SHE won eight Grand Slams in a three-year reign beyond the dreams of even most of her fellow legends.
But nothing was the same for her, and arguably tennis, after one of the most sickening incidents the sport has ever seen.
The 50-year-old has now switched to a new sport
GettyShe has taken her life in different directions since officially retiring in 2008[/caption]
Her current sport hasn’t yet got the glamour of tennis
Now, aged 50, her life and looks are completely different, and she’s even taken up a new sport.
But she will forever be remembered for the moment an obsessive fan ran from the crowd to the edge of the court during a Citizen Cup quarter-final in Hamburg in 1993.
The Yugolsavia-born star was stabbed between the shoulder blades and rushed to hospital as the world reeled in shock.
Tennis took a long hard look at itself after that, with player safety suddenly a huge issue.
Her physical injuries healed after several weeks, but it took two years before that she returned to playing.
In the meantime, she became a naturalised American.
But despite winning a ninth Major in 1996, her domination disappeared, although she did retain her innovative “grunt” – famous well ahead of noisier rivals like Maria Sharapova came along.
She still ended her last full year on the tour, 2022, as world No7.
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But a foot injury the following spring virtually put paid to her time on the pro circuit.
And despite announcing a brief comeback bid in December 2007, she confirmed her retirement two months later, having won the Australian Open four times, the French Open on three occasions and the US Open twice.
Tennis buffs will by now have recognised these are just some of the standout moments – the brilliance she achieved and the outrageous assault she suffered – of Monica Seles.
After the trauma of a knife attack at a place where she should have been secure, the main way she has reshaped her career is perhaps not surprising.
Apart from being a motivational speaker and author, Seles describes herself as a “mental health advocate”.
The 1992 Wimbledon finalist also remains a “fitness enthusiast”.
And to that end she’s one of the latest big names to start playing pickleball.
John McEnroe and Andre Agassi have dabbled with the highly-accessible sport – with its smaller court and plastic, hole-covered ball, using shorter and stringless paddles.
But tennis aces who have made the switch at a more serious level include social media celebrity Eugenie Bouchard, Sam Querrey and Jack Sock.
And judging by Seles’ pictures. it’s a sport where she’s found the right balance of fun and energy following a tennis career blighted by an appalling saga, physically and emotionally, that no-one should ever expect to encounter.
A look at her life then and now…
GettyIt was at the Citizen Cup in Hamburg in 1993 where Monica Seles was attacked[/caption]
GettyShe’s promoted, and been recognised for, her achievements as a woman in sport[/caption]
GettySeles is still a major figure at tennis events[/caption]
AFPHer nine Grand Slams include the French Open in 1991, 1992 and 1993[/caption]
GettySeles celebrated her second and final US Open triumph in 1992[/caption]
AFPSeles dominated women’s tennis from 1990-1993 before the stabbing[/caption]