Monica Seles Is A Great Champion And Genuine Person. Steffi Graf Is A Monster And A Despicable Woman!
I remember the first time I ever watched a tennis match on television, it was June 1990, during Wimbledon. I saw Zina Garrison defeat Monica Seles in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 3-6 6-3 9-7. Zina went on to beat Steffi Graf in the semifinals, 6-3 3-6 6-4 but lost to Martina Navratilova in the finals that year. I was excited about seeing Zina Garrison, a black woman compete at the elite level. I was also curious about Monica Seles. I wondered to myself “why is that girl screaming at the top of her lungs?” I was just a kid back then, I had no appreciation of Monica Seles incredible talent.
Monica Seles invented the power game in women’s tennis, she was an aggressive baseliner. Monica created the power game,she was first woman to ever hit the ball hard off both the forehand and backhand. Monica also hit the ball on the rise robbing her opponents of time when they served the ball to set up and hit their shots. Seles was also left handed, so it was hard for opponents to know where she was going to hit the ball. Seles created incredible angles on the court.
In the early 1990s, the North American media wasn’t kind to Monica Seles. Monica was depicted as a care free kind of a girl, she was the bad Eastern European girl. Although Monica Seles was a great champion, she was an underdog, with the public and media. The Occidental world always favored the petulant, American brat Jennifer Capriati, and the callous German Steffi Graf.
I will never forget watching the 1991 US Open women’s semifinal match between Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati. I was only thirteen years old and I was so inspired by Monica Seles to pick up a tennis racket. I loved Monica’s attitude, she didn’t care that the fans booed her, she was only focused on winning.
Seles and Capriati were able to hit the ball so hard with incredible accuracy and consistency. Women’s tennis was no longer a game of moon balls, and boring baseline games. Monica Seles demonstrated a woman tennis player can be very aggressive and fearless.
The majority of the US Open crowd was on Jennifer Capriati’s side but she choked the match. Capriati she served for the match twice, at 5-4 and again at 6-5 in the third set. Jennifer captitulated under the pressure. Monica Seles incredible mental toughness was evident, she was only seventeen at the time, and she prevailed 6-3 3-6 7-6. Capriati’s confidence was shattered after the huge US Open loss.
In Jennifer Capriati’s career, she went on to lose two more matches at the US OPEN. Capriati lost to Justine Henin in 2003, and Elena Dementieva in 2004 at the US Open. Capriati never reached the US Open finals in her career. Monica Seles career soared after the 1991 US Open she demonstrated she was the real number one on the WTA Tour. Many people thought Monica Seles could dominate women’s tennis for a long time.
Monica went on to win the US Open for the first time in 1991 destroying Martina Navratilova 7-6 6-1 in the finals. Monica Seles dominated Steffi Graf 3-1 in grand slam finals prior to the stabbing incident in Hamburg Germany. The best match between Monica Seles and Steffi Graf was the classic 1992 French Open final Monica won 6-2 3-6 10-8 in two hours and forty five minutes.
A new rivalry emerged between Seles and Graf, they were superior to all the other women on the WTA Tour. Monica lost the 1992 Wimbledon to Graf due to the ludicrous grunting controversy. However, Monica bounced back blasting Arantxa Sanchez Vicario off the court 6-3 6-3 in the 1992 US Open final.
Monica Seles brought a Hollywood glamour to the women’s game, she was cognizant of the importance of fashion, she often was seen wearing a cocktail dress after winning grand slam titles.
She was the best teen prodigy to ever to play women’s tennis. Seles won the French Open three years in a row from 1990 to 1992. Seles is still the youngest French Open champion ever when she won in 1990 at sixteen years and six months. Monica Seles won nine grand slams in her career.
Monica Seles was superior to Steffi Graf prior to the 1993 stabbing incident in Hamburg Germany. Since Steffi Graf is German, I feel Steffi had a responsibility to speak out about this horrendous act of violence against Monica Seles. Steffi never made any public statements, she just acted petulant and haughty.
How can Germany justify Gunther Parche attempting to murder Monica Seles and not spend a day in prison? Why didn’t the WTA ban all WTA tennis events in Germany immediately and support Monica Seles? The WTA should of sent a clear message to the German Tennis Federation and Germany that violence in sports is unacceptable. How can a man attempt to kill a woman on live television and just walk away? If Monica Seles wasn’t Serbian would the sentence for Parche been harsher?
My perspective is, since Monica Seles is Serbian and not German the racist German judicial system ignored the tragedy. The world knows Germany is a racist xenophobic nation where African immigrants are thrown off bridges, set on fire, murdered, and attacked. Germany is also well known for murdering Turkish people. There have been numerous news stories about Turkish families homes being torched by Neo Nazis and the racist duplicitous German government does nothing. The silence of German society to these abhorrent acts of violence means they condone and accept this pernicious racist behavior. I wonder why people of colour and ethnic minorities bother living in such a disgusting racist nation anyway?
At the trial, Parche received a slap on the wrist by the racist German judicial system a two year suspended sentence. Germany makes me so sick. The suspended sentence makes me so ill I want to vomit. The German court system basically allowed an attempted murderer to walk free. Steffi Graf was able to return to a second period of dominance on the WTA Tour.Gunther Parche should be behind bars today and he would be if the stabbing had taken place in North America. Steffi Graf should be ashamed of herself she was so callous and cruel to Monica Seles after the stabbing.
Yes, Steffi visited Monica in the hospital but she ignored Monica and simply acted as though the incident had never taken place. Why didn’t Steffi try to help Monica more? It seems to me Steffi was apathetic to Monica Seles concerns all she cared about was winning more grand slam titles.
There are still rumors floating around that Steffi Graf had something to do with the stabbing. Perhaps the rumors are lies but the truth is Steffi Graf is the only person that benefited from the tragedy. Once Monica was out of the way Steffi won virtually everything on the WTA tour reducing women’s tennis to a complete bore and a joke. Women’s tennis was no longer enjoyable until the Williams Sisters and Martina Hingis emerged in the late 1990s and Steffi Graf retired from the game. Graf is such an unlikeable person she was so rude, obnoxious, and indifferent to the other players and the media.
Monica Seles showed up at the US OPEN in 1994, and she slammed Steffi Graf calling her out for not even getting her a “get well card”. Monica also resented the fact the other top women didn’t want her back at the number one position when she returned to the WTA Tour. Gabriela Sabatini was the only top player that supported Monica Seles. Gabriela said Monica should return to the number one position. Monica says that Gabriela Sabatini is a decent human being for speaking up for her when nobody else on the WTA Tour would.
It is well known in the tennis world Monica Seles does not like Steffi Graf. The resentment Monica has for Steffi is not jealousy. I honestly believe it is because Steffi Graf’s actions speak louder then words. Steffi demonstrates with her attitude towards Monica Seles that she is a disgraceful, despicable, and disgusting human being. Steffi always had an aloof personality, so self absorbed, and superficial. Monica Seles was different, she’s always humble, genuine, real, and a kind person.
Although Monica is ethnic Hungarian, she was born in Novi Sad in Serbia, she is also Serbian. The young Serbian tennis stars Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, and Jelena Jankovic all say they looked up to Monica Seles when they were children she inspired them to play tennis. The Williams Sisters always say that Monica Seles was their favorite player they love Monica too.
Unfortunately, Gunther Parche got his wish he stabbed Seles in the back and allowed Steffi Graf to become number one again. In Monica Seles absence, Steffi Graf was ruthless she made women’s tennis boring dominating the game for three years from 1993 to 1996. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario managed to have one good year in 1994 winning two slams but she simply wasn’t powerful enough to challenge Graf consistently. It was boring watching Steffi defeat Arantxa in five grand slam finals in a row. Women’s tennis desperately needed Monica back.
When Monica returned to the WTA in 1995, she wasn’t the same the focus and intensity was gone also Monica had gained weight. Since Monica plays with two hands on both sides she needed to be quick to track down the tennis balls. Suddenly, Monica started to lose to inferior players. Monica only won one grand slam event after her return to women’s tennis she stormed to the 1996 Australian Open women’s title. Monica was still talented enough to be a consistent top ten player but she wasn’t one of the “best” players anymore.
In 1998, Monica’s father died from cancer somehow during this period of grief Monica managed to reach her last grand slam final losing to Aranxta Sanchez Vicario in a tough three set match. Monica lost to Arantxa because she was not physically fit the determination was gone. After the loss to Arantxa, Monica did managed to remain in the top ten of the WTA Tour but the spark was gone. Monica’s last WTA match was the 2003 French Open she lost to Nadia Petrova in the first round.
It is now official that Monica retired she is truly a legend of the game. In my opinion Seles at her peak was superior to Steffi Graf she was dominating Steffi like nobody else has ever done before. Monica boycotted Germany and never competed in Germany after the stabbing.
Germany may have Steffi Graf but the lax and pathetic German judicial system demonstrates that the intense racism, xenophobia, and prejudice still haunts the nation. Germany has no excuse for allowing an attempted murderer Gunther Parche to not serve time in prison. Again, the how can a man caught on video tape attempting to murder a woman be allowed to walk free? Why didn’t Steffi Graf speak up and take action? Why did Graf remain silent? Does Steffi Graf have a heart? Is Steffi Graf human? Steffi Graf demonstrated she is a bottom feeder and a pathetic coward that has zero credibility and humanity. Steffi Graf didn’t mind profiting off of the tragedy in her lust for tennis glory and fame . Steffi Graf didn’t mind sweeping through all the grand slams but she never would of won so many if Monica Seles was around in her prime.
The message the German government is sending is Germany accepts violence against women, attempted murder, racism, and xenophobia because Steffi Graf a German player benefited from tragedy. Steffi Graf is not the greatest player of all time that label belongs to Martina Navratilova. Graf would never win twenty two grand slam singles titles if Monica Seles had not been stabbed. I am glad Monica Seles was honest in a NY Times interview she said “Steffi and I have no relationship”. Steffi Graf is a monster she is a disgusting human being. I cannot blame Monica she is very professional in interviews but even she cannot understand how Graf can be so evil, truculent, cruel, and shallow.
Gayblackcanada 
Really, You are in a position to say how Steffi felt and acted? I seriously doubt you have any clue at all. Very sad situation, but you are the idiot here. Clay
Clay no need to be immature, if you disagree with my argument then construct your statement with some veracity. I have an opinion and I am entitled to my own views. I believe since Steffi Graf is German and since the tragedy took place in Hamburg Germany she should of been more vocal and supported Monica Seles. The German judicial system handed down an outrageous two year suspended sentence to Parche. The message the German courts sent is that the stabbing was justified because it benefited their golden girl Steffi Graf. How can a man that attempt to murder a woman on live television not be behind bars?
No one attempted to murder Seles.
I don’t know where you come from but in most Western European countries a mentally ill first-time offender who causes a minor stab wound would not have been sent to the slammer either.
And what did you want Steffi Graf to say publicly again and again (she WAS visibly devastated in a press conference on the day after the stabbing)? That is it not OK to stab professional tennis player on the court … ?
LMAO at “Stefi Graf is a despicable woman”
Tee hee hee.
While I may not agree with all of your opinions in the matter of Seles/Graf, I do feel better informed about each of the two women.
I 100% agree. Graf is one of the most unpopular player in tennis. She had zero personality and was totally classless and shameless in the way she reacted to the Seles tragedy.
Steffi has more class than any other player ,you bunch of fuckin arsewipes
Re your comments on Steffi, you are living in fantasy land if you think Steffi wasnt popular because she is worldwide the most beloved and admired of them all and she is a genuine good hearted person so enough of all this seles shit. And it wasnt too long ago that you coons were still swinging through trees so get to fuck you dirty black bastard. get back into the jungle where you belong and take all the other poofters with you {also take that fuckpig seles with you , the noise she makes she wouldnt be out of place there} STEFFI THE FINEST
Cough, cough, excuse me if im not wrong “Scotland fella” but isn’t Tarzan white? Also, if you shaved his “Cheata” chimp, wouldn’t he also be white. Neither which spoke good English. Take a chill pill you dick splash. In my view, Gunther Parche, a fanatical Graf fan, spoiled a perfectly competitive and healthy rivalry between to equally matched opponents. Yes he should of done time for that, but sadly it didn’t happen in a far Eastern country where he could of lost his meat & 2 veg as part of the deal. I don’t think Graf is disgusting, just someone advised to keep her beak closed. Speaking of that beak, I can’t understand why she never spent some of her winnings since that unfortunate incident by getting it resculpted by a plastic surgeon. Two great tennis stars but millions of angry fans. What a great world that we live in!!
Great article. Graf is really disgusting!
Graf is one repulsive woman. What happened to Seles was such a shame.
Wow! There are a lot of emotions flying around this topic.
I didn’t know that Seles’ attacker got off so easily. That is awful. It was such a tragedy that Monica’s career was interrupted and basically destroyed because of a lunatic – never mind the emotional stress she had to endure.
I admire both Seles and Graf but I did think at the time that Graf could have publicly expresssed more but we don’t know what went on between them out of sight off camera. I did read that Graf visited Seles in the hospital.
Seles did have a rought time – losing her father as well. I loved watching her play and she could have achieved so much more. I really felt for her.
As far as Germany goes I do hear horror stories about how suppressive that country is – for example they want to ban Scientology and other religions.
Excellent article. You are 100% right.I still remember the incident. All your statements about Seles are correct. Information I received from people that got in contact with Graf are mostly negative. If at a time Seles was American it will be different.
Monica dominated tennis for a couple of years. She did not dominate Graf.
Monica only won 2 of the last 5 matches they played before the stabbing.
Also before the stabbing she only beat Graf 4 times in 4 years.
Overal Monica won 3 matches on clay and 2 on rebound ace (one after her comeback). She has never beaten Graf on grass, on a hard court or indoors in her entire career.
I admire Monica but some of her fans do not seem to even know the basic facts of her career.
1999 Roland Garros
Chris Evert: “[Monica] then really got cheated out of a lot of Grand Slams. She was really dominating women’s tennis, dominating Steffi Graf. As I said before, she won seven out of eight Grand Slams and then got stabbed and was out for 27 months. Her assailant got his wish, that Steffi Graf be Number One, and sure enough, Steffi regained the Number One position when Monica was out of the game. So he got his wish.”
Dick Enberg: “Who knows how many titles she would own had she remained in full health?”
Chris Evert: “Well, a lot more than nine Grand Slams, I’ll tell you that. That’s so not fair, when you look at Steffi’s 21 (22) and Monica’s nine, it’s very unbalanced, and it shouldn’t be.”
I really cant believe that all these insults are being thrown at Steffi Graf, the woman is a legend…..you cannot deny that the whole stabbing incident was outrageous but come on Steffi didnt want it to happen and the ladies article (main story) is completely unfounded its her OPINION that steffi wasnt upset about it and she states it as a FACT!
I am a huge fan of Steffi’s and from the age of 6 or 7 i found her determination, fitness and form amazing…..but you wouldnt hear me say that Monica Seles was this or that because i dont know her as a person so maybe the same principle should be applied to steffi….what gives this woman the right to slate Steffi when she doesnt even know her, and as for all the things she says about Germany……christ woman you really dont like Germany….but again its your OPINION not FACTS. I have seen many of her interviews (where she is a completely different person, joking, laughing and relaxed) and matches and i think she is a simply a determined champion who didnt have the happiest of upbringings and had a posessive father who didnt want ther to have may friends on the tour…..and that to me is sad because i have heard many stories told my Navratilova, Evert and Shriver who say that may time they have invited her to celebrate with them, and she looked so excited and wanted to get involved and then her father Peter Graf would pull her away and from the situation. Steffi simply kept her mind on the match in hand and not ‘ amusing the crowd’ which is whats important and the end of the day, and i think its sad that she never really had a social life or school life as she turned pro at 12 and left school to join the tour full time, and i once read an article from Germany where a lady had interviewed Steffi aged 16 and again at 24 and said she hadnt grown up at all in the time……and thats a sad thing whether you like Steffi or not.
Back to the topic of debate, yes if Monica Seles wasnt stabbed then maybe there would have been some interesting finals but you cant turn back time and i guess that we will never know!
Steffi Graf is an opportunist and deserves all the critism for not even caring when Monica was out of the game and Steffi never admitted publicly that her career has been immensely helped by the Monica stabbing
The Stabbing of Seles changed tennis history. Graf clearly profited immensely from it and her career will forever have a giant asterik.
Seles has been the most dominant woman in the game for the last three
years, and has ranked as No. 1 continuously since Sept. 9, 1991. She has
won seven of the last eight Grand Slam championships she has played.
During 1991 and 1992 Seles compiled a match record of 144-11, winning 20
tournaments, and only once during those two years did she fail to reach
a final.
Yet another disgraceful chapter in German history. That man never served a day in prison. I do think Graf is a naturally better athlete but she should have shown more grace and kindness toward Monica Seles. I wish all the best for Monica Seles.
Nice pic of Seles. Real nice. How about an article on her dancing?
Tennisfan, Graf had a 6-4 record against Monica when the stabbing happened, 3 of these wins coming in 1989 against a junior 15 year old Seles.
The bigger the matches, the more Seles won.
In finals, they were tied 4-4.
In Grand Slam finals, Seles lead 3-1.
Sorry but that speaks for itself. When you look at the AO93 final, there is NO way one could imagine that Graf could win all these titles with someone playing as well as Monica around.
You should ask yourself who is the real xenophobic here.The insults you throw at inividuals (Graf) and entire nations (Germany) are a disgrace.”Blacks are burned and thrown off bridges”???You have no clue whatsoever! You have probably never visited Germany and yet throw cheap insults around.For your information: Gunther Parche was DERANGED.The law says he cannot be imprisoned for that alone.Yes,he should have been locked up for longer,but the ridiculous insults you throw at an entire country are just plain ridiculous.
It’s nice that you’re a fan of Seles – she was incredible – but this is honestly one of the most wilfully ignorant pieces I’ve ever read. Have you ever even been to Germany? You’re simply throwing words like “xenophobic” and “racist” around without any real idea what you’re writing about. Their are bad judicial decisions all the time but you can’t simply write off a whole country because of this.
I am amazed this topic keeps coming up,and its the fans of seles that always brings it up.Graf was a legend before the stabbing ,she had already won every major , she had won 2 olympic gold medels and totally ruled the game with 186 weeks at no 1…..all this before 1990. Ok seles beat steffi a few times ,but before the stabbing steffi was closing the rankings at an alarming rate and it was only a matter of time before steffi was no 1 again.I am not german and didnt follow tennis very much as a young bloke. but the guuts graf showed in numerous matches ,being able to come from behind and win ,thats the stuff legends are made from,seles took 2 years to come back from a minor stab wound and wen she did she was fat and unfit ,of course steffi was goin to wipe the floor with her.obviously steffi was the stronger mentally of the two players.
yes i will grant that steffi did benefit from seles getting stabbed but to blame graf for that is ludicrous . I prefer to think that the legend of steffi graf will be remembered as the champion she really is ,
In an interview with ESPN Classic’s SportsCentury series, Chris Evert said, “Steffi Graf’s the best all-around player. Martina [Navratilova] won more on fast courts and I won more on slow courts, but Steffi came along and won more titles on both surfaces.” Evert also has said that Graf’s forehand was “the best in women’s tennis”.[17] Billie Jean King said in 1999 that she considered Graf to be the greatest female tennis player ever.[18] Navratilova said in 1996, “Steffi is the best all-around player of all time, regardless of the surface.”[19]
yes the greatest female tennis player of all time
If you watch any of the old matches/interview clips of Steffi Graf or Monica Seles on Youtube, you will find a high number of bitter comments by Monica Seles fans. The vast majority of whom are unleashing their anger out on Steffi Graf any chance they get for how Monica’s career turned out (i.e. Monica would have won everything if she wasn’t stabbed, Steffi’s horrible). This article is another example.
Don’t get me wrong. Monica Seles is a great champion, a pioneer in the women’s game, the victim of a horrible attack and based on what I’ve seen of her, very charismatic and a lovely woman. Monica has never used the stabbing as an excuse for how her career turned out and no one else should either. She did play tennis from 1995-2003, participating in another 9 seasons from the age of 21 on after the attack. She had every opportunity to right the ship.
Tragedy has struck many athletes and the great ones overcome:
Venus and Serena Williams’ sister Yetunde was murdered in 2003. They never used that as an excuse when their results were not what they used to be – especially in 2004 and 2006. They eventually righted the ship. Venus won the 2005, 2007 & 2008 Wimbledon titles as well as the 2008 WTA Championships. Serena won the 2005, 2007, 2009 Australian Open and the 2008 US Open.
In the NBA, Michael Jordan’s father was murdered in 1993. He took time off to try baseball. He eventually made his return to the NBA and won 3 more NBA Championships and re-establishing himself as the best player on the planet.
Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics was the victim of a much more vicious knife attack in 2000. He was stabbed 11 times and had to have surgery on his lungs. He lead the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship in 2008 and was named MVP of the finals.
Monica had a great comeback. She was a fraction of an inch from winning the 1995 US Open (Steffi won that first set fair and square – 50 points to Monica’s 41) and had a great win at the 1996 Australian Open. Seles played great tennis in those two years. Her game was starting to deteriorate in 1997. Being stabbed in 1993, does not prevent you from getting your fitness and conditioning down right in 1995-2003. It was awful that Seles’ father died of cancer, but using that as an excuse is not fair to Monica, her opponents and to the sport. Every player on the WTA and ATP tour is probably going through something in their personal life. Seles had every opportunity to win more majors after the stabbing and Seles’ fan need to accept this.
What if Seles did not get stabbed is always brought up. She was stabbed, so that’s irrelevant. What would have happened if Steffi did not have so many injuries or had so many issues come up with her father (i.e. paternity suit brought on by a call girl, tax fraud trial), what if Tracy Austin didn’t get hurt would Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have won so much? Maybe Monica Seles would have won everything, though highly unlikely. Even at her best, Seles was not the fastest or fittest on tour, nor the best on grass.
Monica was 74-6 in 1991 and 70-5 in 1992. Great seasons, but no where near as dominant as Martina in 1983 or 1984 or Steffi in 1988 (73-3) and 1989 (86-2). I have read Seles was only going to get better. No one in the Open era, man or woman has won 3 out of 4 majors three years in row. Roger Federer was the closest. To expect Seles to keep up that pace, if she was not stabbed in 1993-1995, considering that she did not have the fitness level of Steffi Graf or Martina Navratilova (at her peak) is highly unlikely.
Saying Seles dominated Steffi Graf before the stabbing is a joke. Monica had 4 wins, 6 losses against Graf before the stabbing. Constantly pointing out that Seles had 3 wins and just 1 loss against Graf in major finals pre-stabbing is cherry picking. Props to Monica for winning those matches, but all three wins were pretty close. The loss at Wimbledon was pretty clear cut. Please spare me about the grunting controversy at the 1992 Wimbledon. Seles might have won a game or two more if she was playing in her normal demeanor, but the real issue on grass is her reach with a two-handed grip for low-skidding balls. It’s also amazing how Seles fans can give her all the excuses she needs (i.e. not being allowed to grunt, the stabbing, being robbed of a set point in the 1995 US Open) and yet no one else is entitled to an excuse.
Also, stating Steffi Graf is in search of fame and glory is BS. She has shown repeatedly throughout her career that she does not enjoy the spotlight.
As for the Gunther Parche, what he did was despicable. However, blasting Germany and labeling the country xenophobic and racist is a little absurd. Parche’s insanity defense is common in the Western World. Recently, in Canada, a man was found not guilty of decapitating a young man, because he pleaded insanity. It’s a common defense used everywhere. I’m not going to debate whether it is fair or not. Give Germany a break, it’s not that bad a place…so I hear.
Back to Monica. She’s great and had a great career. What it is, is what it is.
Graf did not stab Monica Seles. Sure, Seles and Graf would be tied at 16 slams apiece if not for the stabbing, but Steffi was not responsible for what happened. She was horribly cold toward Monica after the stabbing, as far as we know. I wish that she would have shown more compassion and grace. Chris Evert, Gabriela Sabatini, Kim Clijsters, or Martina Navratilova would have; still, Steffi had a woman’s tour to hold on her shoulders, and she was nothing if not obsessed and focused on tennis.
Graf was “horribly cold” towards Seles???
Where does this lie come from?
Monica was clearly on her way to being the greatest ever. Graf is overrated.
Graf overrated? Yeah, she just fluked her way to 22 majors, 2 olympic gold medals and most weeks at number 1.
If Seles wasn’t stabbed, would she have won more major? Of course, but no more what ifs. Seles going on to becoming the greatest ever is definitely not clear. A lot of commentators thought that about Martina Hingis because she won so much early in her career and we know how that panned out.
The user named “Scotland”, needs to watch his racist language. Not cool! I’m surprised no one else has commented about it or have
Sporty, Graf won a plethora of slams after Monica Seles was stabbed. Graf only rival was Seles. Once Monica was out of the game the competition was weaker. Graf had to compete against lightweights such as Sanchez Vicario, Sabatini, Novotna, Mary Joe Fernandez, and Conchita Martinez.
Sporty, are you from Yugoslavia ? I think that Steffi Graf is one of the greatest tennisplayer of all time. You are hateful and jealous. Monica Seles is a grutting animal.
Christa, I’m a HUGE fan of Graf’s and I like Seles as well. You need to read the earlier post I made and understand sarcasm. I was criticizing the earlier comment by England Star.
Your article has a bunch of ifs. Ifs never happened. Seles was indeed an excellent tennis player. Unfortunately, her career got derailed. Steffi had nothing to do with her stabbing. Steffi won all those grand slams because she won them. That is what happened and that is what is real and should be accepted. To live on ifs and what could have beens is pure fantasy and could only be construed as the losers way of coping. Monica “could have been the greatest female tennis player”. Unfortunately, it did not happen and she is not. The greatest is Steffi. To check on the veracity of my statement, just look at their records. Ifs do not count.
Martina Navratìlova is the greatest female tennis player ever.She won in singles and dobles and with Chris Evert competing. Steffi Graf and Monica Seles are the tennis best in the world. Monica “could have been the greatest female tennis player”. Unfortunately, it did not happen,but Why did Graf remain silent? Graf could have done more for Monica but she did not. That would have made the greatest champion in the court and out the court.
Christa, Are you from Germany? You are jealous and idiotic! Your ugly big nose Graf is overrated and is a disgusting monster!
Go Monica!
Martina, give me straight away your personal address, so that I can forward it to Steffi Graf’s lawyer in Germany.
What a shame, for Monica Seles, to be supported by a ‘psycho’ like you.
A ‘disgusting monster’ ???…you should tell that to these young traumatized children of the townships of Capetowns she cares for, with her charity ‘Children for Tomorrow’.
YOU are a disgusting monster yourself ! and a EVIL, UNFAIR, STUPID and MORONIC Seleslamist !!!!
Seles was coming on fast, and everybody could plainly see she was, if not already, going to be the best woman tennis player at that time. The two-handed titan won seven of the eight majors she played at one point and was clearly the premier player in women’s tennis. At that point, Seles appeared poised to challenge for a prominent place as the greatest player of all time.
About half of Steffi’s titles ARE tainted by the fact that the only reason she got them was because of the Seles stabbing incident.
After the 1993 AO final (Monica’s last Grand Slam prior to the incident), Steffi was in tears. She sobbed “I’m a mess.” She had no idea what to do with herself, or with her game. She was clearly inferior to Seles at that point, and she needed something to happen to put her back on top. Lucky for her, something did.
Well, “at that point” Steffi had won 3 of 4 matches before the AO final.
Two of them easy two-setters.
At that point …
With my respect to all comments, Sporty is the most reasonable comment I read. Seles is not the greatest tennis player, simply because the champion is not only a champion because he plays well … No, but also because he can control and overcome all other surroundings circumstances. He should be clever enough to pass all problems he suffers during his career.
That is what Seles did not achieve, but Graf achieved it with great success as she also suffered many serious troubles during her career.
This makes Steffi Graf is the legend of Tennis players ever.
graf had not the same hurdles to overcome. she was never stabbed, nor did she have to deal with her father’s cancer. Sure, she had her own injuries to deal with, but so does every player.
What happened to Seles has not happened in tennis, before or since.
Steffi was cold and unlikable. She has a lot asterix on her record. Mons is clearly the better champion.
Ali would have gone down, Frazier would have been knocked out, Foreman would have cried, Tyson would have ran////IF I had only been faster and stronger
IF IF IF…get over it folks, Graf has far better stats than Seles for whatever reason, it does not matter
Seeming heartless one could say Seles did not have the “guts” to come back, she was weak but that is unfair
Would Michael Jordan have dominated if Bird, Ewing, Johnson and Chamberlain all played against him at the same time?
If if if, doesn’t mean a thing
Graf dominated , won and put up the stats, that is all that matters when determining greatness
The “author” is obviously a racist whiner, blaming all ills on whomever displease him, sad but that is what it is
The fact is that Stefi Graf profited from the Seles stabbing. The only reason why Stefi got back the #1 ranking was because Monica was stabbed by one of Stefi’s fans.
The stabbing changed the course of tennis history and whether Stefi’s fans like it or not, her accomplishments with always have doubts on it.
And so what would you want or suggest for Steffi to do with the “profits” ? Give the trophies she won between 1993-1995 and prizemonies during this time to Monica? I miss them both but can’t believe some of the shit that Monica fans come up with. Some have said “Steffi did not care”. Well at the US Open 1993 final during her speech I think she said words to the effect “There was one player missing and that was Monica. I hope she will soon be back”. Anyone here remember that ?!!!! Another thing when Seles did eventually return she was in the main overweight and I believe simply did not have anywhere near the same off-court training ethics that was befitting of a a world number 1 (Seles was co-ranked 1 in 1995-1996) Certainly no where near Graf’s level. Come on Get real, you bunch of Seles arsekissers.
tennis is tennis, to blame Graf is absolutely stupid reasoning..if you get knee operation or injured you don’t ask to remain in number one position…it’s all part of life, one has to move on…refocus,something that is lacking in Seles…btw, what do you expect from Graf?…fall on her knee and ask forgiveness???…stupid, this is indeed rubbish. As history unfolds, Steffi Graf is the most popular tennis player up to this day…wake up people, a sold out ticket in an exhibition match at wimbledon will point you to the right direction…illusion will not bring you anywhere.
I have to disagree with the conclusions about Germany, be it it the relations to Africa or Turkish people. Have you ever been to Germany? I lived there for 4 years and as a French citizen I can say that Germany has much better integration programs and a much saner approach of diversity than France (or the USA) does…
As for Graf, indeed I believe she largely benefited from the stabbing. But this is an endless debate, and history won’t change. Monica is still one of the greatest champions ever and no one can take that away from her.
Even more than the trophies, it’s her story that is amazing and touching. Graf could pile up as many trophies as can be, she is still a great player, period. Monica is a heroine, a true champion. she overcam much more than any other tennis player, male or female had to.
WOW —-LIKE MONICA SELES MUCH—TOO MUCH?!?!?! WHERE TO BEGIN, FIRST I ALWAYS ENJOY WHEN SOMEONE SPENDS HALF THE ARTICLE TALKING ABOUT HATE AND RACISM AND THEN DOES A”DOSEY DOE”AND USES WORDS LIKE BOTTOM FEEDER AND PATHETIC COWARD TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER PHYSICALLY OR VERBALLY HURT ANYONE. SECOND STEFFI GRAF CAME INTO TENNIS A QUIET ,PRIVATE, SHY PERSON AND SHE LEFT THE SAME WAY. SHE NEVER COMMENTED ON ANYTHING PERSONAL OR TOOK ANY KIND OF POLITICAL STANCES BUT I GUESS SHE SHOULD HAVE FORMED A PLAYERS UNION AND THREATENED TO QUIT PLAYING UNLESS THEY SHUT DOWN WOMENS TENNIS TILL MONICA CAME BACK THIRD, MONICA HAD A HALF INCH DEEP !!!CUT!!! IN THE BACK THAT WAS NOT LIFE THREATENING AND WAS HEALED IN 2 …I REPEAT….2 WEEKS SHE WAS NOT STABBED – IVE HAD CUTS LIKE THIS AND WHEN PEOPLE ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED I NEVER SAID I WAS STABBED. I THINK WHAT IS REALLY AT PLAY HERE WITH OUR COMMENTATOR IS WHEN THAT HAPPENED IN GERMANY ,HE FOUND OUT WHAT MONICA WAS REALLY MADE OF SHE’S GOT A GLASS JAW–SHE TOOK ONE ON THE CHIN AND NEVER GOT BACK OFF THE CANVAS AND HE KNOWS ALTHOUGH HE WOULD NEVER ADMIT IT THAT IF THE SITUATION WAS REVERSED STEFFI WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK THE NEXT WEEK. LASTLY I FIND IT COMICAL THAT THE WOMAN WHO STEFFI OUSTED ON HER WAY IN (NAVRATILOVA)
IS THE ONE WHO BOOTED SELES OUT–HOW OLD WAS SHE THEN 60. OH YEAH BY BTW THANKS FOR REMINDING US WHAT A FASHION EXPERT MONICA WAS— I FORGOT ABOUT THAT —YEEEEEESSSHHHHCK!!!!!!!
Well, I have an austrian boyfriend and he hardly shows any emotion. I think its the Gereman way- they are more of a clinical race. They believe to get on with things and not be caught up in so much emotion. they are more strict in their attitudes.
I think that all countries have had a bad past and musnt compare the horrors of ww2 to steffi Graf. As some of you that are quick to critise Steffi- could be Americans so I ask you about Vietnam; Natives peoples of North America; KKK need i go on?
Chris Evert has no right to critise- she has had numerous affairs and broken peoples hearts therefore she can shut up. She is jealous of Steffi as she beat Evert all the time.
Manner in which I spoke on the morals of the show but will not speak the way you
To occur in an objective, Monica before the incident, which involved him and that is really ugly.
Monica did not do that did steffi
-1 steffi swept the championships in 1988 and that he has not one in history that does not men or women
2 – Monica won many trophies at a young age is true, but what makes you sure it was going to last for example, Martina Hingis did so, but did not continue
3 – steffi beat her grave in the back, which he underwent surgery and is just as important as the injury Monica and here the difference
4 – steffi overcame misfortune to enter her father’s imprisonment, which is the most important and difficult psychologically from the death of the father of Monica and here is another difference
5 – After recovering from her Monica won many trophies and I remember, was won over to the players, many very, very easy way in 1995: The healing was complete, while steffi it keeps suffers from many problems at the time, however, steffi was able to defeat monica in the final of the us open
And do not forget Monica annoying sounds when playing, which she a few months Navratilova asked to punish players who Isdrn these voices because they affect the concentration of the opponent illegally
But actually Monica and supporters of those who pin their failure on others poor!!!
Do not forget steffi that will fulfill the work of the charity to help the needy and this demonstrates it is a good citizen
Well, steffi she not just a champion she the legend of tennis and the miracle .
I think it was OK what Parche did.
Seles simply was too annoying with her ugly screams.
All the people who know Steffi say she is a wonderful person. Seles seems to be very business oriented in my opinion. I think she was jelous because Steffi will always be more than her in every aspect of life. And people love her despite the bad press that Monica and her entourage spread. Bytheway, if the stubbing happened to Steffi, she would have been back in less than six months without saying a word.
I’ve always seen Seles as a very ciinical lady. And before the stubbing she was one of the most hated sportswomen of the planet. Steffi even tried to contact her, but couldn’t reach her. What we know about what happened is what Seles said, and she talked too much. I think she took advantage of the situation to raise her popularity. Remember, she was very good friend with the IMG boss, and the man was very powerful. Seles always choose very,very rich and powerful friends,doesn’t she.
Papi, I heard Graf was a very aloof woman if anyone was cruel to Monica Seles it was Graf. Graf visited Seles only once in the hospital after the stabbing. Graf was the one that gained the most from Seles stabbing and I do not believe she is a better tennis player than Seles. I don’t care that Graf won 22 slams because she won those slams with a question mark.The question is would Graf had won all those slams if Seles wasn’t stabbing in Germany? I doubt it.
Bibi, I never heard anyone say Monica was clinical. The reason people didn’t like Monica Seles was because when she was number one was so dominant. Seles ruled the WTA in the early 1990s including over Steffi Graf.
1. What happened to Monica may be emotionally traumatic, but it was also emotionally traumatic for Steffi Graf. No sportsperson likes to ‘win’ because their rival forfeits. Steffi had to endure all the comments from people while Monica suddenly got soaked with sympathy. If I had to choose, I think I’d rather endure the “stabbing” and be loved than not be “stabbed” and be hated for the action of someone I don’t even know!
2. With the media distorting every word you say the best course of action for Steffi is to say nothing.
3. Just something for you Steffi-haters to think about, if Steffi did break down and cry over what happened to Seles everyday would you not have said that she was fake anyway? You can always turn things around if you set out to do it. Maybe you will then accuse Steffi of trying to get sympathy from the tennis world then by putting up an act since she was never “emotional” as you put it. The poor girl, what was Steffi supposed to do that you Seles fans would honestly have accepted?
4. Just because someone is quiet and does not show emotion in the public eye does not mean they are a “cold” person. To conclude thus is just a mark of your ignorance.
5. I also think it’s very disrespectful to OTHER players on WTA tour to say that if Seles hadn’t been stabbed then SELES would have been the one to win tennis. No ones knows what “would have” happened but by saying that, you are discarding great players, winners, runner-ups who displayed brilliant tennis during Seles’ absence. Did they only get to the final because Seles wasn’t there then?
6. Lastly please cut the racial references. I wonder what you would have said if this happened in Australia or USA where it is multicultural? Who’s the racist one here?
You dont have to be a Steffi Graf fan to hear the biased injustice in the article piece. I think the author and the supporters of this article here showed themselves much more “despicable” than anyone could honestly say of Steffi Graf.
Very well said I agree on every point.
Graf is overrated and definitely not the greatest. Sports Illustrated named Graf as the most overrated tennis player and stated that her career benefited immensely from the stabbing of Seles by a German Steffi fan in 93. The fact is that Steffi got back to number one because Monica was stabbed. Between the two, Monica was also the nicer and more gracious champion.
Passion and not reason brings you to such a comment
Monica nice and gracious? That makes me laugh.
What a HATEFUL, UNFAIR, PATHETIC and MORONIC article…
It tends to give additional evidence of it : all those poor embittered ‘Seleslamists’ badly needed a culprit to give way to their anger, bitterness and thirst of vengeance…
And as Günther Parche was too much a dead loss to be paid attention to, they turned their rage against Steffi Graf, for she was famous, loved and admired (so much more than their own idol…).
Besides, they certainly didn’t want to miss such a ‘wonderful” alibi to downgrade, at a fairly low cost, a champion they already hated, as she was the most dreadful opponent to their ‘goddess”.
For instance, they had certainly never forgiven her for having prevented their icon from completing the calendar Grand Slam in 1992, routing her in straight sets (6:1 6:2) by the Wimbledon final (the easiest Steffi has ever won at the All England Club, by the way).
The only problem : they totally forgot how VILE and LOW it was to use the words of an unsane man to soil an innocent young woman, whose only ‘crime’ was to keep playing in the absence of theirs…
What a shame, for Monica, to be supported by such retards..
And Steffi Graf a ‘despicable’ woman ????…
My God, you should tell this to the poor traumatized orphans, victims of war and persecutions, she cares for in the townships of Capetown, Mozambique, Erythrea, or Kosovo, with her charity ‘Children for Tomorrow’.
Poor children who have gone through tougher hardships than just seeing their tennis idol being deprived of her number one ranking…
You poor underachiever…as a matter of fact, I understand why you loathe Steffi so much, as genuine values like self-restraint, modesty, humbleness and simplicity are a danger for those like you who stand at the opposite of the moral spectrum…
Totally agree with all your poosts.
I meant : with all your posts.
great article. seles was always the better player that was why she was stabbed by the german nut.
seles was on her way to becoming the best ever when she was stabbed.
SELES wasn’t always the better player : Steffi beat her 3 times out of 4 in 1991 and 1992, when she was number one !
And Steffi would never have lost her 1st world place in 1990 to Monica, without this obnoxious slandering campaign carried on by the German scandal mongerers about her father.
This article is liable to legal proceedings, as it also slanders Steffi as a human being and a person. I am going to warn Steffi Graf’s lawyer in Germany of it !
Don’t waste your time with these people, it’s not worthed.
You are right, Papi.
One is only soiled by SHIT. Therefore, it’s no use squashing it after having already tred upon it…
And I would like to add : you are a great person.
Mc Clernand,I do not mind you have your own views and opinions. However, I caution you to please stop swearing it is not necessary for you to swear to make your point.
The fact is that Monica couldn’t mantain that high level anymore when she came back(she could have come back after six months,bytheway)and she blamed it on Steffi.
Yet, Monica Seles CLEARLY was the best tennis player in the women’s game for the first half of the 1990s until she was stabbed by a German fan of Graf.
There is no doubt a giant asterisk should be placed next to Stefi’s records. Mons could have easily had 18 GS titles and Stefi ended up with much less if not for her stabbing by a Germ Stefi fan. Stefi is definitley not the GOAT. There are players like Martina N, Evert, BJK, Court, who accomplished a lot without their main rival being stabbed by one of their fans.
I think if you look at the tennis that Steffi play during her slump years (90-92) compared to how she played during her peak years. It was quite clear that she was not defeated by Monical; she was defeated by herself. When you look at how she played during those years, she threw in many more short balls, her forehand, even though, was still very deadly, had became less powerful. Her serves became more inconsistent.
So whether or not if Monica would have won more Grand Slams, assuming she would have stayed the same way she played, depended on whether Steffi could have gotten out of the slump herself.
And if you look at how Steffi played very closely, her peak years were 95-96. She was the most successful in 88 but at that time her game was still developing. Monica was away from 93-95, and Steffi had a good year in 93 but a horrible year in 94. So Steffi might have benefited in 93 but during 94 I don’t think she benefited much because she only won 1 Grand Slam that year.
When Monica was back in 95 and 96, Steffi consistently beat her. Monica was obviously playing not as well as before but Steffi also played at her peak form despite all her injuries. So I wouldn’t say Monica would have been able to dominate Graf even in Monica’s top form. She might be able to win some close matches on Clay in those two years but Monica didn’t make the final of French Open in 96. So there is no basis for comparison.
So my conclusion is that ( I am a big Graf’s fan, so it will be a biased conclusion) Graf probably will win nearly as many Grand Slams as she did even if Monica was not stabbed. She might have lost 1 or 2 French Open or Australian titles to Monica. So I would imagine if Monica was not stabbed, Graf’s slam total would have been ~20 which still make her a very competitive GOAT.
However, I think if Monica was not stabbed, she probably could have won some of the Grand Slams that Sanchez Vicario won when Steffi was not playing at her best.
And it is very unfortunate that Monica was stabbed and her career was affected by it but Steffi was also a victim of scandals and tax issues and she was affected by personal issues herself as well. And if Steffi didn’t have the scandal and tax issues, she might have won more Grand Slams than Margaret Court.
And as a big Steffi fan, I feel the stabbing hurt Steffi at a big level as well. Her achievements were constantly being challenged by the stabbing incident. And as much as I would like her to win, I don’t think winning without the opportunity to prove that you are the best makes winning much less appreciable.
I tried to focus the entire discussion on level of tennis instead of racism or societal issues because after all sports is a forum that is supposed to be for everyone.
well said, hstirb !
Just for info : having learnt about Navratilova’s cancer (a breast cancer), a Seles fan has wished the same to Steffi Graf, on the Monica Seles website (www.monica-seles.com).
So, who are the monsters ?
@ Mc Clerland
Don’t pull that shit. There are monsters on both sides, generalizations don’t work.
Fact–Graf benefited from the stabbing. Can’t compare that to individuals like Jordan and everyone who lost a relative, etc, and “overcame” that. Everyone loses a relative. The shock of being stabbed, however, especially at a sporting event, your home as an athlete, is unbelievable.
And I’d shut your fat mouth about “legal procedings”. There’s no slander here. This is all opinion, and it’s called the internet. I don’t know about whatever country you’re from, but here in the US of A, we can say as we please. No one’s reputation in the public eye is being slandered and profited on.
So big talk, but I’m IN law. You’ve got nothing.
I am just now reading this post. Stettin Graf is the classiest tennis player ever and she was not all class, but she had real substance. What you’re saying here is exactly the kind of emotion that Steffi Graf fan demonstrated by stabbing Monica Seles. In both the cases, the emotion is despicable not the players. As for ability goes, Steffi hands down was a superior player than Monica Seles. End of debate.
I can’t believe some of the hostility i been reading between both camps (both here and You Tube). I happen to like both champions but am more of a Chris Evert fan. Some have stated Graf “Profited” from Seles 2 year absence. So what do you suggest or expect Graf to do ? Give her trophies and the prizemonies she won during 1993-1995 to Monica ?! It was awful what happened to Monica and it robbed tennis fans of a great rivalry I agree. Who knows maybe if Monica came back in say April 1994 she would have won at Wimbledon (as Graf lost first round that year). It sure would have been great for her and tennis as a whole. Another thing, am i the only one that recalls Graf’s exact words after she won the ’93 US open: “There was one player missing and that was Monica. I hope she soon will be back”.
So to say that she “ignored” Seles after the visit to the hospital is totally BS. Even when Monica did return in 1995 she was often overweight and unfortunately did not have anywhere near the same off-court training ethic that Graf had and (like Graf) was plagued by injuries. But she still had some memorable tournament and match wins in the second part of her career, some of which are on You Tube. (of which i can appreciate) . It’s sad that more fans of Monica are not acknowledging that second part of her career, 1995-2002.
Seles should have been GOAT, no doubt. No one could compare to her, at her prime.