Seles is Finished

[Kevin Patrick]

according to Davenport, from tennisreporters.net:

FROM THE BANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC – Lindsay Davenport says that nine-times Monica Seles is finished as competitor on the WTA Tour."I think she’s done," Davenport said. "I think she’s loved her last year and won’t go out there and play unless she’s the good Monica that’s everyone’s used to. I’d put it [a comeback] at five percent."

Playing singles for the World TeamTennis New York Sporttimes over the past week, Seles was blitzed 5-0 by the N.Y. Buzz’s Viktoriya Kutuzova and then 5-1 by Newport Beach’s Anniko Kapros.
"She’s not winning games," Davenport said. "I know she’s been enjoying her life the last year and not practicing at all. I know she didn’t’ enjoy her last two TeamTennis matches because she’s so proud of her tennis. Monica would never lose like that [at the top of her game]. She’s so good."

Seles hasn’t played since the ’03 French Open due to multiple foot injuries. She’ll be sorely missed. "The fans loved her more the last few years that she played than when she was dominating," Davenport said.

[Datacipher]

Davenport must feel pretty sure of her opinion to say it in public like that. Kind of sad, but not a big surprise, Seles hasn't been at her fitness potential in a very very long time.

Kind of sad because Davenport is gonna be finished pretty soon too.

[Kevin Patrick]

My thoughts on Seles:

If I had to pick one female player to play for my life I'd pick her.
I'm not saying that she's best player in terms of ability, but the only other player I've seen that competes as hard as she does on every point she plays is Jimmy Connors.

Sad that an 'injury' took away her best years & now another forces her to retire.

[grind]

The saddest aspect of Davenport's statement is the reminder that Seles's acheivements were cut tragically short. Seles was well on her way to becoming the greatest female of all time when she was stabbed. Now what posters and tour players remember is her fight. What I remember was the day I watched her beat Mary Joe Fernandez at 1987 U.S. Open during an early round on Court 16. I've been in love ever since.

[sambapati]

I have a feeling that most of the posters here remember seles post-stabbing, if at all. But if you remember her when she was dominating, then you know how much this news sux. As a Seles fan I never quite got over the unfairness of the stabbing incident. IMO, Graf got away with half of Seles` titles...

[Tenny]

To me, Monica Seles was THE most impressive player female or male period. I don't know much about her personal life but thinking her career, I feel sad. What we have missed...thanks to that idiot Gunter.

[CliffH]

I watched a 14 year old Seles destroy Chris Evert at a tournament in holland, on Canadian TV, listening to an announcer keep saying "Chris will find a way to come back: no 14 year old will
beat this Champion" Sadly, Chrissie was pumelled and retired shortly after.

[PistolPete]

Seles is Finished

Wasn't that the headline from two years ago

[Scorch]

If what Monica is currently saying is true then she is attempting one last comeback...

However if what Lindsay is saying is true then should Monica not find the level of play that she wants during WTT she will call it a career and not play on the tour again...

The two possibilities are on reflection one and the same. I just hope Monica can finish on her own terms whatever they might be.

She was always my favourite player in the women's game and always will be. The British commentator Simon Reed has said on many occasions the Monica is THE best competitor and fighter in the history of tennis - male and female and I agree.

The things I admire in athletes above such things as 'natural talent' or 'entertaining personalities' are heart, that 'never give up' attitude and the ability to achive great things against all odds. I think Monica's story is one of the most inspiring in sport.

she will be missed

[MonicaSelesRulez]

Monica can still show Davenport some classy tennis. Miss "7 MP" is finished, not Monica.

[ontherise17]

just some things..first what does 7 mp mean? lol sorry i just dont know second i agree with you scorch on the court monica was the most focused, determined, strong player ive ever seen play..samba i also agree with you and even more, i think graf took off with more then half of monicas titles, monica was just so young that theres almost no doubt she could have gotten even better and shes the only women player that could beat graf at her own power baseline game....hopefully she will take some inspiration from navratilova and not give up without attempting a comback, shes so strong that i dont think anyone of us can count her out just yet...i still have faith

[rommil]

7 MP I think is in reference to the Davenport-Seles match at the season ending tournament in LA where Seles saved 7 match points in the first set an eventually winning the match.

Seles got destroyed in her WTT match against the Delaware Smash.

[JohnThomas1]

When i think of Seles i think of what might have been. She had a great career and come back ok sure, but omg how good was she when the stabbing occurred and how much better was she going to get. As far as i am concerned she was never in decent physical shape after the incident, and this held her back substancially. I am confident she would have been the finest of all time up until this point.