Seles

Monica Seles is a former professional tennis player who represented the United States. Born December 2, 1973, in Belgrade, then part of Yugoslavia, she moved to the United States in 1989 to train at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy and turned pro later that year. She rose rapidly and became the world No. 1 in 1991 at age 17, the youngest player to reach that ranking at the time. Seles won nine Grand Slam singles titles, including four Australian Open titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996), three French Open titles (1990, 1991, 1992), and two US Open titles (1991, 1992). She was known for an aggressive baseline style and dominated much of the early 1990s.

In 1993, Seles was stabbed by a spectator during a match in Hamburg, an incident that caused serious injury and a lengthy hiatus from competition. She returned to the tour in 1995 and eventually reestablished herself as a top player, including winning the 1996 Australian Open among other results. She continued to compete into the early 2000s and contributed to the sport as a public figure, advocate, and ambassador for tennis.

Off the court, Seles became a United States citizen in 1994. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of her influential career and lasting impact on the sport. Her legacy is remembered for resilience, early dominance, and a lasting example of comeback in the face of adversity.