Monica Seles: biography and sports career

Big sport is a spectacular and exciting activity that attracts millions of people around the world. Especially if it's about tennis. If you take a biography and a sports career, few people can boast of saturation and drama. But Monica Seles is another case, her life is full of ups and downs.

Childhood and first tennis lessons

December 2, 1973 in the city of Novi Sad in the family of multiplier Karoy Seles and programmer Esther Selesh a daughter is born. The girl became the second child in the family after the brother of Zoltan. Father very seriously took care of the education of Monica and from the age of 5 introduced the girl to tennis. On a professional coach, the family had no money, and Kara himself begins to train the girl in the parking lot next to the house. The parking lot replaced the court, and instead of the net, the rope was stretched. As a textbook, there were various magazines on tennis. Then, as a child, the style of playing with both hands was laid. Monica was a very fragile girl, and she did not have the strength to hold the racket with one hand, so she used two. This feature remained with her throughout his career.

Children's career

The first children's tournament for Monica was held when she was 9 years old - Yugoslavia's championship among children under 12 years old, Seles then became a champion. The next big victory was won at the children's European championship next year. In 1984, tennis player Monica Seles won the title of athlete of the year of Yugoslavia. In 1985, Seles went to the Orange Bowl tournament in Florida. There, successful performances attract the attention of the famous coach Nick Boletere. Monica's parents received an offer to move to Florida, in order to develop a small tennis player. Immediately move from the family Selesh failed because of financial problems, but later, in 1986, the move still took place.

Big sport

At the age of 14, Monica was the first to win a professional tournament. And from next year tennis player Monica Seles is affirmed in the rank of professionals. The first defeated tennis player in the finals was Chris Evert at a tournament held in 1989 in Houston. But Chris Evert took revenge in the same year at the tournament The United States Open Tennis Championships. In the tennis world rumors spread about the emergence of a new star and a possible rival for the unbeaten Steffi Graf. Further this year was followed by the tournament Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros in France. Here the athlete was able to reach the semifinals and first met with Steffi Graf. More eminent athlete did not let herself be beat. And Monica was defeated. The result of the season was the sixth place in the world ranking

1990 was much more saturated with trophies. First, a victory was won at the Italian Internazionali BNL d'Italia tournament over Martina Navratilova. Then the undefeated Steffi Graf was defeated at the Lufthansa Cup. And the most significant event of that year was the victory in the Grand Slam tournament. In the final, Steffi Graf was defeated. The last victory was a new age record of the tournament "Grand Slam", before the title of the youngest winner belonged to the Spanish Aranchu Sanchez-Vicario.

In the period from 1991 to 1992, Monika Seles wins 6 Grand Slam Tourists. Steffi Graf left only Wimbledon. It is worth noting that in 1991, Monica did not perform at this tournament, and in 1992 reached the finals.

The tragedy of 1993

1993 was a success for Monica. At the Australian Open Tennis Championships in the finals Steffi Graf was defeated. In the spring in Hamburg at the Citzen Cup tournament there was a match of the pair: Magdalena Maleeva and Monica Seles. A stab in the back did not let Monica win that game. Since the beginning of the first set, German fans have been very aggressive towards Monica. The reason for this was the fact that Seles surpassed their compatriot Graf. And someone Guenther Parche decided to correct the situation in this way. After the attack, the tennis player was immediately hospitalized. Fortunately, the damage did not do much harm to the health of the athlete. But this event postponed a heavy emotional imprint on Monica, and after this tournament she stops performing. Emotional tension brought the athlete to the point that she equipped her home with security cameras and a high fence. And all the time she spent in this house, fearing a new attack.

Resuming career

28 months it took Seles to recover. And in 1995 she returns to tennis. In this she was helped by many good people, including: parents and older brother, and once Monica himself visited Muhammad Ali.

After returning to the sport of Seles, the world tennis association decided to divide the title of the first racket of the world between the Count and Monica. The Association took into account the fact that Monica headed the rating before the tragedy, and the further decline of positions was not due to her fault.

The first tournament after the return was the Canadian Rogers Cup, it was won in the finals by Amanda Kottser from South Africa. Fans and experts predicted Monica climbing to the previous level, but fate decreed otherwise. The American tournament The United States Open Tennis Championships ended with the defeat of Monica Seles from Steffi Graf. The last victory in the tournament "Grand Slam" was won over Anke Huber.

In 1998, after the death of his father, Monica's career is declining. However, in 2000, the tennis player wins bronze at the Olympics in Sydney. Since 2003, Seles has ceased to perform at large tournaments, and in 2008 announces the end of his career.

Personal life

In April 2009, the book "Getting A Grip: On My Body, My Mind, My Self" is published, it tells the story of the severe depression of the tennis player and her return to the sport. The author of the memoir book is herself Monica Seles. The personal life of the Hungarian tennis player made a sharp turn in 2009, after a meeting with billionaire Tomi Golisano. In 2014, the couple announced an engagement.

July 11, 2009 in the list of the international hall of tennis glory appeared a new name - Monica Seles. The photo of this legendary sportswoman can still be seen on the pages of tennis publications and sports newspapers. And no one will argue, she deserves it.