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How Monica Seles Dealt With Bullying, Fake Injuries and Graf At 1990 French Open
16 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Monica Seles won her first Grand Slam title at 1990 French Open at age sixteen and six months. But she had to overcome a lot of adversity and drama and even some bullying to make history.
In the second round, Seles faced her former doubles partner Helen Kelesi, who was angered that Seles decided to play doubles at 1990 French Open with a different partner Betsy Nagelsen. In her book “Monica: From Fear To Victory”, Seles revealed what happened before the match vs. Kelesi. “It was the last match of the day. Helen and I walked to the court in silence but before we started, we spoke briefly at the net. Helen explained, not too kindly, that she was planning on destroying me for choosing Betsy as a doubles partner. To say I was surprised by her anger would be putting it mildly. Helen is a very competitive person but I couldn’t believe my decision made her so mad, mad enough to play off the wall…” Helen won the first set 6-4, then Seles won the second 6-4 to set up a third set for all the marbles. “The look on Helen’s face told me that she was ready to do battle, she wanted to beat me so badly that even I could taste it! … In the end I pulled off the third set 6-4, what a relief!”
In the quarterfinals, Manuela Maleeva awaited. Maleeva did not think highly of Monica’s game and she unhesitatingly told the media about what she perceived to be the flaws of Seles. “Monica doesn’t know how to play tennis. Let’s see how she plays as she gets older.” “That’s just one of the comments I’ve heard Manuela Maleeva of Bulgaria make about me over the years. In 1990 Manuela was a top ten player. I can only assume that she felt threatened by my rise up the ranks.”
Maleeva won the first set vs Seles 6-3, then Seles won the second set 6-1. Then with Maleeva leading 4-1 in the third set, “out of the blue, she called an injury timeout, claiming she had done something to her leg. It was very strange. I hadn’t seen anything that would have made her claim credible. She hadn’t tripped, or leapt for a wide shot. She just wanted me to think she wasn’t at her best – to play with my mind. I couldn’t understand Manuela’s logic. The momentum was on her side and she had me right where she wanted me. A few minutes later she came back onto the court. Maybe she thought I’d be unnerved by the break in action. Instead, her stunt made me more focused. And when I’m concentrating, I’m twice as powerful. I’m going to win this match, I thought. I took the third set 7-5.”
In the semis Seles beat 14 year old Jennifer Capriati “in a fairly easy match 6-2 6-2.”
None other than Steffi Graf would be the final opponent for Seles. Seles had beaten Graf earlier that year in Hamburg 6-4 6-3 and Seles witnessed Graf smash a hole in the wall with her racquet in the locker room after the trophy ceremony. In the 1990 French Open final, Seles jumped to a 3-0 lead, then a rain delay stopped the match for forty minutes. Graf leveled it at 3-3 and then engineered a 6-2 lead in the first set tiebreaker. Seles described it, “I fought until we were tied 6-6 – a startling comeback. The tension in the stadium was incredible. Fans could barely stay in their seats as we prepared to fight for the points left to take the set. The final point went my way. I breathed more than relief out… I took the second set 6-4 and as I ran to the net to shake a silent Steffi’s hand, it hit me that I’d just won my first Grand Slam title.”
It was an all time historic achievement by Seles to win her first Grand Slam at age sixteen, overcoming four totally different and extreme adversities presented by Kelesi, Maleeva, Capriati and Graf. Seles became the second-youngest Grand Slam winner. Lottie Dod won Wimbledon in 1887 at age fifteen and ten months.
Check out Scoop’s latest book Facing Monica Seles $9.99 at amazon books
French Open · Helen Kelesi · Jennifer Capriati · Manuela Maleeva · Monica Seles · Roland Garros · Steffi Graf
Sam · September 5, 2023 at 5:49 pm
Seles faced her former doubles partner Helen Kelesi, who was angered that Seles decided to play doubles at 1990 French Open with a different partner Betsy Nagelsen
I’d like to know more details about what happened. Did Monica just drop Kelesi as a doubles partner like a hot potato? In other words, did she “ghost” her? 👻 Or was Kelesi’s anger totally unjustified? 🤔
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2023 at 6:03 pm
Sam, Seles said she and Kelesi played together a few times but had no agreement to continue playing. Nagelsen asked Seles to play French Open and she agreed because she said she was her close friend, only real friend on the tour, and they had a lot of fun together on and off court. Kelesi overreated and used it as fuel and motivation to kick Seles a55. At least that’s Monica’s account and there’s no reason to not believe her. Kelesi was known as a hot head. I tried to interview Kelesi for my Facing Monica Seles book and she agree to it but then after I called her she never answered or called back. She’s a teaching pro now in the Vancouver area. I guess Kelesi felt embarrassed about that episode and all her losses to Seles, that to talk about it would reopen old wounds, like how Pioline got annoyed when I asked him about Facing Sampras at US Open, those losses to Pete still irritated Pioline three decades later ) Pioline suffered some very important enormous losses to Pete
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2023 at 6:10 pm
Like I said, no way the establishment will let anyone else win this title but Coco. Ostapenko looked like she took a blatant dive today. She beat her last time they played in January 75 63.
Sam · September 9, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Okay, Scoop, it seems Monica deserves the benefit of the doubt then. Kelesi does sound like a flake. 🥴
Scoop Malinowski · September 9, 2023 at 7:40 pm
Hurricane Helen was her nickname, Monica never had any drama with any player, she played it straight and clean. It’s fairly obvious who the troublemaker was.
Sam · September 11, 2023 at 9:10 pm
Hurricane Helen. 🌀 😄
Speaking of Seles, is she still “married” (I remember you were questioning its validity)? 😏
Scoop Malinowski · September 12, 2023 at 8:39 am
Sam Seles is married to the billionaire in his 80s, that’s a fact. The only question I have is why are they never seen together, I’ve never seen a photo of them together ever.
Sam · September 14, 2023 at 8:34 am
I see, Scoop. So it’s probably a MINO—marriage in name only. 😄
Scoop Malinowski · September 14, 2023 at 12:35 pm
The billionaire husband may support the whole Seles family. My friend played her brother Zoltan in usta leagues this year and his hometown is listen as Victor, NY which is from where the husband lives near Buffalo and Finger Lakes.
Sam · September 18, 2023 at 5:33 am
Oh, upstate New York. Beautiful place.
You may be right that it’s just a business deal.
Scoop Malinowski · September 18, 2023 at 8:38 am
Never saw them together or a photo together.
Sam · September 21, 2023 at 4:48 am
Maybe I’m naive, but I would’ve thought Seles to be well-off enough financially not to need to marry a billionaire.
So . . . I guess he’s just her sugar daddy then. 🍭
Whenever a reasonably attractive woman marries someone at least 15 years older, it seems there’s usually a financial incentive. 💶
Scoop Malinowski · September 21, 2023 at 9:04 am
Sam, the stabbing injustice cost her millions. Think she was supposedly also involved with Paul Allen, another billionaire. Maybe she’s a beard?
Sam · September 24, 2023 at 5:24 am
Good point, Scoop, about the stabbing. And yes, Paul Allen is said to have dated her. I just looked at some photos of her current “husband” as well as Allen, and neither of them would probably ever be mistaken for an alpha male. 🐣
Well, if she’s a beard, that would certainly explain some things. 😄
Scoop Malinowski · September 24, 2023 at 9:11 am
Can’t speculate but it’s their private business.
Sam · September 27, 2023 at 12:28 am
That’s true—it’s not like they’re probably doing anything illegal or hurting anybody with their synthetic marriage. 😊