Seles calls time on tennis-career [CEEFAX 480->485]
>>>
Former world number one Monica Seles has announced her official
retirement from tennis.

The 34-year-old won nine Grand Slam singles-titles in her career, but
has not played competitively since June 2003 because of a foot-injury.

Seles won her first Grand Slam title in 1990 at the age of just 16,
and topped the rankings the following year.

In a horrifying event in April 1993, she was stabbed on court and
spent 28 months away from the sport.
<<<

Star Seles calls time on her career [Teletext 495->497]
>>>
Seles calls it a day [Teletext 497]

Former world No 1 Monica Seles has called time on her professional
career.

The 34-year-old nine-time Grand Slam winner, who was stabbed in the
back by a spectator during a match in 1993, had not played on the WTA
Tour since sustaining a foot-injury in 2003.

The American will continue to play in exhibitions, but said: "I
considered a return to professional play, but I have now decided not
to pursue that."
<<<

Seles Announces Retirement From Professional Tennis
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2045
>>>
She was so good at such a young age, taking the power-game to a whole
new level and displaying nerves of steel on the biggest stages. And
when she returned to the game, she inspired a generation of players
and fans all over again. Be it through her style, her resilience or
her smile, she has been one of the most popular players in tennis-
history. And on 14th February 2008, Monica Seles announced her
retirement from the sport.

Seles's rise to fame is well-documented: born in the former
Yugoslavia, she relocated to America with her family in 1986 to train
at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where she practised for two years
before starting to play the WTA Tour. Her style of play - powerful
two-handed groundstrokes on both sides, acute angles and returning
serve from inside the baseline - was a novelty at the time and took
her to the very top of the game very quickly, as she became the
youngest Roland Garros champion in history in 1990 (at 16 years, 6
months) and, at the time, the youngest No.1 in history on 11th March
1991 (at 17 years, 3 months - since passed by Martina Hingis). She
dominated the Tour for the next two years, winning seven more Majors
and finishing at No.1 in 1991 and 1992.

Seles made an inspirational and successful comeback to tennis in the
summer of 1995, winning her 33rd career-title in Toronto and making
it all the way to the final of the US Open before falling in three
exciting sets to one of her greatest rivals: then-No.1 Steffi Graf.
Although she won only one Major after her return - the Australian
Open in 1996, her ninth - Seles was still one of the very best
throughout those comeback-years, ranking in the Top 10 for all but
four weeks between 14th August 1995 and 17th March 2003, building her
career title-haul up to 53, and notching wins over the players that
were winning all of those Majors at the time - including Hingis,
Lindsay Davenport, both Williams sisters and Jennifer Capriati. Her
last Major final came at Roland Garros in 1998 - just three weeks
after the death of her father, Karolj, who had been her coach since
the beginning.

Seles' last season on the Tour came in 2003, her best finishes being
finals at Tokyo [Pan Pacific] and Dubai, losing competitive three-set
matches both times to Davenport and Henin, respectively. She withdrew
from all tournaments after Roland Garros due to a left-foot injury,
and over the next few years would keep to exhibition-play, not ruling
out a comeback to the Tour - until now.

Monica Seles: "Tennis has been and will always be a huge part of my
life. I have for some time considered a return to professional play,
but I have now decided not to pursue that. I will continue to play
exhibitions, participate in charity-events and promote the sport, but
will no longer plan my schedule around the WTA Tour. I look forward
to pursuing other opportunities with the same passion and energy that
fuelled my dedication to tennis, and to devoting 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 have always been so proud to have
such a special group of precious fans to call my very own, and felt
they were the best an athlete could ever hope to have. I will miss
them all as much as I will miss competing in the game of tennis."

Larry Scott (Chairman & CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour): "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. 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."

Send a goodbye message to Monica by clicking here [see original
article for link].

Also among Seles' career-accomplishments are:
* Holding nine Grand Slam singles titles (four at Australian Open,
three at Roland Garros, two at US Open); last one was 1996 Australian
Open; last time reaching Grand Slam final was 1998 Roland Garros
(just three weeks after father's death - finished runner-up to
Sánchez-Vicario); last one played was 2003 Roland Garros (lost first
round to Nadia Petrova - was last match played).
* Youngest-ever winner of Roland Garros (16 years, 6 months).
* Youngest-ever winner of Tour Championships (16 years, 11 months).
* Holding 53 career Tour singles-titles (ninth-most all-time).
* Holding No.1 for 178 non-consecutive weeks (fifth-most all-time);
rose to No.1 for first time on 11th March 1991, becoming youngest-
ever at the time (now second-youngest, passed by Hingis); year-end
No.1 twice (1991, 1992).
* Earning $14,891,762 in career prize-money (ninth all-time).
* Member of winning American Fed Cup Teams in 1996, 1999 and 2000.
* Winning seven of eight Grand Slams contested prior to 1993 stabbing.
<<<

http://tennis.com/news/ticker.aspx
>>>
Monica Seles has announced her retirement from tennis.

"Tennis has been and will always be a huge part of my life. I have
for some time considered a return to professional play, but I have
now decided not to pursue that," Seles said in a statement. "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 have
always been so proud to have such a special group of precious fans to
call my very own, and felt they were the best an athlete could ever
hope to have. I will miss them all as much as I will miss competing
in the game of tennis."

Seles' last match was at the French Open in 2003.

In a statement, WTA CEO Larry Scott said: "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. 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."
<<<

Seles officially retires from tennis (AP)
>>>
Monica Seles officially retired from tennis on Thursday - five years
after she played the last match of a career that included nine Grand
Slam singles-titles and was interrupted at its height when she was
stabbed in the back during a match.

"I have for some time considered a return to professional play, but I
have now decided not to pursue that," the 34-year-old Seles said in a
statement released by her agent. "I will continue to play
exhibitions, participate in charity-events, promote the sport, but
will no longer plan my schedule around the Tour."

Playing two-handed strokes off both wings that were accompanied by
two-note grunts, Seles won a total of 53 singles-titles and first
rose to No. 1 in March 1991. She was 17: at the time, the youngest
woman to have topped the rankings.

By the time she was 19, Seles earned eight Major championships.

But in April 1993, at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany, she was
attacked by a man who climbed out of the stands.

Seles returned to the game 27 months later and immediately reached
the 1995 US Open final. Her final Grand Slam title then came at the
1996 Australian Open.

She did reach two more Major finals, but hampered by a left-foot
injury, her last match was a first-round loss at the 2003 French Open.

Thinking she might try to come back at some point, Seles never did
say she was retired. And her legion of fans, drawn in as much by her
engaging personality and giggle off the court as her game on it, held
out hope of a return.

"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," WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott said.

"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."
<<<

Seles announces retirement (PA SportsTicker)
>>>
Monica Seles on Thursday announced her official retirement from
professional tennis, ending one of the most storied careers in the
sport.

Seles, 34, won 53 singles- and six doubles-tournaments, earning nine
Grand Slam titles along the way. She first became No. 1 in the world
in March 1991, and held the top ranking for 178 weeks over the next
two years - the youngest No. 1 ever at the time.

"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," CEO of the WTA Tour Larry Scott said.

"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."

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

When she did return, she posted a stirring comeback win at the
Canadian Open, then reached the US Open final the following month.
Remarkably, she then won her ninth Grand Slam title at the Australian
Open in January 1996.

"Tennis has been and will always be a huge part of my life," said
Seles in a statement. "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, Seles sustained a foot-injury that sidelined
her from the WTA Tour. In February 2005, she lost two exhibition-
matches in New Zealand against Martina Navrátilová.

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

"I will continue to play exhibitions, participate in charity-events,
promote the sport, but will no longer plan my schedule around the
Tour," Seles said. "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."
<<<

American Monica Seles retires from tennis (AFP)
>>>
Nine-time Grand Slam winner Monica Seles announced her retirement
from competitive tennis on Thursday.

The announcement ends one of the most glorious careers in the sport
as the 34-year-old won 53 singles-titles and six doubles-tournaments.

"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."

She first became No 1 in the world in March 1991, and held the top
ranking for 178 weeks over the next two years.

Seles was born in the former Yugoslavia, and became a naturalised
United States citizen in 1994.

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

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

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

In the spring of 2003, Seles sustained a foot-injury that sidelined
her from the WTA Tour.

"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," WTA Tour chief executive Larry Scott said.

"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."

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

"I will continue to play exhibitions, participate in charity-events,
promote the sport, but will no longer plan my schedule around the
Tour," Seles said. "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 announces official retirement (Reuters)
(Reporting by Simon Evans and Larry Fine; editing by Ed Osmond)
>>>
Former world number one Monica Seles announced her official
retirement from professional tennis at the age of 34 on Thursday -
nearly five years since she last played.

Seles won nine Grand Slam singles-titles and 53 tournaments in her
career. She had not played competitively since the 2003 French Open
but, plagued by a succession of foot-injuries, had tried to launch
several comebacks.

"I have for some time considered a return to professional play, but I
have now decided not to pursue that," Seles said in a statement
released by her manager and published on the WTA Tour website
<http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com>.

The native Yugoslav won her first Grand Slam at the 1990 French Open
and became world number one in 1991, staying top of the rankings
until April 1993, when she was stabbed during a match in Hamburg,
Germany.

She did not play again for more than two years, but she made a swift
impact on her return, winning the Canadian Open and Australian Open
as well as reaching the US Open final.

Seles, who became a US citizen in 1994, played her final match at the
2003 French Open, where she suffered a first-round loss to Nadia
Petrova.

She had struggled with foot-injuries for years, but chose not to
undergo surgery, hoping the stress-fractures would heal naturally.

In 2004 she competed in World TeamTennis, but lost heavily to players
she would have beaten easily in her prime.

Larry Scott, CEO of the WTA Tour, paid tribute to Seles.

"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.

"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," he said in a statement.

Seles claimed a major haul of four Australian, three French and two
US Open titles.
<<<

Seles finally gives up on reviving former glories (Reuters)
>>>
Monica Seles's brilliant career, disrupted by a stabbing and cut
short by injury, ended quietly on Thursday.

The former world number one may never have fully recovered from being
stabbed by a spectator during a match in 1993, but it was injuries
that stopped her making a comeback, as well as a stubborn refusal to
return at a level below her best.

Seles, 34, last played a competitive match at the 2003 French Open,
but thoughts of a comeback were never far from her mind.

"My personal theory is: if you're retired, you're retired," she told
the Houston Chronicle last year. "You don't come back. And I don't
feel like I'm ready to say that.

"I'm in such good shape. I only wish I was in this good a shape when
I was playing. It's hard to accept that just because of an injury,
you're finished."

Equally hard to accept was the fear that she may return to the court
a pale shadow of her former self.

Lindsay Davenport, another former world number one who made her own
comeback last year, said in 2005 that she did not expect Seles to
return because she would not accept lower standards.

"I think she loved her last year, and won't go out there and play
unless she's the good Monica that's everyone's used to," Davenport
said.

Perhaps Seles - world No. 1 for a total of 178 weeks - was right.

It would have been nearly impossible to recapture her former
brilliance, and her nine Grand Slam titles will ensure she is
remembered as one of the game's greatest players.

Born in the former Yugoslavia, Seles was among the pioneers along a
path that has proved lucrative for many young players from Eastern
Europe.

She moved to Florida as a schoolgirl and attended the Nick
Bollettieri Academy in Florida, which was later to be home to players
including Russian Maria Sharapova and Serbian Jelena Jankovic.

EXPLOSIVE START

Her early form on the WTA Tour was explosive, winning her first
tournament in Houston aged just 15 by beating multiple Grand Slam
winner Chris Evert in the final.

During a remarkable 1991, she reached the final of all 16 events she
entered, winning 10 including the Australian, French and US Opens.

Indisputably the best player in the world, and then the youngest to
reach the top of the rankings, Seles was rarely comfortable in the
media-spotlight.

Giggly in her teens, her infamous on-court grunt upset some fans, but
her grit, enthusiasm and superb two-handed groundstrokes won her
widespread admiration.

That turned to sympathy when German Günther Parche thrust a kitchen-
knife into her shoulders as she rested during a quarter-final match
at the Hamburg Open.

Parche - a fan of Seles's great rival Steffi Graf - received a
suspended two-year sentence, while Seles did not play for over two
years.

After becoming a US citizen in 1994, she won her first tournament
back: the 1995 Canadian Open.

With the mental trauma of her attack seemingly behind her, victory in
the 1996 Australian Open suggested that Seles's career might take off
again.

She regularly reached Grand Slam quarter-finals from 1997-2002, but
only once made the final, and nearly six years later, frustrated by a
succession of foot-injuries, Seles was finally forced to admit defeat.
<<<

Seles calls time on tennis-career
>>>
Former world number one Monica Seles has announced her official
retirement from tennis.

The 34-year-old won nine Grand Slam singles titles in her career, but
has not played competitively since June 2003 because of a foot-injury.

Seles won her first Grand Slam title in 1990 at the age of just 16,
and topped the world-rankings the following year.

In a horrifying event in April 1993, she was stabbed on court in
Germany and spent 28 months away from the sport.

After returning in 1995, Seles managed to win one final Grand Slam
title - the Australian Open in 1996 - finishing with a major haul of
four Australian, three French and two US Open titles.

"Tennis has been and will always be a huge part of my life," said
Seles.

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

She added: "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."

Larry Scott, chief executive of the WTA Tour, said: "Monica Seles is
one of the great champions in the history of the WTA Tour.

"She is an inspiration and role-model for millions of fans throughout
the world."

The native Yugoslav became an American citizen in 1994, and talked of
a comeback just last year after spending over four years out of the
sport.

"I certainly would not ever be able to do a full schedule again,
because of the foot," she said in 2007.

"But I'm thinking about the Slams and about some of the better
tournaments that lead into them."
<<<

Former world number one Monica Seles (Reuters)
>>>
Factbox on former world number one Monica Seles, who officially
retired on Thursday.

Born 2nd December 1973 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (now Serbia) to ethnic
Hungarian parents.

* After winning a junior-tournament in Florida, Seles and her family
move to the US, where Monica trains at the famous Nick Bollettieri
Tennis Academy.

* 1988: Makes professional début at Boca Raton in Florida - aged 14
years, three months. Loses in the second round to American Chris
Evert.

* 1989: As a 15-year-old unranked wildcard, she wins her first WTA
title in Houston, beating Evert in the final. She breaks into the top
10 in the world-rankings less than year after beginning her career.

* 1990: Seles finishes year at number two in the world after winning
36 singles-matches in a row, and six titles including the French
Open - her first Grand Slam victory.

* 1991: Tops the world-rankings after a remarkable year in which she
reached the final in all 16 events she entered, winning 10. Wins
Grand Slam titles at the Australian, French and US Opens, and defends
all three the following year (1992).

* 1993: Seles is stabbed in the back with a knife during a quarter-
final match at the Hamburg Open by a German man: Günther Parche: a
fan of German rival Steffi Graf. Seles does not play for 28 months.

* 1994: Becomes a US citizen (goes on to represent her adopted
country in the Fed Cup, winning it in 1996 and 2000).

* 1995: After more than two years out of action, Seles wins her first
tournament back: the Canadian Open. Wins her fourth Australian Open
in 1996 - her last Grand Slam title.

* 1999: Suffers stress-fracture to her right foot, and misses the
latter part of the year which she ends sixth in the rankings.

* 2003: An injury-ravaged season ends with Seles finishing outside of
top 10 for the first time. Suffers first-round exit at Roland Garros
at the hands of Russian Nadia Petrova - her last competitive
appearance.

* 2005: Plays two exhibition-series against Martina Navrátilová in
New Zealand - losing both games, but declaring herself ready to begin
the comeback-trail. Despite starting several training-programmes
aimed at a return, foot-problems keep Seles away from the court, and
she finally quits in February 2008.
<<<

Seles considering comeback (Pippa Davis for Eurosport, 13th December
2007)
>>>
Monica Seles has revealed she is considering a comeback to the WTA
Tour after watching Lindsay Davenport make a successful return since
giving birth to a son in June.

Seles has not played since the French Open in 2003 when she was
struggling with back and foot injuries. But the 34-year-old, who
still plays regularly with former world number ones Jennifer
Carpriati and Martina Navrátilová, has never formally retired and is
now eyeing a possible return to action in Miami next March.

"I still love to play. That has never lessened," Seles told the LA
Times. "What Lindsay did was just so cool.

"And what I know now, I wish I had known then. Like stretching more
before and after matches. You go out and win 6-3 6-1 and say that was
easy and you wouldn't stretch.

Seles, who was ranked as world number one in 1991 and 1992, won her
first Major at Roland Garros in 1990 before going on to win seven of
the next 11 Slams, despite not competing at Wimbledon in 1991.

But shortly after winning her third Australian Open title in 1993,
Seles was stabbed in the back by Günther Parche: a spectator who came
down from the stands during her quarter-final clash with Magdalena
Maleeva in Hamburg. Seles did not play again until August 1995, and
won only one more Grand Slam: in Australia in 1996.

"I guess I kind of had two tennis-careers," Seles continued. "And now
perhaps a third. I certainly would not ever be able to do a full
schedule again, because of the foot.

"But I'm thinking about the Slams and about some of the better
tournaments that lead into them. I won't decide for sure until the
beginning of the year and the Australian is certainly not possible.
But Miami. Maybe."
<<<

Champion Serena leaving nothing to chance (7th January 2008)
By Simon Cambers with editing by Rex Gowar (Reuters)
>>>
Victory at Melbourne Park would take her to nine Grand-Slam titles -
level with Monica Seles, Williams's hero growing up.

"That would be awesome," Williams said.

"She was definitely a big factor. I love her and I think she's a
great person. She was my favourite player."
<<<

Remember Her? WTA players who fell off the map
http://tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=119078
>>>
MONICA SELES
------------

Career-high ranking: No. 1 (11th March 1991)
2007 year-end ranking: Unranked

WHAT HAPPENED: Going from teenage No. 1 to victim of an on-court
stabbing, Seles managed to return well enough to capture a ninth
Grand Slam, but could not quite recapture her previous form because
of struggles with injuries and fitness. Her last event was the French
Open in 2003, and even before that she had been injured most of the
year, earning only 10 wins.

OUTLOOK: Retired

After struggling with her feet for most of the last decade, Seles was
talking about a comeback as recently as the end of last year, but the
34-year-old made her retirement official this week.


[Other players in the full article: Dája Bedánová, Elena Bovina,
Jennifer Capriati, Jelena Dokic, Anna-Lena Grönefeld, Martina Hingis,
Sesil Karatantcheva, Anna Kournikova, Lina Krasnoroutskaya, Mirjana
Lucic, Anastasia Myskina, Mary Pierce, Chanda Rubin, Karolina Šprem,
Alexandra Stevenson and Iroda Tulyaganova]
<<<