Book Excerpt: Facing Monica Seles

By Scoop Malinowski | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, June 22, 2023

Monica Seles is much more than a Grand Slam champion.

The two-handed titan is a game-changing champion.

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Fellow pros, including Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Jimmy Connors have praised Seles as an inspiring and influential champion.

Now, a new book Facing Monica Seles chronicles exactly what opponents felt facing one of the greatest ball strikers to ever play pro tennis.

Monica Seles captured eight Grand Slams championships as a teenager and was on her way to GOAT status until April, 1993 when a madman plunged a knife into her back during a horrific attack in Hamburg, Germany.

That vicious assault, which occurred when Seles was ranked No. 1 in the world and competing against Magdalena Maleeva, altered the evolution of tennis history.

This new book Facing Monica Seles salutes and celebrates the woman called by peers “an innovator”, “revolutionary” and “game-changer” and according to 18-time Grand Slam champion Chrissie Evert, “had she not had her injury, I believe without a doubt Monica would have been the greatest player ever.”

You can order Facing Monica Seles here.

Here’s an excerpt from Facing Monica Seles.

Chris Evert: Monica brought another level to the game. She changed the whole complexion of the game.

Steffi Graf: Even if there are close stages in the match, she really goes for her shots and she – she is not really getting tense.

Steve Silverman: I think it was the first time I was on one of the main practice courts. I remember I was on a court practicing and I heard my name called on the walkie-talkie, ‘Steve Silverman, come to court one.’ I said to myself, ‘I wonder what that’s about? Why am I going to Seles’ court?’

It was me, Zoltan (brother) and her father (Karolj). First it was me and Zoltan alternating playing points against her on clay, which was not my thing. I remember playing on hard courts with her after that.

I’m standing behind her brother on the first points. He had incredible strokes and intensity with his footwork. We were playing points. She called me to the net, asked me to slow down my serve, which I never had happen to me before. My serve wasn’t that good then.

She was fourteen, I was probably sixteen. It was maybe halfway through the year. When I first saw her I didn’t know who she was. She…