Monica Seles, a nine-time Grand Slam champion, won every major tournament at least twice, except for Wimbledon, where she was the finalist in 1992. Remarkably, eight of her Grand Slam titles were secured during her teenage years.
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Her career faced a significant hurdle following a stabbing incident on April 30, 1993, during a match at the Citizen Cup. Although she narrowly avoided serious injury, Seles won only one further Grand Slam title—the 1996 Australian Open—after the incident. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history.
Originally born in Yugoslavia, Seles became a United States citizen in 1994. She achieved a career total of 53 WTA titles, held the WTA World No. 1 ranking, and amassed an impressive 82% winning percentage with 595 WTA match victories.
Although she played her last competitive match in 2003, Seles did not formally retire until 2008. The following year, she began a relationship with her husband, Tom Golisano, who is 32 years older than her. Together, they are actively involved in philanthropic endeavors.
Seles remained in the public eye after her retirement, notably competing in the 2008 season of "Dancing with the Stars." Her 2009 autobiography, "Getting A Grip: On My Body, My Mind, My Self," candidly discussed her struggles with depression and binge eating disorder stemming from the traumatic event.
In 2022, Seles was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a neurological condition that leads to muscle weakness and fatigue due to impaired communication between nerves and muscles. She has appeared in commercials to promote gMG, a medication for her condition.
For decades, Monica Seles has remained a prominent figure in the sport, using her platform to raise awareness about her medical challenges with courage and positivity.