St Petersburg, Florida - The head of the WTA has praised the tennis
contribution of Monica Seles after the nine-times Grand Slam winner
announced her retirement. "Monica Seles is one of the great champions
in the history of the WTA Tour, and an inspiration and role model for
millions of fans throughout the world," said WTA boss Larry Scott in a
statement.

"No one will ever forget the fierce determination and will to win that
Monica brought to the court, nor the caring and warm person that she
has always been off the court.

"Fans of women's tennis have no shortage of fond Monica memories and
of amazing matches and rivalries that Monica was a part of. No doubt,
Monica will soon find her rightful place at the International Tennis
Hall of Fame for her many accomplishments on the tennis court."

Yugoslav-born Seles, who migrated to a US passport in 1993, paved the
way for what has become the Serbian tennis explosion on both the men's
and women's sides, with Novak Djokovic winning the Australian Open and
the photogenic pair of Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic ranked inside
the Top five on the women's side.

Seles, 34, quit the game a decade and a half after being stabbed in
1993 in Hamburg by a deranged fan of then-rival Steffi Graf.

Her tennis - once she returned two years later - was never the same.

Seles last played in a first-round loss at the French Open five years
ago against Nadia Petrova.

"Tennis has been and will always be a huge part of my life," Seles
said. "I have for some time considered a return to professional play,
but I have now decided not to pursue that."

The daughter of a cartoonist who was her first coach took over the
world number one ranking in March, 1991, and dominated over the next
two seasons. Before her stabbing she had appeared in nine of the
previous ten Grand Slam finals.

Florida-based Seles won 53 singles titles and six in doubles. Her last
Grand Slam crown came at the Australian Open in 1996.

Since last playing, Seles was bothered by injuries including a foot
problem.

Seles said that she will try and remain active in the sport. "I will
continue to play exhibitions, participate in charity events, promote
the sport, but will no longer plan my schedule around the tour."