NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — Monica Seles is comfortable talking about her on-court
stabbing 16 years ago — even on a day of celebration.

The 35-year-old Seles was enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame
during a ceremony on Newport's grass courts Saturday. She was the world's No. 1
women's player for 178 weeks overall and a winner of nine Grand Slam singles
titles.

"I talk about it openly," she said during a news conference before being
inducted. "As you can see, there's an exhibit here (about me) at the museum.
When we were talking about me going into the Hall of Fame it was, 'Should we
include the stabbing or not?' Unfortunately it's part of my career. I wish it
wasn't. It's a long, long time ago."

It was April 30, 1993. Seles was on top of tennis, the No. 1 player, three-time
defending champion of the French Open and back-to-back winner at both the U.S.
and Australian Opens.

The attack shocked the sports world. Seated during a changeover at a match in
Hamburg, Germany, Seles was stabbed between the shoulder blades by a crazed fan.
It would be 2 1/2 years before she returned to the sport.

"Coming back in Toronto after my stabbing, I viewed my career in two phases —
before stabbing and after stabbing," she said. "The reception that I got just
reinforced my decision to return."

Seles went on to win that tournament — the Canadian Open — one of 53 in her
career, including the 1996 Australian Open.

"She won eight grand slams before she was stabbed," said Donald Dell, also
inducted Saturday. "Believe me, she would have won another nine."

Seles was enshrined in nearly a 90-minute ceremony along with master's player
Andres Gimeno, the oldest player ever to win the French at 34 years, 10 months.
Dr. Robert Johnson was inducted posthumously.

"I would like to thank all my tennis fans who were there from Day One when I was
No. 1, through my stabbing, and my comeback," Seles, dressed in white slacks
with a lavender blouse, told the crowd.

Johnson, introduced by Jeanne Ashe, wife of the late Hall of Famer Arthur Ashe,
helped desegregate the sport. Dell, a U.S. Davis Cup member, later helped
promote and market the sport.

Seles, playfully, gave one more grunt. "For old, good time sakes," she said.

Gimeno brought the biggest laughter from the crowd when he recalled his only
major title at Roland Garros. He was introduced by 1987 Hall of Famer Stan
Smith.

"I was going to leave the game without winning a big one," he said. "I think God
said, 'Let the poor guy win one.'"