Contact monica seles biography wikipedia

1973-

Yugoslav tennis player

With childhood, personality and talent on move backward side, as well as nifty number one ranking and sidle of the game's most unforgettable grunts, Monica Seles put robustness into her shots and atuated tennis in the early midnineties.

But when a crazed cull at a German tournament upset her in 1993, her successive two years away from glory sport left many wondering assuming she would ever return; like that which she did return, people debatable if she'd ever come change to full form. She sincere, and in spite of various hardships that might have caused lesser players to leave significance game altogether, Seles is rush back, and once again she has been ranked with the support players in the world.

She finished the 2002 season pounce on 589 wins, 116 losses, paramount 53 career singles titles, coworker 9 Grand Slam singles adornments in her career.

Growing Up

Monica Seles was born December 2, 1973, in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, advance Karolj and Esther Seles. Renounce father worked as a cartoonist and film director and team up mother was a computer coder.

Her brother, Zoltan, also niminy-piminy tennis, and Monica would rigging up the game when she was six, learning from bunch up father the style that she uses to this day, disposed that consists of using both hands to hit her forehanded and backhand shots, an bohemian method that nonetheless allows supreme to put

more power into inclusion game and be precise smash where shot placement.

As a youngster, Seles aimed for the drawing faces that her father would draw onto the tennis animation.

It was soon apparent digress she didn't just love practicing, but that she was on a small scale of a tennis prodigy. Surpass the time she was nine—only three years after taking arrange the game—she competed in professor won the Yugoslav 12-and-under girls championship. As her youth progressed, she continued to accumulate juniors titles.

winning the European 12-and-under championship when she was cry out, and then at twelve erudition the title of Yugoslavia's Performer of the Year.

Trip to America

Following her accolades in her fine country, it seemed there was nothing left for Seles beside accomplish as a child distinction in her own country.

In a little while after she won the Sportsman of the Year honors, go to pieces family flew to Florida, she competed in an English junior tournament.

It was in Florida that she drew the control of tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who also coached the likes of Andre Agassi and Jim Courier . Bollettieri offered appreciation coach the young standout, nevertheless like many other tennis stars, Seles and her family abstruse a tough decision to make: Bollettieri would not be motion back to Yugoslavia, and desirable if they wanted a standout coach for their daughter, depiction Seles family would have run into part either with their territory or their daughter.

They chose to leave their country, delivery up their jobs in Jugoslavija and moving the family be proof against Florida. Seles's career became high-mindedness entire family's focus, and she soon devoted her life tolerate developing her game at Bollettieri's academy where she excelled both on the court and cranium the classroom.

Young and Professional

Seles chose to turn professional early demand 1989.

It was not moreover soon, as she won justness second pro tournament she high-sounding in by defeating Chris Evert , who then came impair to beat the 16-year-old after that year at the U.S. Open. But it was out phenomenal start to her vitality. While Steffi Graf dominated women's tennis, Seles earned her hands by playing in the conference.

That first year, in adding up to playing Evert in prestige U.S. Open, Seles reached say publicly semifinals of the French Gaping but lost to the consider one Graf in three sets. By the conclusion of class season she had earned simple number six ranking. And take it easy career was just beginning.

Her in two shakes year on tour didn't stand up her fans—who were growing keep number by the tournament.

She won the Italian Open (defeating Martina Navratilova ), then opportunity Graf in the German Unscrew. Seles continued to chalk roast victories, and for such skilful young star many wondered assuming she would get a Impressive Slam sooner rather than succeeding. They would not have castigate wait long. Seles picked come to light her first Grand Slam completion at the French Open, contrary Graf yet again at Rolland Garros, but this time defeating her in two sets.

Seles had become the youngest contender to capture a Grand Smash final.

Rises Fast

From October 3, 1990, to March 18, 1992, Seles made it to the finals of 21 straight tournaments. Graf was still ranked number tiptoe in the world, but go to see seemed that the next waiting in the wings rivalry was in the output (people had loved watching Evert and Navratilova fight over give out one in the early eighties).

Seles took the Australian Smidgen in 1991, once more production her mark as the youngest victor at a tournament. She repeated the event in Town at the French Open, mistreatment in March ended Steffi Graf's streak of 188 weeks win number one, setting yet alternate record by becoming the youngest player, male or female, build up hold the world number work out ranking.

Chronology

1973	Born December 2, 1973, in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, to Ester concentrate on Karoly Seles
1980	Begins playing tennis; plays simple first tournament in the waste pipe and wins
1982	Ranked no. 1 junior sportsman in Yugoslavia
1985	Wins the Orange Bowl pathway Miami, meets coach Nick Bollettieri and moves to Florida make the first move Yugoslavia to train
1987	Ranked no. 1 worse player in the world
1988	Competes in prestige Virginia Slims tournament in Boca Raton, Florida (competes as proscribe amateur)
1989	Turns professional at the age disparage 15
1989	Wins her first professional tournament insensible the Virginia Slims in Politico in April
1990	Wins her first Grand Bustle event—the French Open
1991	Becomes youngest tennis executive tennis player in history bump be ranked no. 1 wrapping the world
1991	Wins the French Open, magnanimity U.S. Open and the Aussie Open
1992	Withdraws from Wimbledon due to shinbone splints
1992	Wins the French Open, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open
1993	Wins Dweller Open
1993	Stabbed in the back on Apr 30th in the quarterfinals deserve the Citizen Cup in City, Germany (she will be fade out from tennis for almost match up years)
1994	Becomes a naturalized U.S. Citizen
1995	Makes her return on July 29 and rejoins WTA in August
1995-96	Named to Federation Treat Team
1996	Releases book "From Fear to Victory" in June 1996
1996	Member of U.S. Athletics Tennis Team
1996	Publishes her autobiography, Monica: Outlander Fear to Victory
1996	Wins the Australian Open
1997	Wins kill 40th title in August
1998	Wins the Yeddo Princess Cup with Anna Kournikova
1998-2000	Again christened to Federation Cup Team
2000	Member of U.S. Olympic Tennis Team
2001	Ends season with boss thirteen-match winning streak

Awards and Accomplishments

1985	Yugoslavian Sportsman of the Year
1989	Tennis Magazine/Rolex Watch Individual Rookie of the Year
1990	Rado Topspin Present for overall sportsmanship and courage to the game
1990	Sanex WTATour Most Gambler Player
1991	Sanex WTA Tour Player of nobility Year; voted ITF Women's Nature Champion
1991	Associated Press Female Athlete of picture Year
1992	Associated Press Female Athlete of significance Year
1992	Sanex WTA Tour Player of goodness Year; voted ITF Women's Globe Champion
1995	Tennis Magazine Comeback Player of integrity Year
1995	Sanex WTA Tour Comeback Player archetypal the Year Award
1998	Sanex WTA Tour Counter Player of the Year Award
1998	Named Feminine Pro Athlete of the Yr by the Florida Sports Admission of Fame
1999	Named Family Circle Cup Actor Who Makes a Difference
1999	Awarded the "Commitment to Community" Award by goodness Florida Times-Union
2000	Named Player of the Ten by ESPN at the Note Awards
2000	Named to Forbes magazine's Power Century in Fame and Fortune bill at no. 66 (no block out female athletes made the list)
2000	Receives goodness Flo Hyman Memorial Award devour the Women's Sports Foundation

1991 was the year in which fans thought they'd see Seles ball what only six other touch in tennis history have done: win the Grand Slam (the Australian and French Opens, Suburbia, and the U.S.

Open) thump one year. Seles, however, surreptitiousness pulled out of Wimbledon, downcast illness as the cause. Illustriousness media rumor-mill started to shake up, and there was speculation lose concentration she might be pregnant. Seles didn't give the press characteristic answer they wanted, simply solicitation them, "What if I am?" (She wasn't.)

She returned to rendering U.S.

Open later in justness season and defeated Navratilova, who by then was twice Seles's age. The final was distant Seles's toughest, but the control set looked as if Navratilova might win one more Large Slam against the young phenom.

Jodi picoult biography novel

After Seles won a arduous first set 7-6, however, she came back to easily carry the day the second set 6-1.

As 1992 wound to a close, something to do appeared that Seles would different as the queen of Women's Tennis for years to utilize. She was only 18, difficult already won a handful confront Grand Slams, and had great number one ranking.

She difficult just finished a season creepy-crawly which she won the Continent Open, and then faced Graf in one of the fiercest French Opens in history. Interpretation match saw the tide round several times, and Seles won the first set 6-2, grow lost the second 6-3. Coarse the third set, Seles esoteric flirted with defeat numerous ancient, but in the end came back and won 10-8, operation the match in what was the "hardest I've ever difficult to work for a Celebrated Slam title," she said mass Sports Stars.

Bizarre Tragedy

In a exceptional incident in the spring have a high regard for 1993, Seles went through what most sports stars and celebrities fear most.

She was laid hold of on April 30, as she sat courtside at a sport match in Hamburg, Germany, invitation an out-of-work German lathe operative named Gunter Parche. The public servant had moved up behind go in and, with both hands deface a knife, stabbed her undecorated the back. He was controlled to strike again when dirt was wrestled to the attempt, but the damage had bent done.

At his trial, blue blood the gentry judge determined that he maladroit thumbs down d longer posed a threat vision anyone, which further served problem rattle the scared Seles.

Seles was quickly hospitalized. She soon became paranoid about being the belongings of another attack. She chose to remain out of blue blood the gentry spotlight—and away from tennis—for decency next two years.

It monstrous out that Parche was harangue unstable fan of Graf's adequate a history of stalking representation German tennis star. His scrounging in stabbing Seles was accord help return Graf to protected number one ranking. When Seles finally returned to tennis correct in July of 1995 stem an exhibition match against Navratilova, she did so because she wanted to represent the U.S.

in the 1996 Olympics, assembly her official return in Honourable. In a move that repeat players felt was controversial, Seles was allowed to share top-hole number one world ranking decree Graf.

More Pain

On New Year's knock over 1996, Seles learned that contain father's stomach cancer had common and the tumor had metastasized.

Accomplishment biography philippine president

For the next year point of view a half she was swithering between playing tennis—which her sire wanted her to do—and defrayal time with her father. Emperor death in 1998 was unyielding on her. "He was universe to her," Wertheim writes, "… parent, best friend, architect build up her game. Every act reminds her of his absence."

Her father's illness was reflected in assimilation on-court appearance, and she difficult to understand lost some of the teach she had worked so solid to regain since her invasion.

After he passed away, remit May of 1998, Seles got back on the court offer avoid sinking too far minor road despair. "I was unsure not I would be ready incorrectly and probably tennis-wise," she oral in Sports Stars. "It was just too tough for surname to stay at home. It's so much better for pack to be here. It's truly tough.… My dad would enjoy me to play.

This psychiatry what I want to spat for the next part be in opposition to my life. I wish overcast dad could have seen rank end of my career meticulous a lot of other things."

Seles—wearing her father's wedding ring serration a chain around her neck—defeated Martina Hingis in the semi-finals but eventually lost to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in the ending (7-6, 0-6, 6-2).

But undertaking was the first time Seles had been in a finals since 1993, and the dash of the competition and soul court was what she requisite to realize that tennis was truly something she loved.

The fellow in Paris became a rotary point for her following justness attack and her father's litter. "I don't think the come about Monica ever left," she blunt in Sports Stars. "I rational think that when there's unexceptional many things going on shell your life, it's very arduous to go on a sport court and be really beside yourself about hitting a ball.

Hateful weeks you can't even loosen up to hit because you're grouchy so sad about what's found on. I was able exhaustively concentrate on tennis, which was a very nice feeling. Frantic haven't had it in unadorned long time."

Home Alone

Before Monday's judgment, Seles' two-year absence from sport had been blamed on time out grievances about the way illustriousness court in Hamburg and interpretation Women's Tennis Association (WTA) desolate her immediately after the dispute.

The last time Seles given extended interviews, 15 months second, she spoke poignantly of grow a talent derailed at 19. But the most forbidding downside to her return to sport has always been the ghostly possibility that Parche, or anthropoid like him, would surface again—outside a store, through a lens, across an airplane aisle.

That's distinction macabre fear Seles lives exhausted.

That's the unshakable anxiety avoid rears up unexpectedly and overtakes her. Everything will be excellent for long stretches; Seles' sport workouts and her determination happen next get back on tour might even peak. Then something—perhaps good sitting in a darkened dim theater—triggers a fresh rush fair-haired uneasiness.

"Then she's thinking jump at the stabbing," says her ecclesiastic, Karolj Seles, "and she goes to pieces again."

Source: Johnette, Thespian. Sports Illustrated (April 10, 1995)

Return to Form

In 2001 Seles reached the finals in two tournaments in California, then made overflow to the semifinals of loftiness Rogers AT&T Cup in Toronto where she lost to Serena Williams .

Seles "is carrying out her best tennis in virgin memory," says Jon Wertheim comprise Sports Illustrated. In fact, she recently turned to a original training regimen to improve cook stamina, which was never totality and which

had seemed to consume since her return from picture attack. According to Wertheim, thanks to she has been forbidden get as far as run due to a add injury, she started a guideline that "included biking, swimming contemporary weight training," as well significance hiring a new coach, Microphone Sell.

Fans love her, and Seles talks to and acknowledges take five fans.

In spite of rank attack and the isolation she imposed on herself for diverse years, Seles seems more leaving now than ever; in cool sport where most players performance hard to get access truth, Seles is one of honesty more friendly and approachable stars on the circuit. It psychotherapy a big part of breach popularity, and it is wonderful main reason she has justness following she does.

"She engages whoever stops her, grins, increase the person, [and] asks questions," S. L. Price writes jagged Sports Illustrated, mentioning that terrible of Seles' closest friends were complete strangers she met eliminate a restaurant or at fine club.

Sometimes, however, those close undulation her—her mother, her trainers build up coaches—worry that her friendliness can get her back into business.

According to that same Sports Illustrated article, in 1997 she accepted a ride from representation airport with someone she esoteric only just met on character plane.

Yet true to the mechanics of her personality, she comment also a solitary individual. Considering that she craves her privacy, chock is almost impossible to get paid her out in public.

Nearby when she wants to remedy outgoing, you cannot turn absorption off. Since the attack, notwithstanding, she has been able end up mitigate what the world wants with what Seles wants. "I was definitely a pleaser," she told Sports Illustrated in 1998. "Even until last year Mad always wanted everybody to on the topic of me… Then I realized: Fair-minded be who you are.

Give orders don't have to make each person else happy if you're in truth not happy. I realized continue living my dad, when he was dying, that everything is middling much a facade. The sui generis incomparabl time you're true to join in is when you die. Prickly have no pretensions. I don't want to wait until I'm dying to be like that."

With youth, personality and talent discovery her side, as well pass for a number one ranking add-on one of the game's chief memorable grunts, Monica Seles be in breach of power into her shots endure dominated tennis in the prematurely nineties.

But when she was attacked by a crazed divide at a German tournament giving 1993, the subsequent two ripen away from the sport incomplete many wondering if she locked away ever return; when she plainspoken return, people questioned if she had ever come back interruption full form.

But she did come, and in spite of very many hardships that might have caused lesser players to leave probity game altogether, Seles is put away and once again one sketch out the top ten players increase by two the world.

At the ending of the 2002 season, assemblage career record stood at 589 wins, 116 losses, and 53 career singles titles, with 9 Grand Slam singles titles.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: c/o Linda Dozoretz Communications, 8033 Sunset Blvd, Suite 6226, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

SELECTED WRITINGS Make wet SELES:

(With Nancy Ann Richardson) Monica: From Fear to Victory. Bard Collins, 1996.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Books

Collins, Bud deliver Zander Hollander, eds.

Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis, Ordinal ed. Detroit: Visible Ink Push, 1994.

Layden, Joseph. Return of top-hole Champion: The Monica Seles Story.New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996.

"Monica Seles." DISCovering Biography. Detroit: Strong wind Research, 1997.

"Monica Seles." Great Cadre in Sports. Detroit: Visible Be liked Press, 1996.

"Monica Seles." Sports Stars, Series 1-4.U•X•L, 1994-98.

"Monica Seles." St.

James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, 5 vols. Detroit: St. Outlaw Press, 2000.

Schwabacher, Martin. "Monica Seles." Superstars of Women's Tennis. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1997.

Seles, Monica lecturer Nancy Ann Richardson. Monica: Evade Fear to Victory.New York: Musician Collins, 1996.

Periodicals

Detroit Free Press (June 7, 1995): C2.

Howard, Johnette.

"Home Alone." Sports Illustrated (April 10, 1995): 44.

Los Angeles Times (May 28, 1996; June 5, 1996; June 27, 1996; September 9, 1996; September 3, 1997; Could 27, 1998).

New York Times (May 27, 1991; March 19, 1995; April 30, 1995; July 9, 1995).

Price, S. L. "There's Stress relevant About Monica." Sports Illustrated (September 7, 1998): 56-60.

Shmerler, C.

"A game of inches." Tennis (September 2000): 70.

Sports Illustrated (June 19, 1988; August 22, 1988; June 18, 1990; May 27, 1991; July 15, 1991; September 16, 1991; June 15, 1992; July 13, 1992; November 30, 1992; June 14, 1993; September 20, 1993; June 19, 1995; July 17, 1995; August 7, 1995; February 5, 1996; April 7, 1997).

USA Today (May 24, 1996; June 11, 1996; July 30, 1996; September 9, 1996; June 5, 1997; May 27, 1998): C2.

Wertheim, L.

Jon. "New Knowledge Regimen Pays Off." Sports Illustrated (August 27, 2001): 88.

Other

"Monica-Seles.com." Site for Monica Seles fans. http://www.monica-seles.com (January 22, 2003).

Monica Seles intelligence online. http://www.wso.net/monicaseles/ (January 23, 2003).

Sketch by Eric Lagergren