Former world No.1 Monica Seles makes her first appearance at the Championships since 2000, aiming to win a fourth season-ending title.
The 28-year-old American has now qualified for the Championships an amazing 12 times, more than any other player in the 2002 event. A three-time champion from 1990 to 1992, Seles has reached final only once since then, in her most recent appearance two years ago.
In the final Championships at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Seles led Martina Hingis a set and 4-2 before falling. After missing last year’s event in Munich, Monica will be warmly welcomed at STAPLES Center.
Monica enjoyed a brilliant start to 2002, reaching the semifinals or better of her first seven events, beating Venus Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinals and winning her 52nd career title at Doha.
Despite reaching the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, and returning to No.4 in the world, Seles has been troubled a right foot injury for much of the second half of the year. It shortened her US Open preparations and has forced her to miss the entire indoor season, having not played since Bahia, the week after the US Open.
She may be lacking match practice, but Seles has proven in the past she can hit the ground running when returning from injury. One of the greatest players of all time, Seles has been a major figure in women’s tennis for much of the past dozen years. Another Championships title is certainly not out of the question.