Monica Seles: Greatest Teen Phenom in History

[wtaplayerz]

Best match record at 17 years old:

1. Monica Seles..... 84% (92-17 )
2. Martina Hingis.... 80% (152-37 )
3. Tracy Austin....... 80% (128-32 )
4. Steffi Graf........... 71% (116-17 )

Winner: Seles


Best match record at 17 years, 6 months old:

1. Monica Seles...... 86% (132-21 )
2. Tracy Austin........ 83% (170-34 )
3. Martina Hingis...... 81% (181-42 )
4. Steffi Graf............ 75% (144-49 )

Winner: Seles


Best match record at 18 years old:

1. Monica Seles........ 88% (166-23 )
2. Tracy Austin.......... 84% (209-40 )
3. Martina Hingis....... 82% (223-50 )
4. Steffi Graf.............. 79% (183-49 )

Winner: Seles


Best match record at 18 years, 6 months old:

1. Monica Seles......... 89% (204-25 )
2. Tracy Austin........... 84% (215-41 )
3. Martina Hingis........ 82% (255-56 )
4. Steffi Graf............... 81% (219-51 )

Winner: Seles


Best match record at 19 years old:

1. Monica Seles.......... 89% (236-28 )
1. Chris Evert.............. 89% (135-17 )
3. Tracy Austin............ 85% (260-46 )
4. Steffi Graf................ 83% (257-53 )
5. Martina Hingis.......... 82% (287-62 )

Winner: Seles


Best match record at 19 years, 6 months old:

1. Monica Seles.......... 89% (253-30 )
1. Chris Evert.............. 89% (178-21 )
3. Steffi Graf................ 84% (291-54 )
3. Tracy Austin............ 84% (270-51 )
5. Martina Hingis.......... 83% (326-68 )

Winner: Seles


Monica Seles had the best winning percentages as teenagers out of all the other girls...

Total Grand Slam titles won as a teenager 19 years old 4 months

1. Monica Seles........... 8 titles
2. Martina Hingis.......... 5 titles
2. Steffi Graf................. 5 titles
3. Tracy Austin............. 2 titles
5. Chris Evert................ 1 title

Winner: Seles


Total titles won by 19 years, 6 months old:

1. Monica Seles....... 32 titles
2. Martina Hingis...... 30 titles
2. Steffi Graf............ 30 titles
4. Tracy Austin......... 29 titles
5. Chris Evert........... 26 titles

Winner: Seles


Seles was stabbed at age 19 years 4 months after winning the 1993 Australian Open and could have won more Grand Slams and Wta tour titles if she was able to play the whole season in 1993 as a teenager since she was the undisputed number one player in the world and heavy favorite to win in almost all of the big/major tournaments on the women's tour.

 

[35ft6]

No doubt. But lets see how the haters rationalize their dissent.

 

[wtaplayerz]

conitnued...

Becoming curious to learn about youthful players of the past, I found that the greatest achiever among modern players was Monica Seles, who as a 16-year-old in 1990 broke the century old record and became the first youngest Grand Slam Champion in over 103 years. Not since 15 year old Lottie Dodd won Wimbledon in 1887 had tennis seen such a youthful champion. The player who also holds the all time record in winning the most Slam championships as a teenager was Seles, who captured eight before her stabbing at age 19. Steffi Graf won six as a teenager, Hingis five.

The teenaged superstar phenomenon extends back in tennis history. During the 1920's, Californian Helen Wills won the U.S. Nationals three times as a teenager enroute to a career total of 19 singles Slams. But the credentials as the second greatest-ever player as a teenager belong to another Californian, a member of the next tennis generation, a player I deeply admired. Her name is Maureen Connolly.

Maureen Connolly was born in San Diego in late September 1934. She went to the U.S. Nationals at Forest Hills as a 14- and 15-year-old, and she lost in the second round on both occasions. She won the U.S. Nationals at 16 years + 11 months in 1951, then won both Wimbledon and the U.S. at 17. At age 18 in 1953, Little Mo won all four Slams, thereby achieving the first women's Grand Slam. Then at 19 she won both Garros and Wimbledon, making a total of nine Slam triumphs as a teenager and a W-L record in Slams of 52-2, where her only two losses came in those first tries at Forest Hills.

Connolly's was primarily a heavy-hitting game from back court, founded on her ability to drive the ball firmly and consistently within inches of the lines, machine-like. She was very similar to Monica Seles, not only in her tactics but also in her unrelenting determination and concentration during matches. Her only major difference with Seles was that Connolly's time preceded Open tennis. During her time at the pinnacle there were no plausibly dangerous opponents active in the pro ranks.

 

[jeebeesus]

well done. good work

 

[Christopher]

I dont really follow WTA tennis unless its at the slams, where its televised anyway, so that was quite interesting.

I didnt realise Seles was that good.

I allways thought it was Capriarti who got stabbed as a young woman? Was it both?

 

[35ft6]

I allways thought it was Capriarti who got stabbed as a young woman? Was it both?

For a while there, a different player was being stabbed every week. J/K.

 

[TigerTennis]

Best match record at 17 years old:

1. Monica Seles..... 84% (92-17 )
2. Martina Hingis.... 80% (152-37 )
3. Tracy Austin....... 80% (128-32 )
4. Steffi Graf........... 71% (116-17 )

wouldnt that make GRAF have the best record at the age of 17. She won 24 more matches with the same # of losses...

 

[35ft6]

^ Good catch.

 

[AngeloDS]

Those numbers are wrong

Monica Seles
92-17 = 75
75 / 92 = 82%

Martina Hingis
152-32 = 120
120 / 152 = 79%

Tracy Austin
128 - 32 = 96
96 / 128 = 75%

Steffi Graf
116 - 17 = 99
99 / 116 = 85%

It should go

1. Steffi Graf
2. Monica Seles
3. Martina Hingis
4. Tracy Austin

 

[newnuse]

People's memories are rather short. They forget how good somebody was after a few shorts years. Monica's run the couple of years prior to her stabbing was amazing. That was most dominant 2+ year run I can remember. What makes it more amazing for me is that she did it when Graf was on top of the WTA world. Graf, one of the greatest ever...

Conolly's 9 for 9 streak is very impressive. I wasn't around but I can't imagine any of the pro's beating her. Was there a very strong pro women's tour at that time? I would guess there wasn't. Her accident at 19 ended her career, the same as Seles when the stabbing happened.

 

[newnuse]

Those numbers are wrong

Monica Seles
92-17 = 75
75 / 92 = 82%

Martina Hingis
152-32 = 120
120 / 152 = 79%

Tracy Austin
128 - 32 = 96
96 / 128 = 75%

Steffi Graf
116 - 17 = 99
99 / 116 = 85%

It should go

1. Steffi Graf
2. Monica Seles
3. Martina Hingis
4. Tracy Austin

Actually if u want to calculate win % it should be
116+17 = 133,.... 116/133= 87%

 

[wildbill88AA]

you'll notice, the candle that burns brightist burns out fastest.

 

[newnuse]

you'll notice, the candle that burns brightist burns out fastest.

I agree but not in this case.

A knife in the back and car accident will put your candle out real quick.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

During her time at the pinnacle there were no plausibly dangerous opponents active in the pro ranks.

Not true. Connoly faced Doris Hart, Margaret Osborne DuPont, Shirley Fry, Louise Brough, all great champions with more experience than she, who also specialized in doubles and tested her power game with their versatility and all-court styles.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

That was most dominant 2+ year run I can remember.

Really, so you really believe Monica Seles's 91-early 93 run was more dominant than Navratilova's 83-early 85 run or Graf's 88-early 90 run?

 

[newnuse]

Really, so you really believe Monica Seles's 91-early 93 run was more dominant than Navratilova's 83-early 85 run or Graf's 88-early 90 run?

Martina's run is a little fuzzy for me. It's been such a long time so I don't recall it as vividly as the Seles run of course.

I was awed by the Seles run because prior to that, Graf was so invincible. I thought she was untouchable and then Seles came along with her run as a teenager. She did what I thought was impossible, stop Graf.

I guess the Graf run was more dominant going by her GS, but I remember being more impressed with the Seles run. It's a little ironic it was due to Graf.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Oh I wasnt saying it would be unreasonable to consider Seles's 2+ period of dominance more impressive than any other recent run. Just that in terms of the sheer term "dominance", Graf and Navratilova each had a run of that span more dominant. Of course Graf arguably had hers when Navratilova was already past her prime, what year do you consider her prime to have ended in? 86, 87 perhaps? Certainly before 88 though, and while Graf reached #1 in 87 she certainly was not dominant losing both the Wimbledon and U.S open finals to Navratilova. Navratilova did face Evert during her 2+ period of dominance, but the supporting cast of challengers behind them was not as strong or deep as 91-early 93. Mandilikova was a worthy challenger behind them, but behind Graf and Seles you had Sanchez Vicario, Sabatini playing her best 2 years of tennis ever, an aging Navratilova who was still formidable.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

What made Monica seles real good?

 

[urban]

The similarities between Connolly and Seles are striking: both were mentally very tough, had a aggressive baseline play from both flanks and their careers were cut short at 19. In the case of Monica I always thought that her aggressive play - a bit like Connors- exceeded her body, which was not athletic at all. She played more on guts and determination than something else. So I think normally her career would have not lasted as long as Everts or Navratilovas. Having said that I admit that I never saw a better player on hard and clay courts than Seles at her peak 1991/92. Only Serena Williams with her more powerful body reached this fusilade of shots. Seles took the ball extremely early after bounce - even more than Agassi - and put immense pressure on opponents. I recall that she went often to Grafs forehand and gave Graf no time for her big swing preparation. On grass she had difficulty with Grafs low slice backhand.

 

[slack hack]

Seles was dealing with chronic migraines all during the pre-stabbing
era, often while on the court. She's an amazing fighter.
Her growth spurt was ending and her serve was just becoming a
really consistent weapon. She never got the serve going as well
upon her return and complained the injury from the stabbing directly
affected it. Had IT not happened, she looked poised to leave
a fairly weighty field in the dust.

 

[tennis4losers]

Those numbers are wrong

Monica Seles
92-17 = 75
75 / 92 = 82%

Martina Hingis
152-32 = 120
120 / 152 = 79%

Tracy Austin
128 - 32 = 96
96 / 128 = 75%

Steffi Graf
116 - 17 = 99
99 / 116 = 85%

It should go

1. Steffi Graf
2. Monica Seles
3. Martina Hingis
4. Tracy Austin

Lol thats funny

 

[Exile]

For a while there, a different player was being stabbed every week. J/K.

Yeah, you weren't cool until your career ended with a stabbing.
That's what made her hardcore!

Anyone have the story on the stabbing anyway?
Any controversy to kick around?

 

[zAllianceBmx]

where do you get your resources? cause some of the figures are wrong.

 

[timmyboy]

she's good, really good. who's gonna argue about who's the 4 best ladies of all time are? nothing goes near those 4.

 

[35ft6]

Yeah, you weren't cool until your career ended with a stabbing.
That's what made her hardcore!

Anyone have the story on the stabbing anyway?
Any controversy to kick around?

She was stabbed by a crazy German guy who was a Graf fan, and wanted Steffi to regain the number 1 spot. The German court didn't send him to jail, if I remember correctly, and in the end he accomplished exactly what he set out to do.

In no way was Steffi at fault for the stabbing, NO WAY, but she really went out of her way to not talk about what happened. Nobody was saying she had to perform tricks to rectify something that wasn't her fault, but she almost pretended/pretends like it never happened.

 

[35ft6]

What made Monica seles real good?

She had laser sharp focus, maybe a stronger competitive mind than any modern female player. She was equally good off both sides and could hit flat with pace, or with heavy topspin, basically she could put the ball anywhere on the court with ease. And she took the ball extremely early and relentlessly moved the ball around, and in big points her precision went up a couple more notches and she would start nailing lines.

Basically, think of Agassi or Rios at their best, but with better concentration, and you had Seles. I saw her play at the US Open one year. One of the best ball strikers I've ever seen, although I'd have to say that year Hingis was the female who impressed me the most. Hingis was like a super clever lawyer cross examining the witness, tongue tying her opponent with every question. << Mary Carillo like analogy, dont'cha think?