to capture a Grand Slam title, Sabatini won the 1990 US Open defeating world No. 1 Steffi Graf in a straight set final.
In a career spanning 13 years, Sabatini captured 27 singles championships and 14 doubles championships, including the Wimbledon Doubles title in 1988 (with partner Steffi Graf, Hall of Famer 2004).
She was ranked in the World Top 10 for ten consecutive years (1986-1995), reaching the world No. 3 ranking in 1995. She held the No. 1 ranking in South America and Argentina from 1985 through 1996.
Sabatini was the leader of the Argentine Fed Cup team 1985-87 and 1995, with a win-loss record of 24-6 (13-4 in singles; 11-2 in doubles). She was a member of the Argentine Olympic team in 1988 and 1996, winning the silver in 1988, just behind Graf's gold.
An attacker with powerful groundstrokes and incredible topspin, Sabatini completed her career with a singles win-loss record of 632-189.
Sabatini is the first woman from Argentina to enter the Hall of Fame, and follows countryman Guillermo Vilas, inducted in 1991.