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Laureus World Sports Awards: Women's tennis lacks depth

Former World No 1 Seles tells XPRESS that the successful comebacks of Clijsters and Henin isn't a flattering statement on the game

  • By Jaydip Sengupta, Sports Writer
  • Published: 00:00 March 11, 2010
  • XPRESS

  • Image Credit: xpress /zarina fernandes
  • Monica Seles, former world number one tennis player

Abu Dhabi: The horrifying memories of the stabbing incident don't haunt her any more. She is more relaxed now and has no issues speaking about it either. The fear is gone, at least regarding her own safety. But talking to her, you can still make out that things are not so easily forgotten.

In an interview with XPRESS on the sidelines of the Laureus World Sports Awards, Monica Seles, former World No 1 and winner of nine Grand Slams, spoke about the need for increased security measures and the general lack of depth in women's tennis.

The 36-year-old hailed the comeback of Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin but said: "Well...I was very happy for Kim after she won the US Open after becoming a mum. Justine too did really well at the Australian Open this year. But all this in a way probably goes to show that there's not much depth in women's tennis these days."

Her words are borne out by the fact that her fellow Serbians - she was born in Novi Sad - Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, having been No 1 for brief periods, have hardly dominated the game. "Tennis is not an easy sport and it is very tough to maintain that level consistently, which is what makes Roger Federer so great. There will be highs and lows, it's like a cycle. But I believe both will be back and that's because their game is based on strong foundations," she explained.

Talk to her about the infamous incident in Hamburg in 1993, when a Steffi Graf fan stabbed her with a 10-inch knife to inflict an injury from which she never really recovered, and she smiles. "That doesn't bother me any more," she said. "But I think the security measures at tournaments should be increased even further. The athletes need to be protected more," she added referring to the incidents where a fan jumped at Federer at the French Open last year armed with a flag and a cap and another ran on court during the Australian Open match this year between Andy Murray and Marin Cilic.

Seles has won four Australian Opens, three French Opens and two US Opens in her illustrious career and believes she doesn't need a Wimbledon title to prove her greatness. "It's objective really. If you ask me, I would say I have done really well. I have never counted the number of titles I have won. I have just tried to win every tournament that I played in," said the Laureus Academy member.

Career graph

  • Seles became the youngest ever French Open champion when she won the title aged 16 in 1990
  • She played with a double-fisted grip on both flanks
  • She has won 53 career titles including nine Grand Slams
  • She was the World No 1 in 1991 and '92
  • She returned to the tour in 1995 after the stabbing incident in 1993 and won the Australian Open in 1996

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