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For me, the most under-discussed pivotal moment in sports history took place on this day in 1993.
World #1 Monica Seles — who had just reached 33 finals out of her previous 34 tournaments and won 22 of them — was stabbed on the court mid-match by an obsessed fan of a rival.
World #1 Monica Seles — who had just reached 33 finals out of her previous 34 tournaments and won 22 of them — was stabbed on the court mid-match by an obsessed fan of a rival.
Let& #39;s just put some more stats out there.
From & #39;91 to the & #39;93 incident, Seles had a 159–12 win-loss record (92.9% win percentage), including a 55–1 W-L record in Grand Slam tournaments.
FIFTY-FIVE AND ONE IN GRAND SLAMS.
8 Grand Slam titles. She was just 19 years old. 19!
From & #39;91 to the & #39;93 incident, Seles had a 159–12 win-loss record (92.9% win percentage), including a 55–1 W-L record in Grand Slam tournaments.
FIFTY-FIVE AND ONE IN GRAND SLAMS.
8 Grand Slam titles. She was just 19 years old. 19!
Her career highlights before age 20:
• 231–25 record (90.2% win percentage)
• 30 overall titles
• 3 consecutive Australian Open titles
• 3 consecutive French Open titles (youngest winner ever at 16 in 1990)
• 2 consecutive U.S. Open titles
• 1 Wimbledon finals appearance
• 231–25 record (90.2% win percentage)
• 30 overall titles
• 3 consecutive Australian Open titles
• 3 consecutive French Open titles (youngest winner ever at 16 in 1990)
• 2 consecutive U.S. Open titles
• 1 Wimbledon finals appearance
She also had a 4-1 Grand Slam finals record against Graf and Navratilova.
Put simply, Monica Seles was already the most dominant athlete in their sport, and she was poised to become even greater.
Then Günter Parche stabbed her in between the shoulders with a nine-inch knife.
Put simply, Monica Seles was already the most dominant athlete in their sport, and she was poised to become even greater.
Then Günter Parche stabbed her in between the shoulders with a nine-inch knife.
Seles became a US citizen in 1994 and came back to the sport 2 and a half years after the attack.
She won one more Grand Slam in 96, but she was never the same dominant force. Seles said at her Hall of Fame induction in 2009 that, for better or worse, her career had two phases.
She won one more Grand Slam in 96, but she was never the same dominant force. Seles said at her Hall of Fame induction in 2009 that, for better or worse, her career had two phases.
As for Parche, he never served a day in prison. The lead detective said he belonged with a doctor, not a jail.
The man who “destroyed my life,” as Seles wrote to a German court, received a two-year suspended sentence. He since suffered multiple strokes.
The man who “destroyed my life,” as Seles wrote to a German court, received a two-year suspended sentence. He since suffered multiple strokes.
The Tennis Channel in 2002 introduced its list of "100 Greatest of All Time," both men and women.
Seles was listed at 19. Graf and Navratilova were 3 and 4, respectively. It& #39;s hard to imagine Seles not being in the Top 5 ahead of those two legends had this not occurred.
Seles was listed at 19. Graf and Navratilova were 3 and 4, respectively. It& #39;s hard to imagine Seles not being in the Top 5 ahead of those two legends had this not occurred.
No grand conclusions. But when I see twitter prompts about GOAT athletes and stories that deserve deep dives, I always think about Monica and this tragedy.
Seles was robbed of her future, and we were robbed of watching it unfold.
Seles was robbed of her future, and we were robbed of watching it unfold.
