Monica Seles' career began in breathtaking fashion. In 1990, aged just 16 years and six months, the Yugoslavia-born starlet beat Steffi Graf to become the youngest French Open singles champion. After winning the year-end championships, Seles finished the season ranked No. 2 in the world.
Sweet 16 —
Monica Seles' career began in breathtaking fashion. In 1990, aged just 16 years and six months, the Yugoslavia-born starlet beat Steffi Graf to become the youngest French Open singles champion. After winning the year-end championships, Seles finished the season ranked No. 2 in the world.
Getty Images/file
Seles followed up her victory in Paris with success at the first grand slam of 1991, beating Jana Novotna to win the Australian Open final in January before replacing Graf at the top of the world rankings in March. Seles then defended her Roland Garros crown before beating Martina Navratilova to clinch the U.S. Open.
Dominant Down Under —
Seles followed up her victory in Paris with success at the first grand slam of 1991, beating Jana Novotna to win the Australian Open final in January before replacing Graf at the top of the world rankings in March. Seles then defended her Roland Garros crown before beating Martina Navratilova to clinch the U.S. Open.
Getty Images
Seles defended all three of her grand slam titles in 1992, and lost in the final at Wimbledon. She then won the Australian Open for the third time in a row, but the defining moment of her career arrived at the 1993 Hamburg Masters, when a man later identified as an obsessive fan of Graf ran onto the court and stabbed her in the back. Her injuries healed within weeks, but Seles was out of the sport for over two years.
Stabbed in the back —
Seles defended all three of her grand slam titles in 1992, and lost in the final at Wimbledon. She then won the Australian Open for the third time in a row, but the defining moment of her career arrived at the 1993 Hamburg Masters, when a man later identified as an obsessive fan of Graf ran onto the court and stabbed her in the back. Her injuries healed within weeks, but Seles was out of the sport for over two years.
PA/AFP/Getty Images/file
Seles finally returned to the WTA Tour in August 1995, coming back with a bang as she beat Amanda Coetzer in the final of the Canadian Open.
Canadian comeback —
Seles finally returned to the WTA Tour in August 1995, coming back with a bang as she beat Amanda Coetzer in the final of the Canadian Open.
Simon Bruty/ALLSPORT/file
In 1996 Seles enjoyed a fourth Australian Open win, defeating Anke Huber in the final. But it would prove to be her final grand slam title as she struggled to regain the form she displayed before the attack, as she suffered weight problems.
To the four —
In 1996 Seles enjoyed a fourth Australian Open win, defeating Anke Huber in the final. But it would prove to be her final grand slam title as she struggled to regain the form she displayed before the attack, as she suffered weight problems.
Mark Sandten/Bongarts/Getty Images/file
A foot injury forced Seles out of what would prove to be the final Tour match of her career at the 2003 Italian Open.
A career curtailed —
A foot injury forced Seles out of what would prove to be the final Tour match of her career at the 2003 Italian Open.
Getty Images/file
New Zealand played host to two exhibition matches between Seles and Martina Navratilova in 2005. Despite losing both matches, Seles announced her intention to return to competitive action in 2006. The comeback, however, never happened.
A meeting with Martina —
New Zealand played host to two exhibition matches between Seles and Martina Navratilova in 2005. Despite losing both matches, Seles announced her intention to return to competitive action in 2006. The comeback, however, never happened.
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images/file
Seles was back at Roland Garros in 2012, when she presented the winner's trophy to Maria Sharapova after the Russian defeated Sara Errani of Italy.
Ceremonial duties —
Seles was back at Roland Garros in 2012, when she presented the winner's trophy to Maria Sharapova after the Russian defeated Sara Errani of Italy.
Getty Images/file