I'm so sorry that Monica has pulled out of next week's US Open - the
first time she has missed the tournament since 1994 (Monica won the
US Open in 1991 and 1992, but missed it in 1993 and 1994 after the
Stabbing).

The reason is, of course, the stress-fracture in Monica's left foot
that has kept her out since losing to Nadia Petrova in the first
round of the French Open on 27th May. We're all worried this may have
been the last match of her career, especially because of the prophecy
that if Monica should ever lose in the first round of a Grand Slam,
it would herald the end of the world and the coming of the Antiseles
(Steffi Graf's unborn baby? ;-) ).

After her exit from the French Open, Monica said she wanted to avoid
surgery. I must admit I'd be disappointed in Monica if she retired
when she could have saved her career by surgery, but I can appreciate
that it must be very difficult for Monica to go UNDER THE KNIFE after
all she's been through. She also avoided surgery when she had a
chronic shoulder-injury in 1996.

"Monica has been advised by her doctors that the stress-fracture in
her left foot is not yet healed 100%," said her agent Tony Godsick
(husband of her good friend Mary Joe Fernández).

In case anyone was wondering: I'm Monica's, I'm a doctor, but I'm not
the one who advised her to miss the US Open! ;-)

PA: Is there a doctor on board?
AB: What seems to be the problem?
PA: There's a lady in Premier having trouble with her laptop.
AB: Bring me to her.
PA: Miss Seles, here's Dr. Broad to solve your computer-problem.
AB: Wow, Monica! I'm such a big fan of yours! And I see you're
playing my Jet Set Willy game We Pretty!
MS: Yeah, I downloaded it off your website after visiting your pages
about me. I don't normally surf the Internet, but I've heard so many
great things about you, Dr. Broad. Anyway - how do I get off the
first screen of We Pretty?
AB: You have to jump through these innocent-looking blocks, so as to
land halfway between on top of them and on the side of them.
MS: Wow, what a help you are! This is brilliant!
AB: Why, thank you Monica!
MS: Thank /you/ Doctor. You make me feel like a man should a woman.

I'm very excited that Karina Habsudová will be returning at the US
Open, albeit only in doubles. The 30-year-old Slovakian, who played
that mouthwatering match of spreading rallies and exquisite backhands
with Monica at Wimbledon 2000, has been out since the Australian Open
2002 after partially rupturing her Achilles tendon. I just wish that
Monica could come back with Karina, and hope that Monica's comeback
will follow.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/