Sporting Icons : Monica Seles - Her glittering career & video

  

Monica Seles is a retired professional tennis player born on December 2, 1973, in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). She became one of the dominant players in the 1990s before a stabbing incident in 1993 temporarily halted her career.

**Career Highlights:**

1. **Grand Slam Success:** Seles won a total of nine Grand Slam singles titles during her career. These include four Australian Open titles (1991-1993, 1996), three French Open titles (1990, 1991, 1992), and two US Open titles (1991, 1992).

   

2. **World No. 1 Ranking:** She held the world No. 1 ranking for a total of 178 weeks, becoming the youngest female player to achieve this status at the age of 17.

3. **Rivalry with Steffi Graf:** Seles had a fierce rivalry with Steffi Graf, and the two players dominated women's tennis during the early 1990s.  Their head to head score was Graf 7  Seles  4 .  While Graf was more dominant on faster surfaces like grass , Seles was more formidable on slower surfaces .

4. **Golden Grand Slam:** In 1992, Seles achieved a remarkable feat by winning three of the four Grand Slam singles titles in addition to the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona.

**Stabbing Incident:**

In 1993, during a match in Hamburg, Germany, Seles was stabbed in the back by a spectator. This shocking incident kept her off the tour for more than two years.

**Comeback:**

Seles made a successful comeback in 1995, winning the Canadian Open. However, the stabbing incident had a lasting impact on her career, and she faced challenges in reaching her previous level of dominance.

**Later Career:**

While Seles continued to compete, she didn't regain her earlier dominance. She retired from professional tennis in 2008.

Monica Seles was known for her aggressive and powerful style of play. Here are some key aspects of her playing style:

1. **Two-Handed Groundstrokes:** Seles had a distinctive two-handed grip on both her forehand and backhand, allowing her to generate significant power and control from both sides. This style was somewhat unconventional at the time but contributed to her effectiveness on the court.

2. **Baseline Dominance:** Seles was a baseline player who excelled at staying close to the baseline and dictating play with her groundstrokes. Her ability to hit winners from both wings made her a formidable opponent.

3. **Powerful Groundstrokes:** Known for her powerful and flat groundstrokes, Seles could hit the ball with remarkable pace. Her aggressive playing style often put pressure on opponents and allowed her to control rallies. Her loud grunts while hitting the ball became a big talking point . 

4. **Return of Serve:** Seles had an exceptional return of serve, frequently turning opponents' serves into offensive opportunities. This contributed to her success in breaking opponents and maintaining control during matches.

5. **Mental Toughness:** Seles was mentally tough on the court, displaying great focus and determination. Her competitive spirit helped her succeed in tight situations and crucial points.

6. **Double Faults on Service:** One notable aspect of her service technique was a tendency to hit double faults. Despite this, her overall game, particularly her strong return and groundstrokes, compensated for any weaknesses in her serve.

Overall, Monica Seles' playing style was characterized by power, aggression, and a relentless baseline approach, making her one of the most dominant players of her era before the unfortunate incident that temporarily derailed her career.

Monica Seles is remembered as one of the most talented and dominant players of her era, with her powerful groundstrokes and aggressive playing style leaving a lasting impact on the sport.

In the video below , watch highlights of her Australia Open final with lethal  rival Steffi Graf ending in a great win for Seles