Monica Seles has remained quiet since being sidelined with a chronic
foot injury in 2003, but she had a great deal to say on the court
when she played an exhibition match at the River Oaks Country Club
last week, her first public match in quite some time.

The 33-year-old, who makes her home in tennis haven Sarasota, Fla.,
arrived on the morning of her scheduled match against fellow tennis
great and former rival Martina Navratilova. After three practice
sessions, the 9-time Slam winner took to the court, her sea foam
green and white Yonex clothing hugging a much slimmer figure,
highlighted by well – her blonde highlights (see right photo).

Seles' nervousness was apparent from the start, but as the match
progressed, the former World No. 1 showed shades of the player that
once dominated the women's game before her career was cut brutally
short. Broken in the ninth game of the first set, she immediately
broke back and held at love to consolidate the break on her serve,
using the same punishing ground strokes that led her to three French
Open crowns.

The contrast of styles – Navratilova's one-handed serve-and-volley
game versus the double-fisted forehand and backhand from the
baseline-hugging Seles – produced some quality tennis with a bit of
humor mixed in for good measure. Seles, although playing an
exhibition, appeared to have more than the typical "hit-and-giggle"
mentality, focusing on the match point by point as if rankings
points were at stake – she offered only a half-apology for a net
cord at one point.

But the rust on court was not confined to the color of the clay.
even forgot to switch to switch sides after six games in the opening
set tiebreak.

"I'll take whatever I can get right now," she told the crowd after a
lucky winner. And take she did, winning the tiebreak and the set.

Navratilova came back in the second set, which took an entertaining
turn when a drop shot off Seles' racquet drew the 50-year-old
veteran wide. Navratilova went sailing off the court and nearly into
the first row of seats, where she playfully grabbed a spectator's
drink and took a sip. Realizing it was an alcoholic beverage, she
quipped, "That is the first and last time I'll ever do that. Now
I'll have a smile on my face no matter what."

That proved difficult to live up to, however, because she double
faulted on match point to hand Seles the match, 7-6 (1), 2-6, 10-1
(match tiebreak).

Having faced and overcome adversity in her career, spotlighted by
the stabbing she suffered at a tournament in Germany in 1993 and the
death of her father and mentor later in her career, Seles' resolve
is as much a credit to her as her accomplishments on the court. But
off the court, she remains somewhat shy, flashing her unassuming
smile when complimented or approached by fans, who packed the
stadium to watch her play in dipping temperatures and give a rousing
round of applause.

And the feeling was mutual.

"Except for [the groin pull], I am happy with everything, and
especially my foot," she told the Houston Chronicle. "This was a
good start and I am looking forward to playing more."