The day Steffi Graf’s obsession ended Monica Seles’ career


The day Steffi Graf’s obsession ended Monica Seles’ career

Monica Seles and Steffi Graf

Former World No. 1 Monica Seles and Steffi Graf are undoubtedly two of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport. Having dominated the women’s circuit during their respective careers, from a young age, both the players went into every tournament as the title contender including the Grand Slams as well.

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While Steffi had already established herself as one of the leading players on the Tour by the time Monica turned Pro in 1989, the Yugoslavian turned American quickly became one of the biggest challengers of Steffi. Steffi needed time to claim majors but for Monica, it was not an issue as then 16-year old Monica became the youngest French Open champion by winning the 1990 French Open, a record that stands even today.

Graf had been dethroned by Monica as the World No. 1 in March 1991, ending Steffi’s 186-weeks’ consecutive stay at the top of the rankings, a record matched only by Serena Williams on the WTA Tour. Monica’s rising popularity was resented by many Steffi fans as a newbie teenager had broken the dominance of the German great and one such Steffi-obsessed fan changed the history of the sport.

30 April 1993: The day Monica Seles was stabbed during a match

Monica Seles stabbed, Gunter Parche being apprehended by security and spectators
Monica Seles stabbed, Gunter Parche being apprehended by security and spectators

Gunther Parche, a factory worker in Germany was one of Steffi’s biggest fans extending his admiration and love for her to an obsession. With Steffi claiming a hat-trick of Australian Open titles from 1989 to 1990, back-to-back French Open titles in 1987 and 1988, Wimbledon titles in 1988, 1989 and 1991 and consecutive US Open titles in 1988 and 1989, Monica’s rise was almost shocking to the tennis world.

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After a 36-match winning run in 1990, Seles had her biggest win at the 1990 French Open and defended her title successfully for the next two years. During this time, she also won a hat-trick of Australian Open titles from 1991 to 1993 while making a successful title defence at the 1992 US Open as well, winning a total of 8 majors before her 20th birthday. Except for the 1991 and 1992 Wimbledon titles, Steffi could not win a single major between the 1990 Australian Open and 1993 French Open.

Monica’s dominance was not taken well by Gunther and he decided to take matters into his own hands. During the 1993 Hamburg Open, women’s event was held a week prior to the men’s edition. Steffi was the home favourite and a Seles-Graf final was anticipated. During Monica’s quarter-final with Magdalena Maleeva, Monica was headed towards another victory cruising 6-4, 4-3.

During the changeover, Parche breached security and approached Monica with a kitchen knife and stabbed her in the shoulder with the blade piercing in 1.5 inches before the security caught the man along with the help of some spectators. Monica was taken to the hospital immediately but not before the whole stadium saw her blood dripping through her dress onto the court with Magdalena shell-shocked on the bench.

Monica Seles’ comeback

Monica Seles crowded on her return, Monica with the 1996 Australian Open trophy
Monica Seles crowded on her return, Monica with the 1996 Australian Open trophy

Monica received temporary treatment in Hamburg and later flew to the USA where she completed the remaining treatment. Seles remained out of the Tour for 2 years and despite WTA’s attempt to freeze her ranking, the oppose by the other players saw Seles dethroned subsequently from the top. By the time Seles returned to the Tour, she was an American citizen and had battled depression and food eating disorder as a result of the stabbing incident.

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Upon her return, WTA made her the joint-World No. 1 along with Steffi until she had enough ranking points in her kitty. Apart from the 1996 Australian Open, Monica was unable to claim another major despite reaching the US Open finals in 1996 and 1998 losing to Steffi and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario respectively.

Monica had 32 titles to her name before the stabbing incident and despite a 2-year hiatus and recovery from depression, she finished her career with 53 titles to her name reaching a total of 40 finals in the second career she played.

Many argue that had it not been for that unfortunate incident, she would have shattered all possible records taking into account her comeback as well where she showed brilliance on multiple occasions. Monica did not play again in an official match after her first-round exit from the 2003 French Open, the only time she failed to win a first-round clash in a Grand Slam before formally announcing her retirement on 14th February 2008 at the age of 34.

Also Read: ‘He deserves Jail, you B***ard’ Piers Morgan slammed on Twitter for sympathizing with Boris Becker

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