I have just updated Monica's biography on my website:
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/biography.html

It is *not* a copy of Monica's standard WTA Tour biography, but my
own detailed appreciation of her game, followed by a review for
every year of her career. I have edited the introduction, and added
a review of 2005 (such as it was).

The rest of this message gives further details about the latest news
of Monica. She's currently practising five days a week, and recently
said that she would either return to the WTA Tour in 2006 or retire
at the end of 2006.

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Quotes
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"Right now I think I'm in the decision stage of which way I'm going
to go. It's not an easy decision, because if you do come back you
want to come back at a high level. We'll see.

"I'm still training and still trying, but at the same time I'm
realistic. After 2006, if not, then it's pretty sure. You have to
move on."

Re. her level of play:
"It's okay. If it were good, I wouldn't be here. I'd be training.

"My game is not at the level that I personally feel comfortable
playing against the girls. It's my foot, it's giving me not as much
time to train, to put in my many hours. The consistency is just not
there.

"If I don't play ever again professionally, I'm happy. If I get to
play, it's all a bonus at this stage.

"I had a very unusual career, to say the least. I had some highs and
lows. But at the end of the day, I got to do something I loved to
do. As a little girl, how I started playing tennis was very simple.
That part, I'm proud to say, has never changed. To me, I get a great
joy just hitting the ball.

"The ball is being hit harder and harder, and the girls are much
more complete players than they used to be. Physically stronger. I
think I probably was one of the earliest to start it. I brought in
power with two hands from both sides. I was one of a few players
that brought on this power game, and they've taken it to a new level.

"Then the grunting part, everybody is now doing it. It's like normal
now. Seeing women play such aggressive tennis is really great.

"You want to be able to keep up with the girls because they are
playing amazing tennis now. To play mediocre tennis, I would not
want to go back.

"I love the Australian and the US Open. Those are my two favourites.
I'd take either one."

Re. Martina Hingis:
"It's going to be good to see Martina coming back and to see how she
does. I think it's great she's coming back. She's so young. She's in
her prime, and has a great challenge ahead of her. She was so good
in her younger years. It's fantastically exciting. She's so young
still and she was so good. I'm a big fan of hers. She was a great
No. 1 player. She was a chess player out there."

Re. Fed Cup:
"I love playing Fed Cup. It was such an honour to play and be part
of a team, as tennis can be such a lonely sport at times.

"It would be a huge honour to be asked to be Fed Cup captain, but
gosh, that would be a long way off as Zina [Garrison] is doing such
a fantastic job. It's such a huge responsibility to take on, so I
don't think I am nearly mature enough to take on the role yet - but
hopefully in the future."

Re. the Laureus World Sports Academy:
"My motto is a healthy body, healthy mind. That's why the Laureus
Foundation fit me perfectly, because they do sports and kids. It's
fitting to what I want to be doing in the future."

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Photos
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veronika's Monica Seles Photo Tribute:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=196236

There are loads of new photos of Monica on Getty Images (search
for "seles").

Andrew's photos of the year (Monica and others):
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=6685826

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Further reading
---------------

Seles aims for comeback in 2006 or may retire (13th December):
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z5CD1246C

Seles refuses to let go of game she loves (3rd November):
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L2DD2246C

Seles is missed, but she's not really gone (31st August):
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=190223

Seles doesn't rule out return to Fed Cup play (6th November):
http://www.tennisrulz.com/articles/200511/07.htm

The Big Interview (18th December):
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2094-1937998,00.html
(2 pages)


I wish Monica and all her fans a happy new year.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/ (added 4 external
links)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/selesians/