As far as the Open Era goes, only Martina Navratilova has won the female Wimbledon singles title on more occasions than Steffi Graf.

The dominant Navratilova triumphed at SW19 on nine occasions, while Graf's tally of titles in the English capital upon her retirement was a highly respectable seven.

Although nobody was to know it at the time, the German won the last of that septuplet of Venus Rosewater Dishes 19 years ago today.

She took to Centre Court as the defending champion against Spaniard Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, whom she had beaten in three sets on the grass 12 months earlier to secure a sixth title.

In fact, the duo knew each other well, with this encounter being their sixth Grand Slam final meeting since the Australian Open in January 1994. The head to head record was firmly in Graf's favour, with the right-hander having won on five occasions.

With that in mind, it came as little surprise when Graf capitalised on an early break of the Vicario serve to claim the opening set of the rain-delayed match 6-3.

Then, not long after the second set had got underway, it scarcely looked like being a contest as Graf raced into a 4-0 lead. However, a tenacious Vicario, famed for her fighting spirit, battled back to restore parity.

Yet, Graf's mental toughness eventually won through 7-5 to wrap up her 20th Grand Slam and the 100th tournament title.

"It's difficult to look at it when you've just won Wimbledon - the 100th title. Probably in the next few hours, to look back and knowing you've won 100 titles, 20 Grand Slams - that's some numbers to be very proud of. It feels really good right now," said the victorious Graf.

Meanwhile, the defeated Vicario added: "She played very, very well. I think she played very deep and for me it was very hard to go into the net to play my shots.

"From the baseline, if you don't play deep enough she can take control of the ball. I've never seen her playing the forehand as good as today."

Graf would end up taking her Grand Slam title haul to 22 by winning the US Open over Monica Seles soon after, before coming out on top against Martina Hingis three years later at the French Open.

But an eighth Wimbledon title would elude Graf, who reached the final for a ninth and final time in 1999, only to be defeated in straight sets by Lindsay Davenport.