By Scoop Malinowski | Thursday, June 22, 2023
Monica Seles is rather more than a Grand Slam champion.
The 2-handed titan is a game-changing champion.
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Fellow professionals, together with Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Jimmy Connors have praised Seles as an inspiring and influential champion.
Now, a brand new e-book Going through Monica Seles chronicles precisely what opponents felt going through one of many best ball strikers to ever play professional tennis.
Monica Seles captured eight Grand Slams championships as a teen and was on her strategy to GOAT standing till April, 1993 when a madman plunged a knife into her again throughout a horrific assault in Hamburg, Germany.
That vicious assault, which occurred when Seles was ranked No. 1 on the earth and competing in opposition to Magdalena Maleeva, altered the evolution of tennis historical past.
This new e-book Going through Monica Seles salutes and celebrates the girl known as by friends “an innovator”, “revolutionary” and “game-changer” and in keeping with 18-time Grand Slam champion Chrissie Evert, “had she not had her damage, I imagine indisputably Monica would have been the best participant ever.”
You possibly can order Going through Monica Seles right here.
This is an excerpt from Going through Monica Seles.
Chris Evert: Monica introduced one other degree to the sport. She modified the entire complexion of the sport.
Steffi Graf: Even when there are shut levels within the match, she actually goes for her photographs and he or she – she just isn’t actually getting tense.
Steve Silverman: I believe it was the primary time I used to be on one of many fundamental follow courts. I keep in mind I used to be on a court docket working towards and I heard my title known as on the walkie-talkie, ‘Steve Silverman, come to court docket one.’ I mentioned to myself, ‘I ponder what that’s about? Why am I going to Seles’ court docket?’
It was me, Zoltan (brother) and her father (Karolj). First it was me and Zoltan alternating taking part in factors in opposition to her on clay, which was not my factor. I keep in mind taking part in on arduous courts along with her after that.
I’m standing behind her brother on the primary factors. He had unbelievable strokes and depth along with his footwork. We have been taking part in factors. She known as me to the online, requested me to decelerate my serve, which I by no means had occur to me earlier than. My serve wasn’t that good then.
She was fourteen, I used to be in all probability sixteen. It was perhaps midway by the yr. After I first noticed her I didn’t know who she was. She grunted and killed each shot. She didn’t make errors. They instructed me she didn’t play tournaments. She performed factors however no scoring. They needed her to play with no stress factors.
John Korff (Promoter/proprietor of Pathmark and A&P Tennis Classics in Mahwah, NJ): I used to be operating the Pathmark Tennis Traditional (exhibition) in Mahwah, NJ. We needed to have a significant participant in it (in July 1991 after Wimbledon). On the time Octagon and Phil di Picciotti received us the gamers. I instructed him I am unable to get IMG to reply about Monica Seles. He urged I name her hassle Zoltan instantly. Make a suggestion to her brother. I wasn’t being sneaky attempting to go round anyone, I must pay him. On the time, I believe Monica was ranked three or 4 on the earth. This was earlier than the French Open.
So I known as Zoltan and mentioned, ‘I am the man with the cash, you are the man with the sister. There isn’t any cause to get others concerned…’ He needed to satisfy in Tampa. I used to be coming from a household wedding ceremony in Barbados. He zoomed in on a tri colour motorbike carrying some form of vibrant orange jumpsuit and a wacky helmet that seemed prefer it got here from The Jetsons (TV cartoon).
One of many first issues they train at Harvard Enterprise Faculty (from the place Korff graduated) is keep one drink behind the opposite man. By the point Zoltan had his six drinks, I used to be proper behind him… and pondering, I am unable to sustain with this man!
By some means I missed my flight to New Jersey, after about 4 hours with Zoltan. He gave me a experience to the resort on his motorbike. After we received to the resort, we made a deal – $300,000 for Monica to play the Pathmark Tennis Traditional in Mahwah, NJ and an extra $50,000 extra to not discuss it till she received to Mahwah.
One in every of my contacts with the WTA mentioned I used to be loopy as a result of she’ll lose on the French Open and be ranked about 8 on the earth. So Monica received the French Open that yr (beat Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario to defend her 1990 title) and was No. 1 on the earth. So all of the sudden she pulled out of Wimbledon (with shin splints) and he or she could not discuss it. So all people in tennis was questioning the place she was, what she was doing? It was a giant deal…
Brenda Schultz-McCarthy: I’ve loads of respect for Monica Seles. I believe to beat Monica, you simply have to hit loads of aces. I imply, that’s actually the important thing. With Monica there shall be lengthy rallies. It’s important to get again loads of these booming balls from Monica. Monica places loads of stress on you. I did play one in every of my greatest matches in opposition to Seles. Twice once I performed her at match level and received just a little bit unfortunate in one in every of them.
She simply … she would not know tips on how to … tips on how to get nervous. I imply, she retains hitting the ball. It’s not like, okay, now I’m 15-40, perhaps I ought to hit a few sluggish ones. It’s simply growth, growth. She simply goes on the market and hits. I imply, not many ladies try this, and that’s the reason she is up there. That’s the reason she received so many Grand Slams. The minute she will get nervous, she begins hitting tougher and that’s the key. I imply, a lot of the ladies they begin, oh, my, gosh, I can win in match. She would not have that. She simply goes on the market and, you already know, she actually performs to win. She would not play to lose. That’s particular.
Query: Lasting reminiscence of Monica off court docket?
Brenda Schultz-McCarthy: She could be very enjoyable lady. She laughs on a regular basis.
Photograph credit score: Getty
