Seles interview

[Gonzalito17]

Just on the MSG conference call with Monica Seles. I asked her if she would pull a Hingis, Mauresmo, Navratilova and coach and she said not really because she doesn't want to travel but says she is working with a young local girl who is very good.
Monica said she wished she would have hired Navratilova as coach herself because "she would have helped me improve my volley." She also said she watched Hopman Cup, was very impressed with Radwanska and thinks after Serena and Maria, Radwanska is Australian Open favorite. Said she always liked Radwanska game but now feels with Martina in her corner Radwanska will be better, more aggressive, improved serve.
Asked her which of the young players - Halep, Bouchard, Sloane, Pliskova, Keys, Bencic, etc. - is best suited for success. Seles said she really likes Keys' game. I thought she was gonna say Simona but she said Keys and she thinks Davenport will be ideal coach because similar game style and help teach her to play.
Seles gave big respect to Gabriela Sabatini saying to this day it means so much to her that after stabbing Gaby was one of only ones who voted for Monica to retain ranking.
Seles said: "Gaby thought about a human being before thinking about a dollar amount or ranking points that a lot of players wanted at that point. So that speaks to the tremendous character of Gaby."
She also said first night match she ever played in WTA was in Miami vs. Gaby and that she was "Star struck" becuase she loved Gaby but entire crowd with Gaby.
Filip Bondy asked which player reminds Monica of her and which player does she see Seles influence? She said Serena because "99 percent of the time she fights for every single ball and that's how I tried to play. Maria Sharapova, because I followed her since she was 9 or 10 years old and she's a true fighter and Ana Ivanovic, from my former country. Ana is a big, tall young lady with a good serve and can really hit the forehand."

 

[gerrysbland]

Sabatini actually was the dope. It would have been ridiculous to freeze Seles's #1 ranking. I don't care what the circumstance, you shouldn't be ranked #1 while not even playing tennis. We saw evidence of this when she in fact came back and was gifted a #1 ranking she in no way earned for about 15 months. In that whole time she failed to ever be the true #1 player, which was always far and way Graf, with Seles at best a distant 2nd and possibly even 3rd best. She even admitted towards the end of that period she was holding the "co-#1" since it was guaranteed regardless what she did on court or results produced, that it felt embarrassing when Graf was so totally dominating. So why approve of a scenario she was gifted even more time at #1, now not only through not playing well enough to be #1, but not playing tennis at all. The other women weren't being selfish, they were being logical.

Sabatini by voting for the silly "#1 ranking freeze" only exhibited why she was never a real champion, reaching 18 slam semis and getting a 1 measley slam out of that, by far the worst such stat in history. That is all.

 

[Vegito]

i guess someone already said here that Seles and Sabatini will play an exhibition in the Madison Square Garden in march, right? Will be interesting.

 

[Oh Definitely]

Sabatini actually was the dope. It would have been ridiculous to freeze Seles's #1 ranking. I don't care what the circumstance, you shouldn't be ranked #1 while not even playing tennis… ...That is all.

The "freeze" was a compassionate gesture afforded a much loved colleague who had befallen the most frightening of experiences… I think we did the right thing in this case.

FYI nice OP. It's great to hear and see updated info and insights from former players and their current thoughts on the pro-tour… Thanks!

 

[gerrysbland]

The "freeze" was a compassionate gesture afforded a much loved colleague who had befallen the most frightening of experiences… I think we did the right thing in this case.

FYI nice OP. It's great to hear and see updated info and insights from former players and their current thoughts on the pro-tour… Thanks!

No a freeze makes no sense. For all sorts of reasons.

First of all Seles was not even certain to ever return to tennis. This was evident by how long it took her to return and by early 95 most believed she never would return. When do you remove the freeze. If she never returned would Seles still be frozen at #1 today, LOL!

Then again the time frame. Nobody knew if she returned, when she would. Exactly how long should she be frozen at #1. How long does it go to the point it just becomes silly. There is no guarantee even if she hadnt been stabbed she would still be #1 anymore than a few months later, and by the time we zoom to 2 years in the future or more, it is really silly to be even trying to anticipate what would have been happening by then. So to just make a presumption Seles was certain to be #1 without the incident (which is essentialy what a free for a non active player is) for an extended length of time is silly.

The logistics of having someone not even playing on tour being ranked #1, and players who are actually competing not having any chance of it, no matter how well they played, until Seles came back. After the Seles stabbing Graf won 4 slams in a row. I am not even interested in another Graf-Seles debate so don't even go there, and I don't care about back and forth arguments what Graf would have or wouldn't have won without the stabbing. The fact is though someone who just won 4 slams in a row, something Seles herself had NEVER once done, even with the Seles stabbing, not being ranked #1 would look ridiculous at that point.


Now had there been definite parameters to the freeze maybe I could see some basis for that. For instance a freeze of 6 months maximum perhaps, and then once the 6 month period was over Seles rankings results being dropped week by week from April 30 92 to April 30 93 so her ranking would drop more slowly, and she could still have a good ranking should she return in 94. Something like that. However from my understanding there was NO parameters set for the so called "ranking freeze". Given that circumstance, just agreeing to a ranking freeze would have been incredibly stupid and completely illogical in everyway. Saying the girls were selfish and just wanting to be #1, or profit from some big ranking rise as Seles and some of her fans do is utterly laughable, considering:

1. Even with the Seles stabbing there were very very few women with any chance in hell of being #1. Who really, Graf and maybe Sanchez Vicario, and that is it. As it was nobody else ever reached #1. Would Natalie Tauziat, Barbara Paulus, Judith Weisner, a washed up/on the way down Sabatini (the person of discussion) vote for or against Seles being frozen at #1 so they would have a chance to be ranked #1? :lol: Be real please.

2. Yeah a ranking rise of 8th to 7th, 16th to 15th, 20th to 19th, so meaningful for most of these women. :lol: Again get real.

The sane women (excluding Sabatini who always seemed like a bit of a dumb ditz) voted the right way for the sake of the tour, period, as this whole ranking freeze idea was ridiculous as it was presented. As it said had there been some EXACT parameters and rules set about it, it could have been acceptable for a short term, and some more might have considered it then, but being presented with no paramaters at all it was simply insane and unworkable.

Sabatini more showed her lack of self gumption that prevented her from achieving

 

[Oh Definitely]

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, including Gabriela Sabatini. To say she was gutless to vote the way she did does not consider that maybe she just felt a ranking freeze was a nice thing to do, and screw logic, a 19 year old girl got stabbed by a crazy man.

In responde to your points…

First of all Seles was not even certain to ever return to tennis.
---> Granted nobody could foresee this at the point of the discussion.

...by early 95 most believed she never would return.
---> Your evidence? Define "most".

When do you remove the freeze. If she never returned would Seles still be frozen at #1 today, LOL!
---> Um, no… LOL! You're speaking in absolutes, which is illogical and proves no point.

Nobody knew if she returned, when she would.
---> Yes, and your point… not discuss the issue at all perhaps? "…umm, Ms. Seles, look I know it's only been 3 weeks since your attempted murder, but you're gonna have to give us a specific day and date when you will be returning to the Kraft Tour… thanks for understanding, because some people just NEED to know everything otherwise they just CAN'T go on!

Exactly how long should she be frozen at #1. How long does it go to the point it just becomes silly.
---> I guess that never became an issue, did it now?

There is no guarantee even if she hadnt been stabbed she would still be #1 anymore than a few months later…
---> You're right, there WAS no guarantee her absolute dominance in the ranking points would continue… but at the time of the incidence she WAS the dominant force, had WON 8 slams in 2.5 years, taken home the YEAR END championship tourney 3 years in a row, was still IMPROVING, hadn't really PEAKED yet… blah, blah, blah, blah, blah… you get where I'm going?

The point is, the BEST (and only substantial) indication of future form is current form.

So to just make a presumption Seles was certain to be #1 without the incident (which is essentialy what a free for a non active player is) for an extended length of time is silly.
--->Silly? Maybe? Compassionate, human, caring, united, positive, exemplary, admirable? Definitely.


After the Seles stabbing Graf won 4 slams in a row...
...The fact is though someone who just won 4 slams in a row, something Seles herself had NEVER once done, even with the Seles stabbing, not being ranked #1 would look ridiculous at that point.
---> Yes, even MORE reason to freeze her ranking.
Don't you remember the reason that basket-case stabbed her in the first place???
How can you even CONSIDER letting that freak win???
Allow all his sick plans to come to fruition???
Are you serious???

That would be a great example to set.


Now had there been definite parameters to the freeze maybe I could see some basis for that.
---> So you're not opposed to a ranking freeze in theory then?

For instance a freeze of 6 months maximum perhaps, and then once the 6 month period was over Seles rankings results being dropped week by week from April 30 92 to April 30 93 so her ranking would drop more slowly, and she could still have a good ranking should she return in 94. Something like that.
---> Oh, that's a marvellous plan. Very well thought out. You've covered every possible option in your grand design there… LOL!

What about a freeze for 5 months "maximum" and then a ranking drop every 2 weeks?
… or perhaps a freeze for 8 months "maximum" and then a drop of 1 rank every week until it reaches #7, then a drop of 2 ranks every 3 weeks until it reaches 20, wherein her ranking would revert to a function of the results of Graf and Sanchez combined, divided by 3 and then multiplied by the year end ranking of the player that was actually ranked #20 at the time of the stabbing… really, this would be the ONLY fair way to do it…

I'm sure their concern was NOT to make you happy, but to look after the WHOLE situation, the best they could.

Given that circumstance, just agreeing to a ranking freeze would have been incredibly stupid and completely illogical in everyway.
---> Once again, yes. Compassion, positive and admirable decisions are always the most difficult to make in the face of cold logic.

Saying the girls were selfish and just wanting to be #1, or profit from some big ranking rise as Seles and some of her fans do is utterly laughable,
---> So you claim.

considering:

1. Even with the Seles stabbing there were very very few women with any chance in hell of being #1. Who really, Graf and maybe Sanchez Vicario, and that is it. As it was nobody else ever reached #1. Would Natalie Tauziat, Barbara Paulus, Judith Weisner, a washed up/on the way down Sabatini (the person of discussion) vote for or against Seles being frozen at #1 so they would have a chance to be ranked #1? :lol: Be real please.

2. Yeah a ranking rise of 8th to 7th, 16th to 15th, 20th to 19th, so meaningful for most of these women. :lol: Again get real.
---> Yes (not!), these are the ONLY 2 though processes considered by all players involved. Well done. Good assessment… LOL!


The sane women (excluding Sabatini who always seemed like a bit of a dumb ditz) voted the right way for the sake of the tour, period, as this whole ranking freeze idea was ridiculous as it was presented.
---> The "right" way… "period"…? Once again, speaking in absolutes does you no favours.
There is no "right" or "wrong" in this situation, only in your mind.

As it said had there been some EXACT parameters and rules set about it, it could have been acceptable for a short term, and some more might have considered it then, but being presented with no paramaters at all it was simply insane and unworkable.
---> I read this statement as: "If the WTA did EXACTLY what I agree with, then OK… but if their decision does not EXACTLY concur with my personal opinion, then they are wrong, ridiculous and insane."

Sabatini more showed her lack of self gumption that prevented her from achieving…
---> …(continues) …a consistent top 5 ranking over a 5 year period which included arguably 3 of the 10 greatest women players of all time.

Yeah, Sabatini was really a bad player that (in your opinion) never achieved what she should have. Please. That's bit harsh.

You could say Sabatini, taking Graf to 6-8 in the 3rd set of Wimby in '91, never really showed any gumption. Her achievements (or lack there-of) were the result of a lack of gumption, and not her abilities or those of her opponents.

This is just a cheap shot at a former World #3 because she voted against your wishes. There's a word for that, but I think it faded a while ago, along with the Berlin Wall.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Countdown to Seles-Graf rivalry thread...

 

[mhkeuns]

I thought Seles had Graf's and any other players' number, just like Agassi had Becker figured out. She was just awesome. Never understood critism on Seles for not coming back to her #1 form.
That being said, more credit should go to Sabatini for drawing people into watching women's tennis. I think at one point during the late 80's and early 90's, the women's tennis was more popular than men's. I stopped watching women's tennis when Davenport and Williams sisters became the top players...

 

[smoledman]

The stabbing of Monica Seles at her peak was one of the most unjust things to ever happen in sport. Steffi Graf vultured like a legend off that and became GOAT as a result. I think Seles was on the way to GOAT-hood without that pro-Graf German stabbing her.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

The stabbing of Monica Seles at her peak was one of the most unjust things to ever happen in sport. Steffi Graf vultured like a legend off that and became GOAT as a result. I think Seles was on the way to GOAT-hood without that pro-Graf German stabbing her.

Aaaaaaaand here it is.

 

[mhkeuns]

The stabbing of Monica Seles at her peak was one of the most unjust things to ever happen in sport. Steffi Graf vultured like a legend off that and became GOAT as a result. I think Seles was on the way to GOAT-hood without that pro-Graf German stabbing her.

It was a sad moment. For Seles, it robbed of her potential to become one of the greatest... For Graf, it tainted her status as one of the greatest all-time.

 

[gerrysbland]

Again if you want to suggest one should logically have voted for Seles's #1 ranking to be frozen, one has to come up with some more concrete definites than that. You cant just propose a "freeze" with no further definition or metrics given, which is what the WTA did. Should they have even proposed the freeze, they should have taken a few more weeks to come up with a workable formula (a specific time frame of the freeze for starters) before presenting. They did not do it, and thus it was a poorly proposed suggestion, so of course the sane members of the WTA (with the exception the loopy Sabatini) voted against it. Which would have been the only reasonable thing to do given the poor and vague way the freeze was presented, with absolutely no parameters or further guidelines at all.

Had they proposed say a 6 month freeze, and the entire WTA still voted against it, I might understand the disappointment, but this did not happen. They should threw out a random freeze, with no further guidelines at all, and one needs to live in reality and not in some pink fluffy clowd fantasy land to just go along with an unworkable idea since it is "nice".

 

[gerrysbland]

I thought Seles had Graf's and any other players' number, just like Agassi had Becker figured out.

Pretty laughable comparision. Not a fan of Graf, but to compare her being dominated by Seles to something like Becker's being dominated by Agassi is too out of touch with reality for words. Seles in fact even during her 27 month dominance in 91-early 93, even still had a losing record vs Graf. Lets do a breakdown of their head to head at each respective phase of their careers:

88-90- Graf period of dominance- prime Graf vs non prime Seles: Graf won 3 of 5. 3 set win at Roland Garros, 6-0 and 6-1 win at Wimbledon, straight set win indoors, very tight 2 set loss at Roland Garros, straight set loss in other clay event.

91-early 93- Seles period of dominance- peak Seles vs slumping Graf: Graf won 3 of 5. Straight set win in smaller hard court event, 3 set win in smaller clay event, 10-8 in 3rd set loss in Roland Garros final, 6-2 and 6-1 trouncing at Wimbledon, 3 set loss in Australian open final.

late 95-96- Graf period of dominance- peak Graf vs non peak/out of shape Seles: Graf won 2 of 2. 3 set win in U.S Open final, and 2 set win in U.S Open final.

late 98-99- old/post surgery/way post prime Graf vs middle aged/past peak Seles- Graf won 2 of 2, despite Seles being much higher ranked and favored in both matches. 3 set win at WTA Championships, and 3 set win in Roland Garros semis.

Comparing this to Becker and his 8 match losing streak to Agassi over many years is a huge :lol: What will be next, Djokovic has Nadal's number the way Becker did Agassi (and Djokovic actually does better vs Nadal since 2011 than peak Seles did vs Graf).

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

It was a sad moment. For Seles, it robbed of her potential to become one of the greatest..

There is no evidence of that in her game.

For Graf, it tainted her status as one of the greatest all-time.

no, it did not, as she was already considered the greatest before Seles turned pro, and was a force who could not be prevented from making history.

 

[kiki]

Graf really never got belittled by Seles stabbing.

Graf was the best of both, even if slow court Seles was heavy on her

Now, what is their indoors HtH ?
indoors is the key

 

[AngieB]

Steffi Graf vultured like a legend off that and became GOAT as a result.

Steffi Graf's historic 1988 season (Golden Slam) placed her into GOAT contention five years before the stabbing of Monica Seles. Monica lacked the game or athleticism to ever win Wimbledon which is what sets Steffi miles apart from Monica (aside from the 13 grand slam singles titles).

Get over it.

#PTL #JC4Ever

AngieB​

 

[AngieB]

It was a sad moment. For Seles, it robbed of her potential to become one of the greatest... For Graf, it tainted her status as one of the greatest all-time.

20 years later, Steffi Graf continues to be regarded as the one of the All-Time greats, top three in the Open Era. Nothing that happened to Monica has affected Steffi's historical standing, except in the obsessed minds of those holding a useless, 20 year grudge. Very few of you left these days. Most everyone else has gotten over it. You should treat yourself better than that.

#PTL #JC4Ever

Angie​

 

[AngieB]

Let's just say that Gabriella was a beautiful girl, but not the smartest in the world. Good player.

#PTL #JC4Ever

AngieB​

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Steffi Graf's historic 1988 season (Golden Slam) placed her into GOAT contention five years before the stabbing of Monica Seles. Monica lacked the game or athleticism to ever win Wimbledon which is what sets Steffi miles apart from Monica (aside from the 13 grand slam singles titles).

Get over it.

#PTL #JC4Ever

AngieB​

Remember, certain Seles fans think a player who had no game for Wimbledon. In the biggest picture of all, that meant she was incapable of winning the Grand Slam, was somehow destined to be some sort of GOAT.

Fantasy is loved by some to ridiculous degrees.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Sabatini actually was the dope. It would have been ridiculous to freeze Seles's #1 ranking. I don't care what the circumstance, you shouldn't be ranked #1 while not even playing tennis. We saw evidence of this when she in fact came back and was gifted a #1 ranking she in no way earned for about 15 months. In that whole time she failed to ever be the true #1 player, which was always far and way Graf, with Seles at best a distant 2nd and possibly even 3rd best. She even admitted towards the end of that period she was holding the "co-#1" since it was guaranteed regardless what she did on court or results produced, that it felt embarrassing when Graf was so totally dominating. So why approve of a scenario she was gifted even more time at #1, now not only through not playing well enough to be #1, but not playing tennis at all. The other women weren't being selfish, they were being logical.

Sabatini by voting for the silly "#1 ranking freeze" only exhibited why she was never a real champion, reaching 18 slam semis and getting a 1 measley slam out of that, by far the worst such stat in history. That is all.

Yep, definitely NadalAgassi.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Countdown to Seles-Graf rivalry thread...

LOL.

Aaaaaaaand here it is.

LMAO!!!

 

[Oh Definitely]

no, it did not, as she (Graf) was already considered the greatest before Seles turned pro, and was a force who could not be prevented from making history.

Haha, you're funny!

You say Graf was already considered GOAT in 1989 after winning only 6 Grand Slams? Not sure what Court, Navratilova, Evert, etc, etc, would have said about that statement.

Remember: "Following the absence of Seles, Graf won 65 of 67 matches, three of four Grand Slam events and the year-end Virginia Slims championships. She won her first French Open title since 1988 with a three-set victory over Mary Joe Fernandez in the final. The win elevated Graf to the World No. 1 ranking for the first time in 22 months."

You make me laugh...

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Haha, you're funny!

You say Graf was already considered GOAT in 1989 after winning only 6 Grand Slams? Not sure what Court, Navratilova, Evert, etc, etc, would have said about that statement.

Graf won the Grand Slam. She was catapulted to the platform of the master--a place Seles never had the ability to reach.

In fact, the idea of Seles being any sort of would-be GOAT (as some her fans argue) is pure comedy.

 

[TMF]

Graf is not a goat after 1989, far from it. Not only she had low in slam count(6) but many other achievements and ranking that aren't even close to tier 1 great.

I mean it's like saying Federer is the goat when he won 6 slams.

 

[pc1]

Graf won the Grand Slam. She was catapulted to the platform of the master--a place Seles never had the ability to reach.

In fact, the idea of Seles being any sort of would-be GOAT (as some her fans argue) is pure comedy.

Graf was often called the GOAT in 1989. She was so dominant with such power that people considered her the best ever. I thought it was too early but the truth is they called her the GOAT.

Calling a player GOAT quickly early in a player's career is not unusual. For example Federer was called by many to be the GOAT very early in his career.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Graf was often called the GOAT in 1989. She was so dominant with such power that people considered her the best ever. I thought it was too early but the truth is they called her the GOAT.

Calling a player GOAT quickly early in a player's career is not unusual.

True--if the player had the supreme achievement, like the Grand Slam. That historic achievement instantly separated Graf from her contemporaries, with only Court as the other GOAT reference. To that end, Seles was not in that talent / ability level, thus she was never going to be a GOAT---the fantasy sold by some of her fans.

 

[Oh Definitely]

LOL... a bold claim. I think Monica was on her way to proving Graf had finished and was destined to be number 2 for the remainder of her career.