I have often wondered why Conchita Martinez isn't in the Hall of Fame. Her achievements are roughly on par with her peers Sabatini and Novotna who both made it practically at the first point of eligibity.
I wonder if it is even possible the Seles stabbing is the reason she didn't get in. This would not affect Sabatini who had virtually all her main achievements before the Seles stabbing, and in fact tailed off badly after that, in part due to an emotionally deflating loss to Fernandez at the French from 6-1, 5-1 up that wrecked her already dimming confidence. It would not likely affect Novotna who had most of her achievements at Wimbledon where she is superior to Seles anyway, who generally was a tough opponent for Seles, and who had her peak years in 97-98 which was likely after Seles's projected peak anyhow.
On the other hand Martinez would probably be perceived to have gained greatly. She was owned badly for Seles, even post stabbing continued to be. She reached over 30 career titles by piling up tier 1 and tier 2 clay titles with Graf usually absent (94 onwards, playing a limited schedule to rest her now fragile back and knees, focusing mostly on the majors) and of course Seles not present for awhile. This likely would not have happened otherwise. While her slam title was at Wimbledon and Seles was never any lock there, her draw was a massive cakewalk and even adding another name to the draw could change everything, such as her fortune of how the draw played out and avoiding all of Graf, Novotna, Seles, Sanchez, and numerous others who probably would have beaten her.
So I suspect the Seles stabbing plays a large part into why Martinez has not gotten in the HOF when given the current HOF standards she is accomplished enough. Sabatini and Novotna are only roughly on par with her in achievments (even if the vast majority would consider the other two superior players) and they got in very easily and quickly.
I wonder if it is even possible the Seles stabbing is the reason she didn't get in. This would not affect Sabatini who had virtually all her main achievements before the Seles stabbing, and in fact tailed off badly after that, in part due to an emotionally deflating loss to Fernandez at the French from 6-1, 5-1 up that wrecked her already dimming confidence. It would not likely affect Novotna who had most of her achievements at Wimbledon where she is superior to Seles anyway, who generally was a tough opponent for Seles, and who had her peak years in 97-98 which was likely after Seles's projected peak anyhow.
On the other hand Martinez would probably be perceived to have gained greatly. She was owned badly for Seles, even post stabbing continued to be. She reached over 30 career titles by piling up tier 1 and tier 2 clay titles with Graf usually absent (94 onwards, playing a limited schedule to rest her now fragile back and knees, focusing mostly on the majors) and of course Seles not present for awhile. This likely would not have happened otherwise. While her slam title was at Wimbledon and Seles was never any lock there, her draw was a massive cakewalk and even adding another name to the draw could change everything, such as her fortune of how the draw played out and avoiding all of Graf, Novotna, Seles, Sanchez, and numerous others who probably would have beaten her.
So I suspect the Seles stabbing plays a large part into why Martinez has not gotten in the HOF when given the current HOF standards she is accomplished enough. Sabatini and Novotna are only roughly on par with her in achievments (even if the vast majority would consider the other two superior players) and they got in very easily and quickly.
