[Source: http://makeashorterlink.com/?X13C21909]
>>>
By MIC HUBER
mic.huber@...

SARASOTA

Monica Seles will always cherish the bronze medal she won but that
prestigious memento is only part of her Olympic experience.

The medal she earned in the 2000 Olympics hardly compares with the
memories she gathered by simply being able to take part in the Games
and hanging out with the other competitors.

"It was just so awesome to talk to them," Seles said about being
able to interact with many of the top athletes in the world. "I
absolutely had a blast. I met a lot of other athletes from different
countries and was able to talk to them about the type of training
they had gone through."

Seles has accomplished just about everything possible in tennis. She
has won nine Grand Slam singles titles and 53 singles titles overall.

She has been ranked No. 1 in the world and earned almost $15 million
in prize money.

She has won about every award possible in tennis, including the
inaugural Sanex Hero of the Year Award in 2000. That award was the
result of voting on the Women's Tennis Association's official
website by fans of more than 90 countries, many of who were inspired
by Seles' comeback from a stabbing by a crazed fan in 1993.

The Sarasota resident has modeled, written a book, and is a partner
in the All-Star Café sports restaurant chain.

Yet, for all she has done, taking part in the Olympics remains at
the top of her list of accomplishments. It holds a special meaning
for the player who was born in Yugoslavia, moved to Bradenton as a
child and officially became a U.S. citizen in 1994.

"I would have to say that playing in the Olympics, for me, was one
of the highlights of my career," she said. "There is no feeling like
it.

"In tennis, you are always playing as an individual. In the
Olympics, you are playing for your country and you have teammates
there watching your match."

Seles actually has played in a pair of Olympics. She took part in
the Atlanta games in 1996 as the No. 1 seed and was shut out of the
medals when she was upset by Jana Novotná in a match Seles has
called "one of my tougher losses in my career."

She went to Sydney, Australia, in 2000 and won the bronze, losing to
eventual gold medal winner Venus Williams in the semifinals before
coming back to beat Jelena Dokic in the bronze-medal playoff match.

The medal was a bonus. The experience was what was most important.
In an age in which professional athletes are often jaded, Seles has
always appreciated her opportunity to share special experiences.

"For me, just walking in the opening ceremonies and staying in the
Olympic village was what was so wonderful," Seles said. "It is
really one of the few times in an athlete's life that you are around
other athletes who have gone through similar training regimens and
lifestyles that you have undergone."

One evening, Seles was walking back to her accommodations in the
village after eating dinner when she was stopped by a large American
athlete.

"He just comes up to me and says, 'Hi. How are you? I am a big fan
of yours,' " Seles recalled. "Then he starts telling me that he was
so worried about a big wrestling match he had the next day against
someone who had never lost in his career.

"I just said, 'Omigosh.' "

The athlete was Rulon Gardner, who the next day pulled one of the
greatest upsets in the Games by beating Alexander Karelin, a Russian
who had not lost a match in 13 years.

"Two days later, everybody knows (Gardner)," Seles said. "There were
so many cool experiences. It is great for tennis that it is in the
Olympics."

Tennis has been Seles' life ever since, as a small child, her father
began hitting tennis balls to her in a parking lot. Her father,
Karolj, would draw cartoon characters on the tennis balls and Seles
quickly showed the focus and talent that would take her to the top
of the sport.

Seles made her professional debut in 1988, at the age of 14 years,
three months. She won her first Grand Slam event by 1990, becoming
the youngest French Open champion at the age of 16 years, six months.

By 1991, Seles was ranked No. 1 in the world and that year, she won
three Grand Slam titles (French, Australian and U.S. Open). She won
the same three again in 1992 and was the runner-up at Wimbledon and
again was ranked No. 1 in the world.

Seles was still No. 1, and coming off another Australian Open
victory, when she was stabbed during a changeover at a tournament in
Hamburg, Germany, by Guenther Parche, a German who wished to see
Steffi Graf back at No. 1.

Seles returned in 1995 to get to the final of the U.S. Open and won
her last Grand Slam title the following January in Australia.

Last season, Seles was sidelined most of the year with a stress
fracture in her left foot. She has yet to play a tour event this
year but began playing competitively again recently in World
TeamTennis matches.

Seles won't be participating in this year's Summer Games in Athens,
but she remains committed to Olympics. For years, Seles has been
active in working with Special Olympics athletes.
<<<

Seles not ready to pack it in
Former great has her eyes on Open
By Cindy Shmerler, Globe Correspondent | July 10, 2004

MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- In the garage of Monica Seles's Sarasota, Fla.,
home sit unopened cartons of tennis trophies. There is the 1990
French Open Coupe -- the first of her three Roland Garros triumphs --
  and the 1996 Australian Open prize. That one was special because it
was Seles's first major victory following nearly 2 1/2 years away
from the game because of an on-court stabbing in 1993. Neither of
her two US Open trophies are anywhere to be seen, either.

Years ago, Seles promised not to open the boxes and decorate her
home until her playing career, begun in February 1989 at age 15, was
officially over. During the last injury-filled year, Seles, 30, was
pretty sure retirement was imminent. She had not played
competitively since she lost in the first round of the 2003 French
Open to 76th-ranked Nadia Petrova of Russia.

"Sure, I thought about it a lot," said Seles last night as she
prepared to play for the New York Sportimes of World TeamTennis, the
summer league founded by Billie Jean King that attracts a mixture of
young stars (such as Wimbledon champ Maria Sharapova and US Davis
Cuppers Mike and Bob Bryan), former greats such as Seles, Martina
Navratilova, and Patrick Rafter, and breakthrough-hopefuls such as
2002 NCAA champion Bea Bielik and Anna Kournikova. "It was so
frustrating to keep thinking that I would be able to play and then
not be able to. There were a lot of lows, but I also realized that
even if I can't play again that I've had a great career and
hopefully I'll still be able to play recreationally."

Seles has spent much of the last year in rehab, including four
months with her left foot in a cast, the result of a painful
sesamoid bone that required no surgery but plenty of time off.
Seles, who has missed the last five majors, said she is finally
playing without pain. With World TeamTennis her first competitive
play in more than a year, she is planning to make a comeback at the
US Open next month in New York. She hopes to play her only warm-up
event at the Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven the week before the
Open.

While she has missed the day-to-day competition and is realistic
about returning to world prominence, Seles has spent little time
watching her fellow WTA players. She went to Wimbledon once, on a
day play was cancelled because of rain. But she is still impressed
by Sharapova and Anastasia Myskina, the French Open champ.

"You have to give a lot of credit to the Russians," said Seles. "For
Sharapova to beat Serena [Williams] on her favorite surface [grass]
was very impressive."

Seles looked fit and trim on the court last night, even if her
ground strokes, once the most feared in the game, looked jaunty
opposite the blistering power of 15-year-old Russian Viktoriya
Kutuzova. While the crowd of nearly 2,000 gave her a warm reception,
Seles was clearly far from the player who won nine majors and 53
tournaments in her career. Still, the fan-friendly atmosphere of
World TeamTennis (spectators are encouraged to cheer between points
and on-court promotions involving the players are the norm) brought
a smile to Seles's face. The joy of being back on the court was
evident. Those boxes in her garage? Looks like they'll remain taped
shut just a little longer.

© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.

The following results only include rubbers involving Monica.
Full results, and future results, can be found at
http://www.worldteamtennis.com/schedules/schedules.asp

(Thursday 8th July)
Delaware Smash d. New York Sportimes, 23-19:
XD: David Wheaton/Liezel Huber (DS) d. Hermes Gamonal/Monica Seles
(NYS), 5-4 (7/4)
WS: Samantha Reeves (DS) d. Monica Seles (NYS), 5-4 (7/3)
WD: Liezel Huber/Samantha Reeves (DS) d. Bea Bielik/Monica Seles
(NYS), 5-2

(Friday 9th July)
New York Buzz d. New York Sportimes, 24-12:
WD: Viktoriya Kutuzova/Bryanne Stewart (NYB) d. Bea Bielik/Monica
Seles (NYS), 5-2
WS: Viktoriya Kutuzova (NYB) d. Monica Seles (NYS), 5-0
XD: Justin Bower/Bryanne Stewart (NYB) d. Hermes Gamonal/Monica
Seles (NYS), 5-1

(Sunday 11th July)
Newport Beach Breakers d. New York Sportimes, 24-13:
XD: Ellis Ferreira/Nana Miyagi* (NBB) d. Hermes Gamonal/Monica Seles
(NYS), 5-2
WD: Anikó Kapros/Nana Miyagi* (NBB) d. Bea Bielik/Monica Seles
(NYS), 5-3
WS: Anikó Kapros (NBB) d. Monica Seles (NYS), 5-2

* Nana Miyagi is a Selesian.


Although it's slightly tragic to see the greatest player of all time
humbled like this, it's very positive to see her playing competitive
tennis once again.

Monica is bound to be rusty, as her foot-injury has restricted her
from even practising this year. By all accounts she wasn't moving
very well at all (she looked great though). But hopefully these are
early days and she will get a lot better instead of following Karina
Habšudová and Iva Majoli into retirement this year.

Monica is planning to play the Pilot Pen at New Haven in the week of
23rd August! Obviously she will need to be on much better form there
than she was in World Team Tennis, otherwise she is not ready to
come back yet.

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

P.S. I have added two photos to Photos > Women > Francesca Lubiani.

Monica played tennis with John McEnroe on a grass court on a barge
on the River Thames in London on Monday 28th June! This was in aid
of Sport Relief.

Photo:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S16B12FB8

There was a brief article about it on Trans World Sport which, for
those in the UK, is repeated on Channel 4 at 4:30am on Thursday
night (Friday morning) - the tennis is near the beginning of the
programme.

Monica said something like (this is from memory): "Playing John
McEnroe on the Thames - it doesn't get any better than that!"
(laughing). Her voice sounds much deeper than when I last heard her
speak (at Wimbledon 2002), but she looked leaner and fitter than in
recent years.


Monica will play World Team Tennis from 8th July!
Further details:
http://www.worldteamtennis.com/news/news_info.asp?news_id=150

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

A bad `weekend' for Selesians :-(

Men's singles - third round:
- Jan-Michael Gambill lt. SÉBASTIEN GROSJEAN [10], 6-7(5) 3-6 2-6


Ladies' singles - second round (continued):
- María Sánchez Lorenzo lt. NATHALIE DECHY [25], 1-6 1-6
- Arantxa Parra Santonja lt. Rita Grande, 7-5 2-6 3-6

Third round:
- Marion Bartoli lt. AI SUGIYAMA [13], 1-6 2-6


Photos section updated:
* Men > Jan-Michael Gambill (+1)


Today I learned that Loic Courteau, who used to play on the ATP Tour
and now coaches Amélie Mauresmo, is a Selesian!

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

Men's singles - second round:
+ Jan-Michael Gambill d. Daniele Bracciali, 6-7(4) 7-6(6) 6-3 6-2
- Fabrice Santoro lt. Thomas Johansson, 5-7 2-6 1-6

Third-round draw:
* Jan-Michael Gambill v SÉBASTIEN GROSJEAN [10]


Ladies' singles - first round:
+ María Sánchez Lorenzo d. Katie O'Brien [WC], 6-4 6-4
+ Arantxa Parra Santonja d. DINARA SAFINA [29], 6-0 2-0 retired
- Peng Shuai lt. SILVIA FARINA ELIA [14], 0-6 4-6

Second-round result:
+ Marion Bartoli d. Maria Elena Camerin, 6-3 6-3

Second-round draw (top half):
* María Sánchez Lorenzo v NATHALIE DECHY [25]
* Arantxa Parra Santonja v Rita Grande

Third-round draw (bottom half):
* Marion Bartoli v AI SUGIYAMA [13]


Photos section updated:
* Women > Marion Bartoli (+2)

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

Men's singles:
+ Jan-Michael Gambill d. MAX MIRNYI [23], 6-3 7-5 6-4
+ Fabrice Santoro d. Alberto Martin, 7-5 6-2 3-6 6-2
- Raemon Sluiter lt. JONAS BJÖRKMAN [17], 7-5 1-6 5-7 1-6
- Julian Knowle [Q] lt. Alejandro Falla [Q], 6-2 3-6 1-6 3-6

Second-round draw:
* Fabrice Santoro v Thomas Johansson
* Jan-Michael Gambill v Daniele Bracciali


Ladies' singles:
+ Marion Bartoli d. CHANDA RUBIN [17], 7-6(5) 6-3
- Akiko Morigami lt. PATTY SCHNYDER [15], 4-6 1-6

Unfinished first-round matches:
* María Sánchez Lorenzo leads Katie O'Brien [WC], 6-4 5-4
* Peng Shuai v SILVIA FARINA ELIA [14], not started
* Arantxa Parra v DINARA SAFINA [29], not started

Second-round draw:
* Marion Bartoli v Maria Elena Camerin
* María Sánchez Lorenzo v NATHALIE DECHY [25] (subject to María
completing a win over Katie O'Brien)

Marion Bartoli deserves special congratulations because she suffered
a horrible injury at Birmingham two weeks ago: she fell and injured
her hip, and had to be immobilised, sedated and taken to hospital.
Fortunately her hip proved to be sprained, rather than broken or
dislocated as first feared, which would have made it a career-
threatening injury. So I am delighted that she appears to have made
a speedy recovery.

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

Women's singles:
- Arantxa Parra Santonja lt. AMÉLIE MAURESMO [3], 3-6 2-6

Men's singles:
- Raemon Sluiter lt. CARLOS MOYÁ [5], 0-6 3-6 4-6
- Fabrice Santoro lt. Olivier Mutis, 0-6 2-6 3-6

I have updated the Photos section as follows:
* Women > Arantxa Parra Santonja (+1)
* Men > Raemon Sluiter (+1)

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

Men's singles:
+ Raemon Sluiter d. DOMINIK HRBATÝ [31], 6-4 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7/5)
+ Fabrice Santoro d. Irakli Labadze, 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-1 6-2

Third-round draw:
* Raemon Sluiter v CARLOS MOYÁ [5]
* Fabrice Santoro v Olivier Mutis


Women's singles:
+ Arantxa Parra Santonja d. LISA RAYMOND [28], 6-4 6-0
- María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo lt. LINDSAY DAVENPORT [5], 4-6 1-6

Third-round draw:
* Arantxa Parra Santonja v AMÉLIE MAURESMO [3]


I have updated the Photos section as follows:
* Men > Fabrice Santoro (+3)
* Women > Arantxa Parra Santonja (+1)

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

Women's singles:
+ María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo d. Sanda Mamic, 6-4 7-5
+ Arantxa Parra Santonja d. Julia Vakulenko, 7-5 6-2
- Marion Bartoli lt. AI SUGIYAMA [12], 4-6 3-6
- Akiko Morigami lt. Magüi Serna, 3-6 6-3 6-8

Second-round draw:
* Arantxa Parra Santonja v LISA RAYMOND [28]
* María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo v LINDSAY DAVENPORT [5]


Men's singles:
+ Fabrice Santoro d. ARNAUD CLÉMENT [32], 6-4 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 3-6 16-14
+ Raemon Sluiter d. Ricardo Mello [Q], 7-5 6-1 3-6 6-1
- Jan-Michael Gambill lt. Alex Corretja, 1-6 6-4 3-6 2-6

Santoro won the longest match in the Open Era, and in Grand Slam
history, at six hours and 33 minutes! Here is an excerpt from the
report at www.rolandgarros.com, about Fabrice serving for the match
at 15-14:
>>>
Would Clément finally give up? Far from it. Three clean winners took
him to 0-40. Only then did he crack, hitting three unforced errors
to let Santoro back into the game at deuce. Santoro then went for it
on his serve, smashing down an ace to earn his first match point. A
magnificent backhand pass down the line was then a fitting, glorious
way to clinch victory. `La Clé' had lost for the third time in four
appearances at Roland Garros after holding a match point. The No32
seed left the court to a standing ovation, while Santoro burst into
tears, overcome by joy and nervous exhaustion. The unfancied
outsider had just won the match of his life.
<<<

Second-round draw:
* Raemon Sluiter v DOMINIK HRBATÝ [31]
* Fabrice Santoro v Irakli Labadze

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

Men's singles (Selesians on the left):
* Raemon Sluiter v Ricardo Mello (Q)
* Jan-Michael Gambill v Alex Corretja
* Fabrice Santoro v ARNAUD CLÉMENT (32)

Women's singles:
* Akiko Morigami v Magüi Serna
* Arantxa Parra Santonja v Julia Vakulenko
* María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo v Sanda Mamic (Q)
* Marion Bartoli v AI SUGIYAMA (12)

Arantxa Parra has added her mother's maiden-name, Santonja.

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

I found this article at http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/
>>>
Navratilova to play singles in Paris; Seles won't

By JOHN LEICESTER, Associated Press Writer
May 13, 2004

AP - May 13, 11:15 am EDT

PARIS (AP) -- Martina Navratilova will play at the French Open, her
first Grand Slam singles action in a decade.

But Monica Seles, who hoped to return at Roland Garros after a
year's injury absence, pulled out, tournament spokesman Christophe
Proust said Thursday.

<snip>

Seles, meanwhile, also asked for and was given a wild card but then
decided she wasn't fit, Proust said.

Seles' agent did not immediately return a call Thursday.

The nine-time major champion is recovering from a lingering left
foot injury and hasn't played a competitive match since losing in
the first round at the 2003 French Open.

In an interview in February, Seles said she's thought about
retiring.

``It does go through my mind, because my brain wants to be out
there, playing or practicing, but my body says, 'Wait! Hold on!' I
have to listen to my body,'' Seles said then. ``I'm not 18 years old
anymore. Not that 30 is old, but I started so young, and my body has
taken a lot of pounding.''

The French Open starts May 24. On Wednesday, organizers announced
second-ranked Kim Clijsters, runner-up in 2001 and 2003, pulled out
of the tournament with a left wrist injury.
<<<

Not surprising, given that Monica said she had to take things
slowly. I can only hope that she - and Iroda Tulyaganova - will be
fit in time for Wimbledon.

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monicaseles/

P.S. Since I last posted, the Photos section has been updated as
follows:
* Women > Akiko Morigami (+3 photos)
* Women > Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo (+1)

As prophesied, Monica dropped out of the WTA Singles Rankings on
19th April, having now played fewer than three tournaments in the
last 52 weeks. Her last ranking before she dropped out was #223.

However, I believe she will have an injury-protected ranking of #18
when she comes back (because she was #18 immediately after the
French Open 2003).

It's the second time Monica has dropped out of the rankings in her
career. She also dropped out in February 1994, with a ranking of #18
immediately before she dropped out - she was of course co-ranked #1
when she returned to the WTA Tour in August 1995.


Monica has officially entered the French Open - here are the
commitments:

Main Draw

1 BEL HENIN-HARDENNE, JUSTINE F 1
2 BEL CLIJSTERS, KIM F 2
3 FRA MAURESMO, AMELIE F 3
4 USA DAVENPORT, LINDSAY F 4
5 RUS MYSKINA, ANASTASIA F 5
6 RUS DEMENTIEVA, ELENA F 6
7 RUS PETROVA, NADIA F 7
8 USA CAPRIATI, JENNIFER F 8
9 USA WILLIAMS, SERENA F 9
10 JPN SUGIYAMA, AI F 10
11 RUS ZVONAREVA, VERA F 11
12 USA RUBIN, CHANDA R F 12
13 ARG SUAREZ, PAOLA F 13
14 RUS KUZNETSOVA, SVETLANA F 14
15 ITA FARINA ELIA, SILVIA F 15
16 USA WILLIAMS, VENUS F 16
17 SUI SCHNYDER, PATTY F 17
18 SCG DOKIC, JELENA F 18 *******************************************
19 RUS SHARAPOVA, MARIA F 19 ****************************************
20 ITA SCHIAVONE, FRANCESCA F 20
21 ISR SMASHNOVA-PISTOLESI, ANNA F 21
22 COL ZULUAGA, FABIOLA F 22
23 BUL MALEEVA, MAGDALENA F 23
24 ESP MARTINEZ, CONCHITA F 24
25 FRA DECHY, NATHALIE F 25
26 GRE DANIILIDOU, ELENI F 26
26 LUX KREMER, ANNE F S 27
27 USA RAYMOND, LISA F 28
28 ESP SERNA, MAGUI F 29
29 RUS SAFINA, DINARA F 30
30 RUS BOVINA, ELENA F 31
31 SLO PISNIK, TINA F 32
32 CRO SPREM, KAROLINA F 33
33 FRA LOIT, EMILIE F 34
34 FRA PIERCE, MARY F 35
35 ESP SANCHEZ LORENZO, MARIA F 36 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
36 VEN VENTO-KABCHI, MARIA F 37
37 AUS MOLIK, ALICIA F 38
38 RUS KRASNOROUTSKAYA, LINA F 39
39 USA SHAUGHNESSY, MEGHANN F 40
40 USA FRAZIER, AMY F 41
41 SVK HANTUCHOVA, DANIELA F 42 *************************************
42 HUN MANDULA, PETRA F 43
43 JPN OBATA, SAORI F 44
44 PUR BRANDI, KRISTINA F 45
45 RUS LIKHOVTSEVA, ELENA F 46
46 GER BARNA, ANCA F 47
47 HUN KAPROS, ANIKO F 48
48 JPN ASAGOE, SHINOBU F 49
49 AUS PRATT, NICOLE F 50
50 USA GRANVILLE, LAURA F 51
51 ZIM BLACK, CARA F 52
52 USA CRAYBAS, JILL F 53
53 CRO KOSTANIC, JELENA F 54
54 THA TANASUGARN, TAMARINE F 55
55 CZE CHLADKOVA, DENISA F 56
56 JPN MORIGAMI, AKIKO F 57 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
57 ESP PARRA, ARANTXA F 58 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
58 AUT SCHETT, BARBARA F 59
59 SCG JANKOVIC, JELENA F 60
60 CZE BENESOVA, IVETA F 61
61 ARG DULKO, GISELA F 62
62 CHN ZHENG, JIE F 63
63 LUX SCHAUL, CLAUDINE F 64
64 SVK CERVANOVA, LUDMILA F 65
65 HUN CZINK, MELINDA F 66
66 SVK KURHAJCOVA, LUBOMIRA F 67
67 USA HARKLEROAD, ASHLEY F 68
68 SLO SREBOTNIK, KATARINA F 69
69 ITA CAMERIN, MARIA ELENA F 70
70 CZE STRYCOVA, BARBORA A 71
71 UKR VAKULENKO, JULIA F 72
72 FRA BARTOLI, MARION F 73 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
74 ESP MEDINA GARRIGUES, ANABEL F 74
75 SVK SUCHA, MARTINA F 75
76 FRA GOLOVIN, TATIANA A 76
77 RSA COETZER, AMANDA F 77
78 CZE KOUKALOVA, KLARA F 78
78 ARG DIAZ-OLIVA, MARIANA F S 79
79 ITA SANTANGELO, MARA A 80
80 ITA GARBIN, TATHIANA F 81
81 BEL CALLENS, ELS F 82
82 ITA PENNETTA, FLAVIA F 83
83 SUI CASANOVA, MYRIAM F 84
84 VEN SEQUERA, MILAGROS F 85
85 SUI MIKAELIAN, MARIE-GAYANAY F 86
86 ESP RUANO PASCUAL, VIRGINIA F 87
87 ITA GRANDE, RITA F 88
88 CZE KLEINOVA, SANDRA F 89
89 ESP LEON GARCIA, GALA F 90
90 GER WEINGARTNER, MARLENE F 91
91 RUS DOUCHEVINA, VERA F 92
92 USA REEVES, SAMANTHA F 93
93 UKR PEREBIYNIS, TATIANA F 94
94 SUI GAGLIARDI, EMMANUELLE F 95
95 ESP MARRERO, MARTA F 96
96 USA LEE-WATERS, LINDSAY F 97
97 AUS STOSUR, SAMANTHA F 98
98 FRA COHEN-ALORO, STEPHANIE F 99
99 CRO TALAJA, SILVIJA F 100
100 ESP MARTINEZ GRANADOS, CONCHITA F 101
101 UZB TULYAGANOVA, IRODA F 102 ************************************
102 SVK NAGYOVA, HENRIETA F 103
103 GER GROENEFELD, ANNA-LENA A 104
104 UKR BEYGELZIMER, YULIA F 105
105 BIH JUGIC-SALKIC, MERVANA A 106
105 AUT SCHWARTZ, BARBARA F S 107
106 USA SNYDER, TARA A 108


Qualifying List

107 RUS JIDKOVA, ALINA F 1
108 CZE ONDRASKOVA, ZUZANA F 2
109 RUS KIRILENKO, MARIA F 3
110 USA PERRY, SHENAY A 4
111 CHN SUN, TIAN TIAN F 5
112 MAD RANDRIANTEFY, DALLY F 6
113 SWE ARVIDSSON, SOFIA A 7
114 COL CASTANO, CATALINA A 8
115 CZE BIRNEROVA, EVA A 9
116 ITA VINCI, ROBERTA F 10
117 FRA PIN, CAMILLE A 11
118 USA STEVENSON, ALEXANDRA F 12
119 FRA BELTRAME, SEVERINE A 13
120 ITA SERRA ZANETTI, ADRIANA F 14 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
121 USA ASHLEY, TERYN K F 15
122 INA WIDJAJA, ANGELIQUE F 16
123 ISR OBZILER, TZIPORA A 17
124 EST KANEPI, KAIA A 18
125 FRA RAZZANO, VIRGINIE F 19
126 USA IRVIN, MARISSA F 2
127 AUT BAMMER, SYBILLE A 21
128 UKR FEDAK, YULIANA A 22
129 GER SCHRUFF, JULIA A 23
130 EST ANI, MARET A 24
131 JPN YOSHIDA, YUKA A 25
132 ARG SALERNI, MA. EMILIA F 26
133 TUN SFAR, SELIMA F 27
134 RUS VOSKOBOEVA, GALINA A 28
135 USA WASHINGTON, MASHONA L F 29
136 ITA SERRA ZANETTI, ANTONELLA F 30
137 USA TU, MEILEN F 31
138 ARG GUSSONI, NATALIA A 32
139 CZE NEMECKOVA, LENKA A 33
140 FRA PICHET, VIRGINIE A 34
141 GER GEHRLEIN, STEPHANIE A 35
142 SVK FISLOVA, EVA F 36
143 FRA FORETZ, STEPHANIE F 37
145 GER RITTNER, BARBARA F 38
146 CAN DRAKE, MAUREEN F 39
146 CZE PESCHKE, KVETA F S 40
147 RUS PANOVA, TATIANA F 41
148 CZE PASTIKOVA, MICHAELA A 42
149 POL DOMACHOWSKA, MARTA A 43
150 GER KLOESEL, SANDRA A 44
151 USA HOPKINS, JENNIFER F 45
152 BUL BACHEVA, LUBOMIRA F 46
153 USA SPEARS, ABIGAIL F 47
154 TPE LEE, JANET F 48
155 CHN PENG, SHUAI 49 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
156 HUN NEMETH, VIRAG A 50
157 ESP LLAGOSTERA VIVES, NURIA A 51
158 UKR BONDARENKO, ALYONA A 52
159 NED TAMAELA, ELISE A 53
160 SVK HUSAROVA, JANETTE F 54
161 UKR TATARKOVA, ELENA F 55
162 ROM GALLOVITS, EDINA A 56
163 AUS WHEELER, CHRISTINA F 57
164 CZE VORACOVA, RENATA F 58
167 ESP TORRENS VALERO, CRISTINA F 59
168 BLR POUTCHEK, TATIANA F 60
169 ARG FERNANDEZ, CLARISA F 61
170 HUN NAGY, KYRA A 62
171 RUS SKAVRONSKAIA, LIOUDMILA A 63
172 RSA GRANDIN, NATALIE A 64
173 CHN YAN, ZI A 65
174 CRO ABRAMOVIC, IVANA A 66
175 USA MATTEK, BETHANIE A 67
176 USA MC CAIN, KELLY A 68
177 GBR KEOTHAVONG, ANNE A 69
178 PUR CASTELLVI, VILMARIE A 70
179 CZE PRUSOVA, LIBUSE F 71
180 GER BACHMANN, ANGELIKA A 72
181 FRA ROUSSEAU, CAPUCINE 73
182 PAR NEFFA-DE LOS RIOS, ROSSANA F 74
183 GER BARNA, ADRIANA A 75
184 UKR KORYTTSEVA, MARIYA A 76
185 CRO LISJAK, IVANA 77
186 HUN KUTI KIS, RITA 78
187 SVK GAJDOSOVA, JARMILA A 79
188 IRL LIGGAN, KELLY A 80
189 CRO JURAK, DARIJA 81
190 CRO MAMIC, SANDA 82
191 UKR KRAVETS, ALEXANDRA A 83
192 AUS DOMINIKOVIC, EVIE 84
193 CRO POPADIC, LANA 85
194 HUN MAROSI, KATALIN F 86
195 CZE VAIDISOVA, NICOLE 87
196 HUN GUBACSI, ZSOFIA F 88


Qualifying Next-In List

197 GER DUEBBERS, NINA A 1
198 AUT WARTUSCH, PATRICIA F 2
199 SVK HROZENSKA, STANISLAVA 3
200 BUL KARATANCHEVA, SESIL 4
201 RUS LINETSKAYA, EUGENIA 5
202 CRO MAJOLI, IVA 6 ***********************************************
203 USA OSTERLOH, LILIA F 7
204 USA CARGILL, ANSLEY F 8
205 KOR CHO, YOON JEONG F 9
206 BLR YAKIMOVA, ANASTASIA 10
207 SVK KUCOVA, ZUZANA A 11
208 ITA VIERIN, NATHALIE A 12
209 CAN PELLETIER, MARIE-EVE A 1
210 ROM VANC, ANDREEA 14
211 JPN SAEKI, MIHO A 15
212 USA BIELIK, BEA A 16
213 JPN NAKAMURA, AIKO A 17
214 RUS FOKINA, GALINA A 18
215 SVK NOCIAROVA, DOMINIKA 19
216 JPN FUJIWARA, RIKA F 20
217 RUS CHAKVETADZE, ANNA 21
218 MAR MOUHTASSINE, BAHIA 22
219 GER ROESCH, ANGELIKA F 23
220 SCG TIMOTIC, ANA 24
221 CHN XIE, YAN-ZE 25
222 BRA ALVES, MARIA FERNANDA A 26
223 USA SELES, MONICA F 27 ******************************************
224 GBR JANES, AMANDA A 28
225 GER HENKE, VANESSA A 29
226 USA PETERSON, JEWEL A 30 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
227 RUS RODIONOVA, ANASTASSIA F 31
228 USA SCHLUKEBIR, KRISTEN 32
229 JPN HISAMATSU, SHIHO A 33 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
231 RUS BOULYKINA, IRINA 34
232 BUL TOPALOVA, DESSISLAVA 35
233 CZE BLAHOTOVA, OLGA A 36
234 THA VIRATPRASERT, SUCHANAN A 37
235 NED NOORLANDER, SEDA F 38 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
236 FRA CHEVALIER, KILDINE A 39
237 UKR KUTUZOVA, VIKTORIYA A 40
238 ARG GARCIA SOKOL, VANINA 41
239 CZE SAFAROVA, LUCIE 42
240 GBR O'DONOGHUE, JANE A 43
241 ITA CASONI, GIULIA A 44
242 BUL GEZNENGE, MARIA A 45
243 ESP ANDRES, ROSA MARIA 46
244 AUT HAIDNER, STEFANIE A 47
245 LTU STANCIUTE, LINA 48
247 USA OSPINA, DIANA A 49
248 USA DITTY, JULIE A 50

I trust that Monica and Iva will have no trouble getting wild cards!


Thanks to chriscastro1 for the following additions to our Photos
section:
+ Monica Seles > 1992 (2 photos)
* Monica Seles > 2002 (+1 photo)
* Monica Seles > 2003 (+4 photos)

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monicaseles/

I found this article at
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=108571
>>>
Seles targets May for comeback bid

By Charles Bricker
and Harvey Fialkov Staff writers
Posted March 31 2004

KEY BISCAYNE · Her weight down and her spirits up, Monica Seles said
Tuesday her plan to get back on tour following a one-year injury
layoff will begin in Strasbourg, France (May 17-23), and then
immediately to the French Open.

But, she cautioned, everything depends on her fitness level. "If I'm
not ready by the French Open, I'll keep working until I am," she
said.

Seles, 30, hasn't played a match since losing to Nadia Petrova in
the first round at Roland Garros in 2003.

It's been a long time since she looked this slim, though she
couldn't say how much weight she has lost.

"I never get on the scale," she said. But she went on to say that
her doctor has told her if she wants to play tournament tennis again
she must reduce the amount of weight on her left foot.

She has been practicing one and a half hours a day with her brother
Zoltan. Seles said when she's hitting the ball better she might be
ready for one of her favorite sparring mates, former ATP pro Jimmy
Arias.

The holder of nine Grand Slam titles, Seles probably won't get a
10th. But she wants to play because of her attachment to tennis.

"I love the purity of this game," said Seles, who has played Key
Biscayne nine times with two titles (1990 and '91).
<<<

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

On 29th July 1995, Monica played an exhibition-match against Martina
Navrátilová at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey,
USA. It was her first match since the stabbing on 30th April 1993,
and she won 6-3 6-2.

On 22nd March 2004, Monica played an exhibition-match against
Martina Navrátilová at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia, USA.
It was her first match since losing in the first round of the French
Open on 27th May 2003, and she lost 6-4 7-6 (7/3).

Whilst it would only have been fitting for Monica to have had
another fairy-tale victory against the best 47-year-old ever to
swing a tennis-racket, I'm just glad that Monica has finally played
a match after a lay-off of almost ten months.


According to those lucky enough to actually see the match, Monica
played well, moved well, and looked lean and fit - although her
grunt was much quieter than in the past! ;-)

But Navrátilová was on fire, and no doubt her formidable net-rushing
game - which brought her the mixed-doubles titles at the Australian
Open and Wimbledon last year, and which I saw myself in singles as
recently as Eastbourne 2002 - was as much a factor as Monica's
rustiness.

A crowd of 2700 were thoroughly entertained, as both players
produced "some vintage shots" on the artificial surface laid over
the Virginia Commonwealth basketball-court.

Monica served first in the first set, which featured just one break
of serve as Navrátilová broke for 3-2 and ultimately served out the
set 6-4.

Navrátilová broke in the first game of the second set, and games
went with serve until Monica broke back to 4-4. Games then went with
serve until the tiebreak, which Navrátilová won 7/3.


Monica: "I felt really good moving out there. Just to be able to
play points was a lot of fun. I had a great time. It's going to be a
slow [process] for me to get back. I'm just excited that my foot
held up."


Navrátilová: "It's funny. We've played each other a few times now in
the past three years and the times before, I was the one who was
rusty because I was playing doubles and Monica was on the tour. I
was expecting her to be rustier than she was.

"She played really well. I'm playing a lot better than I did the
last time we played over a year ago. She was moving pretty well. I
think her biggest thing is getting her serve going. That's what took
me so long. It took me years to get my arm going again. Otherwise,
her groundstrokes are amazing. Her passing-shots. A couple of
returns I was just watching, being a spectator.

"I'm really trying to play singles to improve my doubles. Most
people play doubles to help their singles, but I do it the other
way."


Before the singles match, Monica had played Navrátilova in a mixed-
doubles pro-set match, each lady partnering a local pro: Monica and
Carl Clark beat Navrátilová and Sean Steinour 8-5.


Apparently, Monica's left foot held up fine, just three weeks after
she took off the soft cast in which she had been letting the broken
bone heal.

Monica: "I had been doing a lot of rehabbing with the cast on, but
this is much better. I tape it very well and go to therapy every
day. No problems. I'm very happy about the way things are going. It
was a very frustrating injury, and I'm glad to have it behind me."


So where does Monica go from here? Before yesterday's match she had
already pulled out of an exhibition-match against Jennifer Capriati
scheduled for today (23rd March), and is skipping Miami because she
feels she is not yet "tournament-ready".

Monica: "I've got to take it very slowly. I've got to take baby
steps. I have a tendency to go right into it, but I learned my
lesson. I've got to be careful with this injury.

"I want to see how it goes for the next few weeks and how I feel.
The doctor wants me to take it slowly because he knows I have a
problem where I want to do everything immediately. He wants me to be
as patient as I can."

Monica hopes to be back in time for the French Open - the scene of
her last match counting towards the WTA Rankings (out of which she
will drop on 19th April, assuming she hasn't played a tournament by
then) - but it is too early for her to say one way or the other
whether she will play at Roland Garros yet. Apparently she said in
an informal chat that she would like to play the Family Circle Cup
at Charleston (week of 12th April).

Personally, I'd love to see Monica play Wimbledon for the first time
since 2002. I just hope she doesn't come back but reinjure herself,
have to miss Wimbledon and even possibly retire. So I'm glad she's
taking it very slowly - a wise strategy after all the recurrences of
stress-fractures in both feet that she's had to endure since
September 1999.


Articles:
- http://www.wtatour.com/newsroom/stories/NewsArticle_3710_rx.asp
- http://makeashorterlink.com/?O205312D7
- http://makeashorterlink.com/?R215312D7

Other acknowledgements:
- http://www.seles.co.uk/
- Richmond Times-Dispatch for interviewing Monica
- Chris in Richmond for live score-updates

Photos:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=107443

I wish Monica the best of luck in her comeback. It would be
fantastic if I got to see the greatest tennis-player of all time in
live action again.

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

Here are two articles updating us on Monica's progress:
1. Monica intends to return, but is not "tournament-ready" - so she
won't play Miami.
2. The cast is off her left foot, and she'll play the exhibition on
Monday 22nd March! :-)


Article 1. From The Miami Herald:
>>>
Seles intent on returning
BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN
mkaufman@...
Posted on Thu, Mar. 11, 2004

It depresses Monica Seles to look at the world rankings these days,
so she chooses not to look. She has plummeted from No. 6 to No. 224
since fracturing her left foot last year, and the dreaded ''R''
word -- retirement -- keeps cropping up every time she does an
interview.

But Seles insists she has every intention of returning to the tour.
The only question is when.

She was hoping to come back in time for the NASDAQ-100 Open in Key
Biscayne, March 24-April 4 but now says that won't be possible. She
remains in a soft cast, had a sixth MRI last week, and if all goes
well, she will play an exhibition against Martina Navrátilová in
Richmond, Va., later this month.

''I left sixth in the world, and I wouldn't want to come back too
early,'' Seles said in a phone interview last week. ``I won't be
tournament ready for Miami.''

Asked why she keeps toiling, why she wouldn't hang it up after all
she has been through and all the money she piled up over the years
($15 million in winnings), Seles replied: My love for the game.
That's what keeps me going. As long as my body still allows me to
play at this level, I will play. When that time comes that I can't,
I will still play recreationally.''

Seles suggested the rash of injuries on the women's tour might be a
result of an overcrowded schedule.

Serena Williams has not played since injuring her knee over the
summer. Venus Williams just returned after not playing since last
summer. Jennifer Capriati and Amélie Mauresmo are missing Indian
Wells, Calif., this week with back injuries. Belgians Kim Clijsters
and Justine Henin-Hardenne have also battled nagging injuries.

''We have no offseason,'' Seles said. ``Consider that we've been
doing this since we're 14 or 15 years old, taking maybe a week off
the entire year. Unlike other sports, we are traveling to different
countries, different climates, faraway places, playing on different
surfaces. It puts a lot of wear and tear on you, and I'm paying for
it now.''

Seles has been at it since 1989. She reigned over women's tennis in
the early 1990s, finishing at No. 1 in 1991 and 1992.

In April 1993, when a crazed Steffi Graf fan stabbed Seles in the
back during a match at Hamburg, Germany, she had won seven of the
eight previous majors -- a feat that has gone unmatched.

Her battle back from that tragedy was well-documented, but what most
people didn't know is that Seles was also saddled with severe
migraine headaches that went undiagnosed until 1997.

''My fans never realized I was a sufferer, but I really struggled
with migraines from the time I was 15,'' Seles said. ``It was so bad
that I'd have to sit in a dark room with my eyes closed before
matches. The bright light would kill me, especially those 12 o'clock
matches. When I finally got on Imitrex [medication], it was like a
cloud lifted off my shoulders.''

Seles was so grateful to find relief that she has become a
spokeswoman for the medicine and for migraine headache research.

© 2004 The Miami Herald and wire service sources. All Rights
Reserved.
<<<
[Source:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/tennis/8156825.htm ]


Article 2. From timesdispatch.com:
>>>
Seles navigating comeback trail
Siegel Center visit for exhibition is part of star's rehabilitation
BY JOHN PACKETT
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Sunday, March 14, 2004


SELES VS. NAVRÁTILOVÁ
TENNIS EXHIBITION
WHEN:
March 22, 7:30 p.m. WHERE:
VCU's Siegel Center

So far, so good for Monica Seles.

The former No. 1 player in the world says her recovery from a foot
injury that sidelined her much of last year is coming along nicely.
Seles had the soft cast removed from her left foot more than two
weeks ago and has been working hard since.

"I had been doing a lot of rehabbing with the cast on, but this is
much better," Seles said. "I tape it very well and go to therapy
every day. No problems. I'm very happy about the way things are
going. It was a very frustrating injury, and I'm glad to have it
behind me."

Seles didn't have surgery but opted to allow the broken bone to heal
on its own.

"I can't go my usual five or six hours yet," she said. "I'm starting
very slowly. Hitting a lot of shots. Just repetition and moving
around the court."

Seles' exhibition with Martina Navrátilová a week from tomorrow at
the Siegel Center will be the first real test of her foot in a
competitive atmosphere. The best-of-three sets match is scheduled to
begin at 7:30 p.m. and follow a mixed doubles match involving local
pros.

"We'll see how it holds up under match conditions," said Seles, 30,
and the winner of nine major titles.

Seles is hoping to return to the circuit later this year, assuming
the foot doesn't bother her.

"I want to see how it goes for the next few weeks and how I feel,"
she said. "The doctor wants me to take it slowly because he knows I
have a problem where I want to do everything immediately. He wants
me to be as patient as I can.

"Ideally, I'd like to start back during the clay-court season, but
I'll have to see how I play. It won't be an easy road back."

So even though this will be an exhibition, it means a lot to Seles
and her comeback hopes.

"Any match is a big match for an athlete," she said. "As anyone who
knows me from playing on my court at my house, it is because I'm so
competitive. But in terms of seeing where my game is, how my foot
holds up afterward, it's definitely going to be big test.

"Then I still have more practices ahead of me before I can return to
the daily grind of the tour, which is different from playing one
match."

For the moment, Seles is elated to have the chance to trade ground
strokes with something other than a ball machine.

"I'm just very excited that I can even play," she said. "For a long
time, I wasn't sure about that. My first hurdle has been cleared and
for me, mentally, something good has finally happened after waiting
for such a long time."


Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or jpackett@...

This story can be found at:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%
2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031774283876&path=%
21sports&s=1045855934844
<<<

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

Another noteworthy week for Selesians!

María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo at Acapulco:
1r + Klara Koukalová, 7-5 6-3
2r + Mariana Diaz-Oliva, 6-3 6-3
qf + Julia Vakulenko, 6-7 6-4 6-1
sf - Flavia Pennetta, 2-6 3-6

Jan-Michael Gambill at Scottsdale:
1r + Brendan Evans (WC), 6-1 6-4
2r + Lars Burgsmüller, 7-5 7-5
qf - ANDY RODDICK (1), 7-6 4-6 3-6

Photos:
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=lorenzo
http://abiertomextenis.com.mx/galeria.html
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=gambill

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

Thanks to mauresmoes for the following additions to our Photos
section:
+ Women > Shuai Peng (9 photos)
+ Women > Jewel Peterson (3)
+ Women > Cory Ann Avants (2)
* Women > Francesca Lubiani (+2)
+ Women > Aude Vermoezen (1)

I didn't know Jewel Peterson and Cory Ann Avants were Selesians! :-)

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

I found the following article about Monica on Yahoo! Sports: Tennis
[ http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/ ]. In this time of mixed articles
about Monica, this is one of the more encouraging ones as Monica
plans to play "a limited schedule".

>>>
A conversation with Monica
Jon Wertheim, SI.com

Monica Seles was in town the other day and she graciously agreed to
meet for coffee, talk about her status, and take some of the
questions we repeatedly are asked here at Mailbag HQ.

Wertheim: We get this one at least once a day: For once and for all,
what's up with Monica Seles?

Seles: Am I retiring? (laughs)

Wertheim: No, everyone knows not to go there. What's your prognosis?

Seles: I've come out from the hard cast [on her left foot] and I've
been in this thing for four and half weeks [points to an imposing
boot-like contraption on her foot]. I go for an MRI next week,
they'll send it over and we'll see what happens after that. So I've
been immobile for about three months. [My return] depends on the
MRI, how the bone has grown back. It's not a bone you can put a
screw in. I'm wearing this boot and have special taping so it
doesn't really bother me. But I wear a bone-stimulating machine just
to keep things strong. I'm not hitting on the court but I sit on a
bench and hit just to keep my feel, my touch and keep my calluses. I
started doing swimming and weight training. You know, after the
stabbing I didn't do anything for two-and-a-half years; but I think
at this stage in my career I can't do that and expect to be back.

Wertheim: Did you follow the Australian Open?

Seles: I would watch the good matches -- men's and women's. I'll
check the scores [on the Internet] and I know who played the finals
of Paris, Jennifer [Capriati]'s Dubai results, things like that. But
everyone else has been injured.

Wertheim: Injuries are a hot Mailbag topic. What do you attribute
them to?

Seles: The tours really have to look at the schedule. The WTA has
done a great job listening to the players, and I think that's
important. I'm in the last stages of my career, but these girls are
in the middle stages. [The injuries] are already starting at this
age, and somebody has to look into that. I don't know the solution
but it's not normal ... everyone is injured and everyone is injured
for a long time, too.

Wertheim: Could it be the tougher competition?

Seles: Yeah, the competition, and I think it could also be the court
surface. A lot of tournaments are played on hard courts. Plus now
you have to do so much more pounding on your body. The way the game
is played you have to be a lot stronger, there's a lot more wear and
tear on your muscles. I was really injury-free until 1999. You need
your big names to stay around. You also have to think of younger
generation: the longer these players are around, obviously, the
better.

Wertheim: What do you make of Justine Henin-Hardenne's run?

Seles: It's been amazing. I like watching her play, I really do. You
know I played her last year at the Amelia Island (S.C.) tournament
and I could tell she was really confident, a different player.

Wertheim: Another question that comes up a lot: Where are all the
left-handers?

Seles: The left-handers are one thing, but I would really like to
see more serve-and-volleyers, to have a contrasting style. Every
coach now is preaching staying back. Maybe when you're younger and
you're physically not so developed so it's hard [to adjust to a
different style], or you want the junior results and all that comes
with it.

Wertheim: Ahem ...

Seles: (Laughs) I know, I know. Looking back, if I had a chance to
change [my playing style, I definitely would have done so. You make
a few additions to your game and maybe have a few years when you
aren't as a good. Like Tiger Woods did a few years back. But you're
better off in the long run.

Wertheim: Some players are better-equipped than others to play serve-
and-volley tennis. Is there one player you look at and say, "I
wonder ..."

Seles: Oh yeah. Serena. She volleys amazingly. When she comes back,
if she adds that dimension, she's a whole different player.

Wertheim: You're a traditionalist, so maybe you're not the best
person to take this one. But how do you feel about adding instant
replay to tennis?

Seles: Actually, I would kind of like that. It would be cool for the
umpires to have. That one I'm OK with.

Wertheim: How about four-game sets?

Seles: Four game sets, changing from two serves, no-ad scoring,
moving in the lines -- it's too confusing.

Wertheim: Which male players do you enjoy watching? You like [Roger]
Federer as much as everyone else does?

Seles: Oh yeah. He's a genius. You know, the first time I really
watched him was last year in Rome [at the Telecom Italia Masters,
where the men's event was immediately before the women's] and the
guy is just amazing. Also Andre [Agassi] is unbelievable, still in
great shape.

Wertheim: What about a guy you wouldn't necessarily think of?

Seles: I love to watch [Fabrice] Santoro. He's a genius. He also
hits two hands off both sides. He's one of my friends. As a two-
hander you learn from him, relate to him. He's more [pantomines
slicing] and I'm more about hitting through. But I would love to
take some of his game. Again, as a two-hander, it's a totally
different mentality of play.

Wertheim: Enough chitchat. Let's get to the hardball questions. Sex
And the City. Carrie Bradshaw ended up with Big. You saw that coming
a mile away, right?

Seles: I actually lost a bet with friends! My prediction was that
she would end up alone. I got one, though: I was sure she would move
back to New York. I knew she wasn't going to hang in Paris. No
chance. We're definitely going to miss that show. But we have
another favorite: Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Wertheim: Are you my Caucasian?

Seles: [Laughs] Larry David is a genius. And I've never seen a
single episode of Seinfeld. Every Curb Your Enthusiam is crazy, and
I'm a hard person to get to laugh. That's one good thing about not
traveling. You have a normal schedule and you can plan Sunday nights.

Wertheim: Back to tennis. There's no telling when we'll see you
again, but we will see you on the court again, correct?

Seles: I'd like to play a limited schedule. I'm not going to come
back and play 16 tournaments. My body can't handle that. I just want
to finish my career on a good note. The last few tournaments were
brutal. I just don't want to leave with that memory. I don't want to
stop that way.

Wertheim: But you still have it in you?

Seles: I do. I wouldn't be going through this if I didn't. I've had
to learn -- and this has been hard -- that even if you want to go
out and play, if your body isn't listening you have to separate the
two. You think your body will follow automatically. Maybe it's that
I'm 30, but I'm listening to my body better. This is unknown
territory for me. It would be different if it were a mental
issue. "I'm tired. I had enough. I don't want to do with it." But in
this case it's going to be a question of how the body holds up.

Wertheim: And you're OK with turning 30?

Seles: Now I'm OK. Two months ago? No. It was a big one. In tennis
you feel like you've been around for ages, but in terms of my
friends, they helped. They said, "Hey, you could be just out of
college and starting to pay off your loans. Why are you
complaining?" That gave me good perspective. ... It's a big
milestone and it made me evaluate some things. But I'm in a very
happy place in my life. After a long time, after all those issues, I
have no issues.

On to the mailbag ...

<snip>

Back to Seles. She was in New York as part of an awareness campaign
for Imotrex, a drug used to fight migraine headaches. She has
suffered from migraines since she was a teenager -- sometimes in the
middle of matches -- and has been taking Imotrex since 1997. Her
message: "If you have headaches see a doctor!"... And, thanks to
Monica, we only have time for a few questions ...
<<<

I wish Monica the best of luck with her comeback, having learned
yesterday of Karina Habšudová's retirement. Karina is four months
older than Monica, and had been sidelined (apart from one doubles
match at the US Open 2003) since partially rupturing her left
Achilles tendon at the Australian Open 2002. It would be a shame if
I lost them both at 30 because of two left feet. ;-(

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

Congratulations to María Antonia for reaching the final at Bogota!
1r bye
2r + Barbara Schwartz, 4-6 6-4 7-5
qf + Lana Popadic (Q), 3-6 6-4 6-0
sf + EMILIE LOIT (3), 7-5 6-2
  f - FABIOLA ZULUAGA (1), 6-3 4-6 2-6

Home player Zuluaga was winning Bogota for the third year in a row -
her fourth Bogota crown in all.

Tournament website (with photos): http://www.copacolsanitas.com/

María Antonia's only WTA singles title remains the Sanex Trophy at
Knokke-Heist in 1999.

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

Here's an article I found on Yahoo! Sports: Tennis
[ http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/ ]:
>>>
By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer
24th February 2004


NEW YORK (AP): Monica Seles is a bit frustrated these days,
wondering when - or if - she'll return to tournament tennis.

Recovering from a left foot injury, the nine-time major champion
hasn't played a match since losing in the first round at the French
Open nine months ago.

It was the first time she exited a Grand Slam event that early, and
Seles said Tuesday she doesn't want to leave the sport on that note.
But she also acknowledged she's thought about retiring.

"It does go through my mind, because my brain wants to be
out there, playing or practicing, but my body says, 'Wait! Hold on!'
I have to listen to my body," Seles said in an interview with The
Associated Press.

"I'm not 18 years old anymore. Not that 30 is old, but I started so
young, and my body has taken a lot of pounding."

Surgery wasn't an option to repair the stress fracture in her left
foot, Seles said, so instead she's waiting for it to heal. She's
wearing a soft cast now and having regular MRI exams to check on the
progress. Doctors say the tests should be done every eight weeks.
Seles insists on having them every six weeks.

"If I come back, I want to make sure I'm coming back in every
sense," she said. "I have to build up to it."

If she can't come back, tennis will lose one of its all-time best
players and a fan favourite. Her engaging personality and giggle are
as well-known as her two-handed strokes from both sides and the
accompanying two-note grunts.

By the time she was 19, Seles won eight Grand Slam titles. But on
April 30, 1993, a man climbed out of the stands at a tournament in
Hamburg, Germany, and stabbed her. The psychological and physical
scars took time to heal.

Seles returned to the game 27 months later and displayed remarkable
resilience. That she was back on court was impressive in itself;
that she immediately reached the 1995 U.S. Open final and then won
the '96 Australian Open was downright stunning.

And throughout that time - including on court - she was battling
migraine headaches that didn't subside until Seles found the right
medicine in 1997.

How much does she miss the game these days?

Unable to run around a court, sometimes Seles will sit on the ground
and swing a racket, just to have that feel of the ball hitting the
strings.

"I'm such an impatient person," she said. "But I know I need to
slowly come back and see how it holds up under practice - not to
push it and not to re-injure it."

If doctors allow, she'll return to the court for a charity
exhibition match against Martina Navrátilová in Richmond, Va., next
month. While away from the tour, Seles has kept tabs on tennis,
watching the Australian Open and other tournaments on television.

And she's noticed a trend.

"It's amazing how many players have been hurt this season," Seles
said. "If you look at Serena (Williams), she's been out as much as I
have. Maybe the offseason needs to be longer - I know the tour is
looking at it."

Nearly every top player has been sidelined with one ailment or
another recently. Williams still hasn't played since winning
Wimbledon in July, while her sister Venus missed six months.

Amélie Mauresmo, Jennifer Capriati and Justine Henin-Hardenne also
have been out.

"It's a long season, and we need more time to rest and have a
holiday," the top-ranked Henin-Hardenne said. "We need at least six
weeks to be prepared for the next season."

The WTA Tour says it's looking into making a change.

"The players who've been injured have been high-profile players, so
it's more noticeable," tour spokesman Darrell Fry said.

"Still, we feel that giving our players more of a break between
seasons, just like other pro sports, is advantageous all around -
for the players, for the tour and for the fans."

And Seles pointed out that even during the offseason, there is not a
whole lot of time when players are, well, off.

These days, though, she has too much time on her hands.

"It made me realize how much I still miss the game and would like to
be out there. And I want to finish on my own terms," she said. "I
want to finish being able to play. It's been tough. It's tested my
patience and my love for the game."
<<<

More information about Monica's migraines:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monicaseles/message/4348

Gorgeous photo of Monica from 1998:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y1CB21987

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

I found the following much more positive two articles on www.monica-
seles.com:

>>>
What a Match! Seles, Navrátilová headline VCU's Raise a Racquet
Date : February 19th, 2004
Source : Robb Crocker - richmond.com


The Virginia Commonwealth University SportsCenter announced on
Thursday that they will host a pro exhibition match between Martina
Navrátilová and Monica Seles in March as part of a series of tennis
events in Richmond called "Raise a Racquet."

The event will kick off on March 13 with a five day mixed doubles
tournament at VCU's Thalhimer Tennis Center. On March 21, the event
will sponsor a youth clinic for Richmond-city Girl Scouts at the
Thalhimer Tennis Center. In addition, on March 21, there will be a
silent auction at the VCU's ALLTEL Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel
Center that will feature appearances by Seles and Navrátilová. The
fundraiser auction will feature vacation getaways and a LASIK eye
surgery to name a few items.

Raise a Racquet will close on March 22 as Seles and Navrátilová will
play a mixed doubles pro set with local professionals Carl Clark and
Sean Steinour and then face each other in a three-set singles match
at the Siegel Center.

The event's aim is to promote tennis in Richmond while raising money
for VCU, Advantage Virginia and The McCormack Foundation.

"This is going to be exciting for all of Central Virginia,"
commented VCU Athletic Director Richard L. Sander. "We'll have a
number of huge events that will bring focus to something important."

One unique aspect of the event is that is being coordinated by 43
graduate students at the VCU SportsCenter. The VCU SportsCenter,
which was launched in 1999, offers graduate students the opportunity
to get a master's degree in sports leadership.

"We're going to bring the community behind the event," explained VCU
SportsCenter spokeswoman and graduate student Kathleen Bowles. "The
students have had a hands-on role. It's an experience we're grateful
for having."

Bowles said she's excited at the prospect of watching Seles play in
the exhibitions.

"Her ability is well respected and I'm looking forward to her coming
into town."

Seles, who participated in the afternoon press conference via
conference call, said despite her recent and past injuries, she's
thrilled to be a participant in the event and impressed with the
participation of VCU's SportsCenter students.

"It is fantastic that the students are managing the event," she said.

"I'll be very happy to be playing again. I haven't played in
awhile," Seles, who is recovering from a foot injury, explained. "It
will be a fantastic match with Martina with contrasting styles."

Seles last played competitively in the 2003 French Open last May and
last faced Navrátilová over two years ago.

"Martina is one of the great players to play the game. She's a real
inspiration," said Seles, who has won nine Grand Slam singles titles
since she turned pro in 1989 at the age of 15. "We always had epic
matches. Each match has been very close and competitive."

Seles has won 53 singles titles and 6 doubles titles in her career.

Advantage Virginia, a beneficiary of the event, is in the process of
developing a program that will bring tennis, academic and tutoring
opportunities to children at a planned world class tennis facility
in Richmond. For the youth clinic, which will be held March 21, the
advisor ratio for the participants will be three youths to one
advisor. Advantage Virginia representative Tommy Cain, a former
professional tennis player, said Advantage Virginia is "excited to
be the beneficiary of the proceeds."

Navrátilová, who has turned pro in 1973, retired in 1994 and
launched a comeback recently, has won 167 singles titles, including
18 Grand Slam titles, and 79 doubles titles. Her 167 singles titles
are more than any man or woman has won in professional tennis.

Seles leads the head-to-head competition between the two, winning
ten of their 17 matches.

Despite a career advantage, Seles has the utmost respect for
Navrátilová.

"She's unbelievable; not just how she plays," she commented. "She is
still winning Grand Slam events now. It's amazing how she's improved
[since coming out of retirement]."
<<<

>>>
Seles eager to get foot back in door. Exhibition match with
Navrátilová part of healing process.
Date : February 20th, 2004
Source : JOHN PACKETT - TIMES-DISPATCH


Monica Seles is itching to get back on the tennis court, and
Richmonders might be the first ones to see - and hear - her next
month.

Seles, who hasn't played competitively since last year's French Open
in May because of surgery on her right foot, is scheduled to meet
Martina Navrátilová in an exhibition March 22 at the Siegel Center.

"I'm feeling good," Seles said yesterday. "I've been in this cast. I
haven't played in a while, and I can't wait to get back."

The winner of nine Grand Slam singles titles during her career,
Seles left the circuit last year when it became too painful to play
on the foot. The 30-year-old has been recovering at her home in
Sarasota, Fla., and is hopeful of banging her ground strokes again
soon.

"I'm going to have an MRI on Wednesday of next week," Seles
said. "So that's what I'm shooting for [to start playing]. This foot
problem has been a major bummer. The last couple of months have been
a testing time for me. I'm just going to take it a month at a time.
The main thing is not to come back too fast.

"I've been trying to stay positive through all this, which is really
important, but it's been hard."

Seles and Navrátilová, 47, haven't played a tournament match since
an indoor event in Paris in 1993, not long before she was stabbed in
the back during a tourney in Germany.

"We always had these epic matches," Seles said. "It would be 6-4 or
7-5 in the third set. We're just such opposite game styles. She
keeps charging the net, and I keep trying to keep her back. She
lives very close to me, and we practiced quite a few times last year.

"It's a pleasure to play her. She's one of the greatest to ever play
the game. It's amazing that she's still playing and winning Grand
Slams [in doubles]. She's such an inspiration."

Seles, whose distinctive grunting was as much a part of her game as
two-handed returns, wants to get back on the tour later this year,
but realizes it's going to be a slow process.

"I'm just looking short-term right now, but if I could come back and
be injury-free, that would be the biggest gift I could have," she
said.
<<<

My reactions:
1. Mic Huber's article of 6th February has made me very cautious, so
I'm not assuming that Monica's exhibition against Jennifer Capriati
on 23rd March, and her subsequent participation in Miami, are still
going to go ahead.
2. Has she really had surgery? The second paragraph of the second
article does not tally with what it says about Monica always
avoiding surgery in Mic Huber's article, and I'm inclined to believe
the latter.

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

Marion Bartoli at Hyderabad:
1r + Ankita Bhambri (Q), 6-1 6-1
2r + Galina Fokina, 6-2 6-4
qf + Mervana Jugic-Salkic, 7-5 6-2
sf - Nicole Pratt, 6-4 6-7 2-6

Jan-Michael Gambill at Memphis:
1r + TAYLOR DENT (3), 7-6 6-3
2r + Brian Baker (WC), 6-3 6-4
qf - NICOLAS KIEFER (8), 3-6 4-6

Raemon Sluiter at Rotterdam:
1r + Alex Corretja (WC), 6-4 6-2
2r + SJENG SCHALKEN (7), 6-3 6-4
qf - JUAN CARLOS FERRERO (2), 6-1 4-6 6-7

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

Here is an article by Mic Huber from 6th February 2004:
>>>
Monica Seles was thousands of miles away from where the Australian
Open was being played, but the Sarasota resident kept close tabs on
the year's first Grand Slam event.

Seles paid particular attention to the way Marat Safin overcame an
injury that kept him away from tennis much of last year to make a
run to the final against Roger Federer.

"The way he was able to play so many matches was amazing," Seles
said.

She also took note of the disappointment of Amélie Mauresmo, who
reached the quarterfinals, only to have to default because of a back
injury.

"I felt so bad for her," Seles said. "To get that far, then not be
able to play."

Seles can commiserate with any player dealing with pain and injury.

The former No. 1 player in the world has dealt with her share of
pain and injury, and is now trying to rehabilitate from a foot
injury that threatens her career.

Seles missed most of last year with the foot injury and has no idea
when, or if, she will be back on tour.

"There is no timetable," Seles said recently. She wishes there was.

Seles admits to be frustrated by the lingering injury. She sometimes
sits and holds a racket in her hand but is unable to get out on a
court. She can't run.

"I can't walk on the sand."

Seles has been in a cast for the past nine weeks and will be for
another three or four weeks. Then there will be another MRI to
determine the condition of her left foot and whether the bone that
became split has been healing.

Seles has spent most of her time recently in New York, where her
rehab has included laser treatments. She really can't even enjoy
things like trying out new restaurants because she has been on a low-
carb diet in an attempt to stay in shape. And it is hard to enjoy
much of anything else because of the brutal winter weather in New
York.

"I had to come home for a while," Seles said. "It has been so
incredibly cold. I missed the Sarasota weather."

She also misses not being able to play tennis, and holds out hope
that her career is not finished. But she also has declined to have
surgery on the foot. She has never had surgery and is determined not
to start now.

Seles, now 30, finished last year out of the top 10. That was the
first time that has happened (except for 1994, when she didn't
compete after being stabbed in 1993) since 1988, her first year on
the tour.

If there is a tennis god, Seles' foot will heal and she will be able
to return to the game. One of the best competitors (and genuinely
one of the nicest and most sincere players) in the game, Seles
deserves to go out fighting instead of quietly.
<<<
[ http://www.newscoast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20040206/COLUMNIST28/402060340/1091/SPORTS02 ]

Her hope of returning at Miami doesn't look too bright now. :-(

Monica is currently ranked #110, and will drop to around #223 next
week when the points from her Dubai 2003 final come off. She will
drop out of the rankings altogether on 19th April if she doesn't
come back before then, when she will have played fewer than three
tournaments in 52 weeks.

But Monica's ranking means nothing, because she will always be
number one in our hearts. She dropped out of the rankings in
February 1994, but came back co-ranked number one in 1995. This
time, she would be eligible for an injury-protected ranking of #18,
as she was immediately after the French Open 2003.

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

Congratulations to Fabrice Santoro for winning the Australian Open
men's doubles (with Michael Llodra) for the second year in a row.

1r + Raemon Sluiter/Martin Verkerk, 6-2 7-6 (7/5)
2r + Igor Andreev/Andrei Olhovskiy, 6-3 6-2
3r + Juan Ignacio Chela/Oscar Hernández, 6-3 3-6 6-4
qf + MAHESH BHUPATHI/MAX MIRNYI (2), 6-3 6-4
sf + GASTON ETLIS/MARTIN RODRIGUEZ (9), 6-2 7-5
  f + BOB BRYAN/MIKE BRYAN (1), 7-6 (7/4) 6-3

Here's a report I found on www.australianopen.com:
>>>
Santoro and Llodra do the double
Saturday, 31 January, 2004
by Tim Brimblecombe

French duo Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro have completed a
successful defence of their Australian Open men's doubles title with
a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win over American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan in the
final.

The No.5 seeds took 84 minutes to overcome the No.1 seeds, who held
a 3-1 advantage over the Frenchmen before Australian Open 2004.

In the previous meeting between the two teams at the Tennis Masters
Cup in Houston just over two months ago, the American duo prevailed
in a tough five-set match.

It was the third straight year that Llodra and Santoro had reached
the Australian Open final.

The American pair went into the match having won 17 of their past 18
encounters and looked set to extend that record when they broke
early in the first set.

But the Frenchmen quickly responded to level at 4-all before they
were again under pressure, facing two set points at 15-40 in the
tenth game.

They recovered to level at 5-all and then had a chance to serve out
the set when they broke the Americans in the next game, only to be
broken themselves immediately after, forcing the tie-break.

Llodra's big left-hand serve proved crucial for the Frenchmen to
take the tie-break 7-4 and they took the momentum into the second
set for an early break and 3-1 lead.

The Bryans had a break chance, but they failed to convert leaving
the Frenchmen to serve out the for their second Grand Slam title.

To the amusement of the crowd the French pair celebrated their brace
of wins by taking most of their clothes off on court.

Santoro and Llodra's second Australian Open win is just the third
Grand Slam title by a French pair in the Open era, after Henri
Leconte and Yannick Noah combined to win the French Open in 1984.
<<<

Photos:
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=santoro

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

Here are the results of the matches involving Selesians in the
second round of the Australian Open (Selesians on the left):

Men's singles:
- Jan-Michael Gambill lost to SÉBASTIEN GROSJEAN (9), 4-6 3-6 2-6
- Fabrice Santoro lost to MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS (10), 6-4 3-6 4-6 2-6

Women's singles:
- Akiko Morigami lost to Nicole Pratt, 6-1 3-6 3-6
- Marion Bartoli lost to PATTY SCHNYDER (22), 4-6 6-2 3-6

:-(

Here are some photos of Selesians from the Australian Open:

María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/photos/imagepages/2004-01-
21/200401211074680802652.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?
tmpl=story&u=/040120/483/mel16901200846

Akiko Morigami:
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=morigami

Jan-Michael Gambill:
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=gambill

Fabrice Santoro:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?
tmpl=story&u=/040122/ids_photos_sp/r1291522420.jpg

(Yahoo! will cut up some of these URLs - you'll have to stick them
back together.)

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

Here are the results of the matches involving Selesians in the first
round of the Australian Open (Selesians on the left):

Men's singles:
+ Jan-Michael Gambill beat Gregory Carraz, 6-2 6-3 retired
+ Fabrice Santoro beat Peter Luczak (WC), 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-1
- Raemon Sluiter lost to Mario Ancic, 7-6 (7/4) 4-6 6-3 4-6 3-6

Women's singles:
+ Akiko Morigami beat Marie-Eve Pelletier (Q), 7-6 (7/2) 4-6 6-4
+ Marion Bartoli beat Alexandra Stevenson, 6-3 6-1
- Adriana Serra-Zanetti lost to DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ (15), 6-7 (5/7) 4-
6
- Arantxa Parra lost to Barbora Strycová (Q), 5-7 1-6
- María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo lost to LISA RAYMOND (25), 7-5 3-6 4-
6

María Antonia came close to an upset when she broke to lead Raymond
4-3 in the third. Unfortunately she lost the next three games.

Adriana served for the first set at 5-4 against Daniela and had set-
point at 40/30. I have written up a detailed, mainly Daniela-
oriented match-report:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/danielahantuchova/message/6630


Second-round matches involving Selesians:

Men's singles:
* Jan-Michael Gambill v SÉBASTIEN GROSJEAN (9)
* Fabrice Santoro v MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS (10)

Women's singles:
* Akiko Morigami v Nicole Pratt
* Marion Bartoli v PATTY SCHNYDER (22)

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

This week's Canberra tournament was noteworthy in that it had two
Selesian quarter-finalists!

First round:
* MARÍA ANTONIA SÁNCHEZ LORENZO (9) beat Evie Dominikovic (WC)
6-7 (5/7) 6-4 6-0
* Arantxa Parra beat Monique Adamczak (WC)
6-1 6-4

Second round:
* MARÍA ANTONIA SÁNCHEZ LORENZO (9) beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi
7-5 4-6 6-4
* Arantxa Parra beat Marlene Weingartner
walkover

Quarter-finals:
* MARÍA ANTONIA SÁNCHEZ LORENZO (9) lost to SILVIA FARINA ELIA (1)
3-6 6-1 3-6
* Arantxa Parra lost to PAOLA SUÁREZ (2)
2-6 2-6


Here are the matches involving Selesians in the first round of the
Australian Open (Selesians on the left):

Men's singles:
* Jan-Michael Gambill v Gregory Carraz
* Raemon Sluiter v Mario Ancic
* Fabrice Santoro v Peter Luczak (WC)

Women's singles:
* Akiko Morigami v Marie-Eve Pelletier (Q)
* Adriana Serra-Zanetti v DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ (15)
* Marion Bartoli v Alexandra Stevenson
* Arantxa Parra v Barbora Strycová (Q)
* María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo v LISA RAYMOND (25)

Adriana Serra-Zanetti v Daniela Hantuchová is an interesting first
round, because it's the third Grand Slam in a row that Daniela has
drawn a Selesian, having drawn Marion Bartoli in the first rounds of
both Wimbledon and the US Open 2003. It's also a repeat of Adriana
and Daniela's second round of the Australian Open 2003, which
Daniela won 7-6 7-6 en route to the quarter-finals.

Adriana has reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open too -
in 2002. Daniela on average form would have no trouble getting past
Adriana (Daniela has a 4-0 lead in their head-to-heads, with Adriana
winning one set), but her 2004 form so far has been... well below
average to put it mildly.

Adriana v Daniela is on Monday. My loyalty has to be with Daniela,
because she's the one for whom I have made a vow of fanship. Good
luck to all other Selesians.

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/danielahantuchova/

Congratulations to Marion Bartoli for reaching the semi-finals at
Auckland:
1r + Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-2 6-0
2r + Cara Black, 6-1 6-1
qf + Shenay Perry (Q), 6-2 6-3
sf - Ashley Harkleroad, 6-3 4-6 1-6

Marion even had a lead of 6-3 3-1 (40/15) in the semis!


On the Gold Coast, María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo deserves an
`honourable mention' for upsetting sixth seed Francesca Schiavone 3-6
6-2 6-3 in the first round. Unfortunately she lost 7-5 6-4 to
Magdalena Maleeva in the second.

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

I have just uploaded to my website a massively revamped and up-to-
date version of my Monica Seles biography:

http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/biography.html

It's the first time I've updated this biography since 3rd April 2001.
It has grown from 11K of HTML text to 92K and is much better
structured: it now consists of a comprehensive appreciation of
Monica's many qualities, followed by a detailed review of each year
from 1988 to 2003.

Good luck Monica in 2004!

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