‘Awful Lot Is Happening’ – Legendary Tennis Player Steffi Graf Talks About the Difficulties of Doing Charitable Work Amidst Russia-Ukraine

Since retiring from professional tennis in 1999, Steffi Graf has done some incredible humanitarian work. Currently, her Children for Tomorrow Foundation is doing some exceptional work despite the current scenario regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. 

Recently, the 22-time grand slam champion gave an interview to Vogue magazine, in which she talked about varied subjects, from her career to humanitarian work. She also talked about the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. 

Steffi Graf opens up about her humanitarian work during the Russia and Ukraine

During that interview, Graf said, “In Hamburg, there have been so-called IVK classes since 2015, in which children spend a year relearning the school system, language and culture. The number of new classes is constantly increasing and is already over 200. We are regularly asked and asked that we support many of these classes with our psychotherapy. We always work very closely with the school authorities.” (Google Translate)

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“We have just been able to contact a Ukrainian therapist who can support us. An awful lot is happening; There are currently more than 20,000 Ukrainian refugees in Hamburg, probably at least half of them children. We are currently trying to find more therapists who can help us support the children,” she further said about trying to help Ukrainian refugees in Germany. 

Notably, Graf founded the Children for Tomorrow Foundation in 1998, one year before her retirement. This organization works to help refugee children and young kids with therapy. 

Graf’s amazing professional career

Without any doubt, Steffi Graf has etched her name in the history books as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Since starting her career in the mid-80s, she instantly became a phenom on the tour. In 1987, she got taste of her first Grand Slam trophy at the French Open, where she beat Martina Navratilova in the final. The very next year, she created history by winning all four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal, to win the ‘Golden Slam’. 

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Her most remarkable achievement was staying on top of the ranking for 377 weeks, an unprecedented feat that is yet to be broken. In her professional career, she won a total of 107 titles, including 22 Grand Slam events. She also has a winning record of 902-115 in her entire career. 

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