Which European tennis star, in 1988, became only the 3rd woman ever to win the Grand Slam of tennis?

In 1988, German superstar Steffi Graf achieved one of the most dominant seasons in sports history. She conquered all four of tennis's major tournaments in a single calendar year, winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. This rare and exceptionally difficult accomplishment is known as the Grand Slam, the ultimate benchmark of greatness in the sport.

Graf's incredible run placed her in truly elite company. Before her, only two other women had ever managed to complete the calendar-year Grand Slam: American Maureen Connolly in 1953 and Australian Margaret Court in 1970. The 18-year gap since it had last been done underscored the immense physical and mental fortitude required to maintain peak performance across different continents and court surfaces for an entire season.

To make her year even more legendary, 1988 also marked the return of tennis as a medal sport at the Summer Olympics. After winning the US Open to complete the Grand Slam, Graf went on to win the gold medal in Seoul, South Korea. This unprecedented achievement of all four majors plus an Olympic gold medal in the same year was christened the "Golden Slam," a feat that remains unique to her in the annals of tennis history.