Nine-time Grand Slam winner Monica Seles has announced her official
retirement from professional tennis.

The former World No 1 confirmed her withdrawal from the professional
game after an absence of five years from the WTA Tour.

"I have for some time considered a return to professional play, but I
have now decided not to pursue that."

In the spring of 2003, the American left-hander sustained a foot
injury that sidelined her from the tour, and then two years later she
lost two exhibition matches in New Zealand against Martina Navratilova.

In December, Seles admitted that Lindsay Davenport's successful return
after pregnancy inspired her to consider her own limited comeback to
play Grand Slam tournaments and the major warm-up events for those
tournaments.

Seles said at the time: "I will continue to play exhibitions,
participate in charity events, promote the sport, but will no longer
plan my schedule around the tour.

"I look forward to pursuing other opportunities with the same passion
and energy that fuelled my dedication to tennis and to devote more
time to two of my passions - children and animals.

"I especially want to thank all my wonderful, loyal fans for all of
their support for me over the years.

"They have inspired me throughout my career in the good times and
comforted me in the bad times.

"I will miss them all as much as I will miss competing in the game of
tennis."

Seles, 34, who was born in Yugoslavia, became a naturalised citizen of
the United States in 1994. She won 53 singles and six doubles
tournaments, including nine grand slam titles along the way.

Aged 16 and six months she became youngest winner of the French Open
in 1990, before reaching world number one in March 1991. Seles held
the top ranking for 178 weeks over the next two years.

However, tragedy struck in April 1993, when she was stabbed in the
back by a spectator during a match in Hamburg, Germany. She was not
able to play again for more than two years.

When she did return, she completed a comeback win at the Canadian
Open, then reached the US Open final the following month.

She won her ninth and final Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in
January 1996.