Monica Seles is back. The tennis world is abuzz. And the U.S. Open doesn’t even start until Monday.
“Her comeback is as big as Mike Tyson’s,” Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras said. “She’s one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, and she’s great for the game. For her to come back and really dominate like she has, winning a final 6-1, 6-0 (last week’s Canadian Open), it seems like she never left. It’s an indication how much better she is than the other girls.”
Seles, playing in her first tour event since being stabbed more than two years ago, needed only 51 minutes to knock off 27th-ranked Amanda Coetzer in the Canadian Open final, and only a few minutes longer to eliminate No. 8 Gabriela Sabatini 6-0, 6-1 in the semifinals. Seles beat all five of her opponents in straight sets, and the matches took an average of 56.2 minutes.
Seles, a Yugoslavian native who became a U.S. citizen during her layoff, looks so strong that some experts are picking her to win the U.S. Open. She is seeded second behind Steffi Graf, but her draw appears much easier.
“The way the draw shapes up, and the way she played last week in winning the Canadian, I’d pick Monica right now,” Pam Shriver said. “There are a few players who could give her trouble before the final, but she sure has it easier than Steffi and the players in the top half.”
Billie Jean King agreed.
“Monica couldn’t have asked for a better draw,” King said. “Steffi couldn’t have gotten a tougher one.”
Graf opens against Coetzer, who beat her last week in the first round of the Canadian Open. Also in her half of the bracket are Nathalie Tauziat, Chanda Rubin and Helena Sukova. If Graf gets past that group, she could face Australian Open champion Mary Pierce in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Sanchez Vicario in the semifinals.
Things haven’t been going so well for Graf since winning Wimbledon. She has been distracted by tax-evasion charges against her father, and a spur on her vertebrae has caused her back trouble.
Seles, on the other hand, is cruising despite tendinitis in her left knee. She has a first-round match against 46th-ranked Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania. The only seemingly dangerous players Seles could face before the quarterfinals are Marianne Werdel Witmeyer in the third round and Lori McNeil in the fourth round. Seles could then face Jana Novotna in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Conchita Martinez in the semifinals.
“I’m just so glad to be playing again,” said Seles. “That’s all I ever dreamed of.”
