American Hall of Famer, Trained Rigorously by Her Father, Reveals How She Shares Uncanny Similarity to Rafael Nadal – ‘Very Aware of My Emotions’

Tennis has always been a sport that requires utter dedication and concentration. However, a person seeking a successful professional career needs to start early. In an interview a few months ago, Monica Seles spoke about how she was nurtured. She made a comparison with the 22 times Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal’s regime and disclosed how grateful she was for her father’s presence in her early days. 

To succeed in a competitive sport like tennis, one has to pick a racket at an age when the mind is still developing. Children are curious, and a schedule that runs in a loop doesn’t lure them. That is when parents come into action. Though the effect of their methods varies vastly. Here’s how it worked for Monica Seles.

Monica Seles about how her father trained her

The nine times Grand Slam champion while speaking about how she honed her skills spoke about how great her father was as a coach. She said, “Watching someone like Nadal practice, it’s very similar to what I did, hitting balls over and over and trying to perfect a shot so it becomes automatic. My dad always believed every time you stepped on court, you were there with purpose.”

“He was very aware of my emotions, and I’m very thankful for that. He would say Monica, you’re just not here today. Let’s stop playing tennis.” 

Thereafter, Seles spoke about the advice she usually gives to parents. “Everyone is different. It’s not an easy sport, it’s stressful and you’re alone out there on the court. So it’s important to instil those skills so kids can manage it themselves.” 

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 The 48-year-old was born in Yugoslavia and started playing tennis at the age of five. Her father, Karolj Seles, a famous cartoonist, guided her initially. He instilled a love for tennis in her and is also responsible for her marvelous two-handed forehand and backhand. 

How did Seles’ career pan out?

Seles who grew up in a healthy environment became one of the best players of the 90s. She stormed the courts and asserted dominance in clay and hard court-based events. She touched the ranking of World no.1 for the first time in the year 1991 after winning her first Australian Open title. Thereafter, she went ahead to win three more titles in Australia.

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Seles claimed a total of 53 singles and 6 doubles titles. Further, she helped America win three Fed Cups and two Hopman Cups and also brought home a Bronze medal from the Olympic games in 2000.