Wow Seles is hitting so hard and impressively here. Seles had no problems with the B+ or A- power hitters like Huber, Majoli, Maggie Maleeva, Halard, and others throughout her career. Only the A+ power hitters like Venus, Serena, Davenport, and sometimes Graf and Pierce were a handful for her. She was more consistent and used angles better than all of those but she couldnt capatilize on those things being put on the defense by their power. They were just the bad matchups for her.
I'm not so sure about 1999 and 2000, but in 1998 Monica should have won the French for sure. In 1998 she'd beaten Hingis in the semis, and she should have killed ASV in the final. Monica rarely lost to ASV either before or after the stabbing; unfortunately, one of the few losses had to be in such a HUGE final.
I remember this year, she lost a super close semifinal to Steffi. Seles had a lot of close matches at the French open: the 1998 final, 1999 semifinal and 2000 quarterfinal against Pierce. Come to think of it, if Monica had won those close matches, she would've won the French open from 1998-2000.
You dont know that. If she had won the 99 semifinal and 2000 quarterfinal she would have played Hingis who owned her head to head overall at the time.
Yes but their overall head to head is 15-5. Their overall head to head in slams is 5-2. Many of Hingis's wins over Seles are complete smackdowns with quite a few bagels and breadsticks thrown in. So the overall favorite whenever they played was clearly Hingis. So it is still ridiculous to just "assume" Seles would have won the French those years had she gotten past Pierce and Graf. Hingis in fact would have been quite happy to face Seles, despite Monica's performance in the 98 FO semis.
I dont think it makes much difference in their case. Both have roughly the same surface preferences. Starting with rebound ace tops and ending with grass last.
Overall yes, but Hingis' performances in slams might contradict that. She won wimbledon, but not the French (though she won more matches there than at wimbledon).
True but I sort of think it was a fluke she didnt win the French and a fluke she won Wimbledon. 97 she only won since Novotna was both injured/choked in the final and the rest of the field sucked that year given everyones form, health, the surface, etc....She only made 1 other semi there and then 1 other quarter I think. While ranked #1 she lost first round twice. As for the French she kind of should have won in 97, 99, 2000, and each time lost to someone she was expected to beat.
I agree... the year she was the ultimate favorite was 99. She killed herself with her stupid comments (e.g. homophobic comments about mauresmo at the AO or comments about graf's and novotna's age) and turned the crowd against her. too bad, she was so good back then.
@Monicasthebest yes of course, I was talking about Martina Hingis, who behaved like a nasty brat that year. Monica was always super respectful to her opponents and gracious in victory and defeat.
great quality, winners from seles left right and centre. Im sure Halard made a few winners too, wud have been good to balance it out slightly... just.
Interesting Seles is playing Halard's backhand alot more. I dont even remember Halard play much, was her forehand her stronger side.
grafgirl27 1 year ago
Wow Seles is hitting so hard and impressively here. Seles had no problems with the B+ or A- power hitters like Huber, Majoli, Maggie Maleeva, Halard, and others throughout her career. Only the A+ power hitters like Venus, Serena, Davenport, and sometimes Graf and Pierce were a handful for her. She was more consistent and used angles better than all of those but she couldnt capatilize on those things being put on the defense by their power. They were just the bad matchups for her.
russianskatingfan 1 year ago
Why is the crowd booing at the end?
jproxursoxoff 1 year ago
Seles is so fat.
beavertown2006 1 year ago 2
@beavertown2006 Thanks for the laugh.
jproxursoxoff 1 year ago
@beavertown2006 and your a rude Twat and an arrogant C--T
Monicasthebest 2 weeks ago
I'm not so sure about 1999 and 2000, but in 1998 Monica should have won the French for sure. In 1998 she'd beaten Hingis in the semis, and she should have killed ASV in the final. Monica rarely lost to ASV either before or after the stabbing; unfortunately, one of the few losses had to be in such a HUGE final.
JBlue1982 1 year ago
Seles is playing backhand on both sides
WTF?????
daffe96 2 years ago
@daffe96
No, she has a two-handed forehand and two-handed backhand.
Trackstar2000 2 years ago
@daffe96 of course, she always played two handed off both sides.
juju1305 2 weeks ago
Monica's shots are so accurate with lots of spin. When she stand steadily in the baseline, most of her shots are winners.
JacquesHsu 2 years ago
I remember this year, she lost a super close semifinal to Steffi. Seles had a lot of close matches at the French open: the 1998 final, 1999 semifinal and 2000 quarterfinal against Pierce. Come to think of it, if Monica had won those close matches, she would've won the French open from 1998-2000.
drepcon 2 years ago
You dont know that. If she had won the 99 semifinal and 2000 quarterfinal she would have played Hingis who owned her head to head overall at the time.
russianskatingfan 2 years ago
Hingis did not dominate Seles at the French. 97 was as close as can be and in 98 monica destroyed her.
juju1305 2 years ago
Yes but their overall head to head is 15-5. Their overall head to head in slams is 5-2. Many of Hingis's wins over Seles are complete smackdowns with quite a few bagels and breadsticks thrown in. So the overall favorite whenever they played was clearly Hingis. So it is still ridiculous to just "assume" Seles would have won the French those years had she gotten past Pierce and Graf. Hingis in fact would have been quite happy to face Seles, despite Monica's performance in the 98 FO semis.
russianskatingfan 2 years ago
I know that, but they never played again on clay after the 98 semis. All matches were hardcourt or indoor.
juju1305 2 years ago
I dont think it makes much difference in their case. Both have roughly the same surface preferences. Starting with rebound ace tops and ending with grass last.
russianskatingfan 2 years ago
Best surfaces for Seles and Hingis in order:
1. Rebound ace
2. Other slow medium based hard courts
3. Decoturf and other faster hard courts
4. Clay
5. Indoor hard court
6. Carpet
7. Grass
I think that goes for both.
russianskatingfan 2 years ago
Overall yes, but Hingis' performances in slams might contradict that. She won wimbledon, but not the French (though she won more matches there than at wimbledon).
juju1305 2 years ago
True but I sort of think it was a fluke she didnt win the French and a fluke she won Wimbledon. 97 she only won since Novotna was both injured/choked in the final and the rest of the field sucked that year given everyones form, health, the surface, etc....She only made 1 other semi there and then 1 other quarter I think. While ranked #1 she lost first round twice. As for the French she kind of should have won in 97, 99, 2000, and each time lost to someone she was expected to beat.
russianskatingfan 2 years ago
I agree... the year she was the ultimate favorite was 99. She killed herself with her stupid comments (e.g. homophobic comments about mauresmo at the AO or comments about graf's and novotna's age) and turned the crowd against her. too bad, she was so good back then.
juju1305 2 years ago
@juju1305 your talking about Hingis arn't you???? cause it sounds like your refering to Seles who made those comments.......
Monicasthebest 2 weeks ago
@Monicasthebest yes of course, I was talking about Martina Hingis, who behaved like a nasty brat that year. Monica was always super respectful to her opponents and gracious in victory and defeat.
juju1305 2 weeks ago
98 is the year she could have won for sure. She let sanchez back in a match she could have taken in 2 easy sets :(
juju1305 2 years ago
great quality, winners from seles left right and centre. Im sure Halard made a few winners too, wud have been good to balance it out slightly... just.
olaraay 3 years ago
wooo @ Monica's winners! Amazing!
Peteypooooo 3 years ago
Great vid! Thanks
goodfellacr 3 years ago
thanks!!
whfan007 3 years ago