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Seles doesn't rule out return
to Fed Cup play
Monica Seles certainly needs no introduction. The nine-time Grand Slam Champion
has been a prolific supporter of the Fed Cup since gaining US Citizenship in
1994 and has been part of three winning American teams in 1996, 1999 and 2000.
Seles, who will be 32 in December, still hopes to return to competition despite
having not played since the 2003 French Open. If her foot injury sufficiently
heals, then she hopes to comeback one last time and hasn’t ruled out a return to
Fed Cup play.
“I love playing Fed Cup. It was such an honour to play and be part of a team, as
tennis can be such a lonely sport at times,” said Seles.
“I was blessed to play under Billie-Jean King as captain. Billie-Jean was such
an amazing motivator and person, and I learned so much from working with her. I
always played Fed Cup if she asked me to play as it was such a great opportunity
to work with her.
“We all have so much to thank Billie-Jean for as she really made the game what
it is today. She fought so hard to build up women’s tennis as they played for
hardly any money, in bad conditions and virtually every week of the year, as
well as doing all their own promotions. I don’t think I could have coped with
that. No one has done more for the game. We owe her so much,” added Seles.
Seles has an impressive 17-2 record in Fed Cup for the USA between 1996 and
2002, with a record so consistent that she only ever dropped two sets in her 17
victories. Those victories included some of her biggest rivals such as Arantxa
Sanchez-Vicario (twice), Conchita Martinez (three times) and Justine Henin.
Having turned professional in 1988, Seles will be regarded as one of the
all-time greats having won seven of eight Grand Slams that she competed in
during her peak years 1991-1993. With her career edging closely towards
retirement, the Floridian hasn’t ruled out a future role as Fed Cup captain of
the USA.
“It would be a huge honour to be asked to be Fed Cup captain, but gosh that
would be a long way off as Zina (Garrison) is doing such a fantastic job. It’s
such a huge responsibility to take on, so I don’t think I am nearly mature
enough to take on the role yet, but hopefully in the future,” said Seles.
“We also need some of the younger US players to start pushing through, as at the
moment they are way behind the Eastern European and Russian girls who are coming
up. But I certainly couldn’t do it just now, as I feel I would have to earn the
respect of all the great players still playing such as Venus, Serena and
Lindsay. Having played with them all, it would be so hard to try and captain
them.”
Seles may be humble in her own assessment as a leader, but she would prove a
popular choice as a captain of the future, both with the tennis establishment
and her fellow players who hold her in high regards for the dignity and fighting
abilities she showed on court. The good news for tennis fans is that the sport
hasn’t seen the last of Monica Seles.
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