Monica Seles - "Serena Williams has always inspired me"
Tennis legend Monica Seles said in an interview that Serena Williams inspired her - the American is much younger than her.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Dec 17, 2020, 09:26 am
Monica Seles, like her long-time rival Steffi Graf, has largely withdrawn from tennis after the end of her career. Every now and then, the Serbian-born shows herself as an ambassador for the WTA, for example at the season finale tournament, but as a super coach you shouldn't have the 47-year-old on the bill.
Monica Seles has won nine majors in her grandiose career, had it not been for the assassination of a madman in Hamburg in 1993 - it would certainly have been significantly more. Maybe even 23, as many as Serena Williams currently holds? Monica Seles is still impressed by the American, many years after the first meeting in Chicago in 1997. Serena had entered the tournament with a wildcard and was in the WTA charts at number 304. And beat Seles 4: 6, 6: 1 and 6: 1.
Serena beats Seles when she was 17
"I will never forget the day when I was number one in the world and played against them in Chicago," said Seles in an interview with laureus.com. “I think she was 17, it was her first tournament. And she pulled me off. I still remember that evening I drove back to my hotel, called my manager and said: 'My days are numbered'. I could feel that as a player despite her young age. "
Monica Seles was at the top of the WTA world rankings for 319 weeks, only Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova held the top position longer. “Serena is really the last player of my generation I played against. I have a connection with her in a strange way. I think if she resigns it will be a little harder for me to relate to tennis. "
"I've always admired Serena so much," Seles added. “I first saw her when she was ten years old. And her work ethic, her determination and above all her heart have inspired me in many ways. I know she always says that I inspired her. But the other way around it was at least as strong.