Monica Seles vs Jennifer Capriati in the match that changed women's tennis! | US Open 1991 Semifinal

In a match widely regarded as the introduction of the power game in women’s tennis, Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati traded big grunts and even bigger ground strokes for nearly two hours. It appeared that Seles would race through the match after going up a set and 3-1, but Capriati reeled off five straight games to force a deciding set.
Capriati served for the match twice, but the prospect of reaching her first Grand Slam final proved too overwhelming. Seles clawed her way back and eventually took the match with a forehand winner. Afterward, a tearful Capriati raised eyebrows by lamenting that she should have been even more aggressive. Seles went on to defeat Martina Navratilova in the final for her first of two US Open titles.
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[@jayfielding1333]

No one hit harder or deeper than Seles. The greatest ever.

[@craigmills3583]

Of all Seles’ weapons, of which there were many (power off both wings, anticipation, defence into attack, return of serve, acute angles, etc) it’s the complete fearlessness when down and seemingly out that truly made her a tennis immortal. Crazy for somebody so young. I’d challenge anybody to come up with another all time great that earned their place in the pantheon as early and as quickly as Monica. She basically did it in 3 years from age 16-19. Unbelievable.

[@dansby37]

Only one other I can think of, is Maureen Connolly, the 1st woman to win the Grand Slam in 1953, she truly was the 1st dominant teenage champion, she won in 3 years, 9 Grand slam singles titles straight, before a tragic horse ride accident ended her career in 1954

[@craigmills3583]

@@dansby37 very good shout. Agreed! She also died tragically young at 34 from cancer.

[@springlight21]

I think the other is Nadal :)

[@ferdyspears]

@@springlight21 not really. He won his first at 19. Monica was already at 8 when he got to 1. Hes great but his career has been 20 years plus.

[@Ineddiblehulk]

Well, Graf was a year older when she started her run, but her 3 years from winning the French were pretty comparable

[@shuraowen]

When people say stab doesn’t change Monica, they should come and watch this game. What a machine. Only move forward and never look back. No fear. No compromise. Only fight, fight and harder fight.

[@grantp4022]

I have a never seen a more fierce, and intense player than Monica Seles in the women's game. She always gave 100 % with such a great will to win. She had won 7 or 8 grand slams by the age of 19. The stabbing of her, hurt her way more psychologically than physically, and if that wouldn't have happened she likely would hold the record for most majors. She could handle Graff quite easily on most occasions. I miss watching Monica play, as she gave me great inspiration. I don't think there was ever a player that wanted to win more than Monica.

[@th8257]

What Monica has said since in her books is that there was a huge amount of unhappiness and pressure underneath the surface before the stabbing. In 1991 she started to talk openly about her eating problems. She later talked about how she started comfort eating as a young teen to deal with the loneliness, pressure and isolation. It was made worse by her father's illness and the stabbing brought it all to a head. I think Monica learned that being a happy human is much more important that being an unhappy great tennis player. Tennis has destroyed so many players over the years - Jennifer Capriati is still apparently suffering from deep depression. Chris Evert has talked about how much it stunted her developmentally. Whereas Monica turned to food, on the men's side so many players turned to drugs to deal with the grossly unhealthy world of professional tennis. Vitas Gueralitis had a coke addiction. Mats Wilander and Bjorn Borg's careers were essentially over in their mid twenties and they had drug problems. Andre Agassi has been frank about his, and Boris Becker developed a sleeping pill addiction while still a teenager. Pat Cash has also talked about his drug problems and how he almost committed suicide. Martina Hingis has also had drug problems. It's perhaps no wonder that Steffi Graf keeps as far away from tennis as she can these days.

[@user-jn1md9xm4b]

Monica born december 1973, had already won 8 Slams, when was stabbed. 30 April 1993. She was 19 years old ! She was the rising star absolutely: no Graf, no Sanchez, Capriati...bla bla...Only Monica !

[@ulradeja5380]

She was robbed of greatness because of that incident. So many titles taken away from her

[@carrerau7138]

@@ulradeja5380Which title was taken away from her?

[@caxs01]

40 year old me watching this game, missed Graff, Sabatini and little genius Martina’s Hingis game, but there was also the raw power and determination of Monica Seles that I loved. I don’t know which one I loved more, old or modern way of playing tennis, all I know is after Seles retired I stopped watching tennis.

[@mrmagassi]

The beginning of power tennis in the ladies game! 15 year old vs 17 year old! Amazing!

[@stwaters1147]

Capriati was 15 and Monica was 17 here. Get it right

[@JCole-fg3rr]

ST WATERS they didn’t say anything wrong

[@stwaters1147]

@@JCole-fg3rr the ages were incorrect but she's corrected them now after I mentioned it

[@mrmagassi]

@@stwaters1147 yes thank you.

[@bluesanc88]

@@stwaters1147 calm down. Who hurt you? Jesus

[@riccardombollani]

Monica, simply the best ever

[@carrerau7138]

In what?

[@danguee1]

Quite possibly. When she was stabbed by the deranged fan at the age of barely 19 she'd won 7 of the last 8 GS events she'd entered and won 3 consecutive year-end championships - smashing everyone. No one else has done so much so soon. But the stabbing cut her down in her amazing prime, pulled her out the game for nearly 3 crucial years and effectively destroyed her.

[@jm7804]

Legends. I'm not sure the quality of this match has been equaled, much less surpassed. Two of the best fighters of all time. The angles and superb point construction of Seles against the powerful groundstrokes of Capriati. 21 years later Monica gave the introduction speech for Jennifer's induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame.

[@thomaslamarque1507]

The intensity during this third set is just incredible

[@DMNNORTEL]

Seles according to Mary Pierce had an unbelievable mental strength-in addition to other qualities pre stabbing-love her

[@imeraankeshav9527]

This match is Timeless. It transcends! My two favourite female tennis players of All time

[@koolaidnhemlock]

Monica was just such an unreal big match player. At this level, at this point in majors, victory comes down to one or two points. Seles never lost concentration and played every point with the same unyielding intensity.

[@johniii8147]

And that was exactly Capriati's problem. She couldn't maintain focus. Had all the shots but in a tight contest she couldn't hold it. We saw that several times from her.

[@ileanasantamaria2364]

It was utterly meditative - she was so fully and hungrily in the point, every point. Blessed to have fallen in love with tennis as a tween because of prime Monica Seles

[@Awanin46]

And that's what sets her apart from the rest.

[@ABxx2011]

I became a tennis fan because of these two fascinating players.

[@kofipokuantwi-boateng5446]

This was a great match. Back then Chris Evert said this was the best match she had ever seen, but I can confidently say that there are quite a number of matches in the 2000s and 2010s that are equally good or better than this. This is a testament to the growth and competitiveness in modern day tennis. Monica is the mother of power tennis. She was the blue print for many players.

[@sols9449]

This may sound a little crazy to some people but the women’s game in the 90s games like this. We are much more similar to the game that’s being played by the men today this fast paced around stroke baseline game or even all court game was common back then while the men were still entrenched in serve volley. That’s why women’s tennis was so interesting in those days it was sometimes more fun to watch then men’s tennis. And these women were super stars.

[@vincenthannah7209]

What a match this was. I remember being riveted to my seat watching this live on CBS channel 2 in NYC. Capriati was one of the few players that Monica worried about. Monica knew that Capriati could beat her if she didn't play very well. Jennifer was one of the very few who could match Seles shot for shot. One of the many things about Monica was that when things got tight she would hit the ball harder and closer to the lines. That is the heart of a champion and i am not sure that can be teached. Jimmy Arias said that when they were at Bolletieri's in the 80's Bolletieri would have Monica practice at 14/15 with Courier and himself.

[@stayfocused3175]

That match was really the beginning of the whole power era in womens tennis. I mean for 1991 the level of tennis in this classic was so good. These two were smacking the s*it out of the ball. Thanks!

[@kchuk1965]

MUFC why are you posting this here? G to a soccer video. I don’t care about soccer.

[@davidrobson9011]

@@kchuk1965 Well said

[@gregkluge]

When it comes to great rivalries Evert vs Navratilova is right at the top, but Seles vs Capriati is right there with them. These two girls were phenomenal.

[@carrerau7138]

Wimbledon finals: Evert & Navratilova 23 Capriati & Seles 1 Yeah, “right there with them“…. 😂

[@grantp4022]

I have a never seen a more fierce, and intense player than Monica Seles in the women's game. She always gave 100 % with such a great will to win. She had won 7 or 8 grand slams by the age of 19. The stabbing of her, hurt her way more psychologically than physically, and if that wouldn't have happened she likely would hold the record for most majors. She could handle Graff quite easily on most occasions. I miss watching Monica play, as she gave me great inspiration. I don't think there was ever a player that wanted to win more than Monica.

[@Galimah]

ah Monica Seles... one of my favorites. i remember all the talk about her grunts

[@rosaliewright4226]

Astounding ball-striking from both young women. If I had to pick a shot it would be Monica's two-handed sharp-angle backhand. Fierce and composed competitors. It makes me sick to think of what the tennis world lost when Monica Seles was stabbed in the back by a madman.

[@th8257]

It's really interesting how well she used her non dominant hand on her backhand (in her case, her right hand) and how well she used her wrists. It allowed her to hit it like a forehand, and with a really unique level of control too.

[@grantp4022]

I have a never seen a more fierce, and intense player than Monica Seles in the women's game. She always gave 100 % with such a great will to win. She had won 7 or 8 grand slams by the age of 19. The stabbing of her, hurt her way more psychologically than physically, and if that wouldn't have happened she likely would hold the record for most majors. She could handle Graff quite easily on most occasions. I miss watching Monica play, as she gave me great inspiration. I don't think there was ever a player that wanted to win more than Monica.

[@gedshepherd3106]

Monica had the best backhand ever. Aswell as chris evert although monicas was harder everts was so precise

[@Gitfiddle]

2 of the hardest flattest hitters the game has ever seen.

[@indianacein]

If I am not mistaken, Seles hits with a lot of topspin more like Nadal? Correct me if I am wrong

[@th8257]

Not sure I'd say Monica usually hit the ball especially flat, unless she was trying to force. In normal rallies, she hit with quite a bit of topspin, particularly off her forehand.

[@jamesyu5212]

A two handed forehand lends itself mechanically to more topspin. So it’s definitely not quite a flat shot as Lindsay Davenport’s.

[@jabaros75]

Seles!!!!! Amazing!!!!

[@vincenthannah7209]

A couple of years after this match i saw Capriati on the practice courts at THE OPEN. I could not believe how much pace she had on her shots.

[@m_aggie]

why is no one going for monica? the girl is a LEGEND

[@m_aggie]

oh wait, she was still representing yugoslavia then

[@oleharder8490]

She was the only one grunting at that time. It was really unpopular and considered gamesmanship.

[@m_aggie]

Ole Harder ohhh, yeah, it’s interesting how she was the first one and now her grunt is nothing compared to the players today

[@mirzicd]

Ole Harder the only one? You’re coming up with some interesting statements

[@oleharder8490]

@@mirzicd : Great, name another player that grunted (screamed) like her in 1990. Martina Navratilova and others bitterly complained about it. Her tragic back story meant that no one really put an end to it, and now we have Sharapova, Azarenka, and others who have followed in her footsteps.

[@ericavalderrama2547]

Thank you for sharing this classic match...👋🏼😷🌹

[@leisurefarm]

how could a match still look exciting some 30 years later?

[@SadisticRyoBand]

Seles would be a top player even in now. Her style is like Nadal, always at full power and very clutch.

[@johniii8147]

No she's too old now.

[@dansby37]

I agree if this Seles (teenage Seles) was in today's game at the moment, she would be number 1 I feel, she didnt just hit hard, but hit hard with angles and had tremendous depth on her groundstrokes when she was in her teen years.

[@vechris2001]

Just imagine Seles not being stabbed... She would have fought Steffi tooth n nail for those slams

[@yvesordonio]

She would've been the GOAT. But that's just wishful thinking now.

[@vechris2001]

@@yvesordonio just look at her movement n fluidity of her strokes here... When she came back she played nothing like this

[@hill4252]

Would have been the greatest rivalry ever in women's tennis

[@oleharder8490]

It wasn't her stabbing but her eating disorder that derailed her career. She admits as much herself.

[@djordjenikolic9059]

@@oleharder8490 it's both !!!

[@Orko1983]

I still remember watching this match live. It was thrilling. Basically, this match brought in the power game from both sides.

[@xidiamond6851]

Monica Seles was at Indian Wells 2021 so it made me come back to this video

[@th8257]

Seles really clever - disrupting Capriati's rhythm at times by throwing in moonballs. Throughout her career, Capriati didn't like players who could change the pace up (she was on record as saying she hated Steffi Graf's slice backhand for that reason too).

[@pianoplayer1977]

You must be psychic🙂 I was just wondering how it was possible that Seles had more trouble with Capriati than with Graf, Graf more with Seles than with Capriati and Capriati more with Graf than with Seles. Voila, a big part is already answered by you.

[@vincenthannah7209]

Yes, smart play by Monica. Capriati enjoyed pace...Most of the players hated Steffi's slice. She really knifed it. It stay so low and had pace. That is a very tough shot to deal with. Steffi would get a weak reply and hammer her forehand.

[@jayaujo9904]

She hated how Myskina changed the pace so much too at the french open, the year that Myskina went all the way to take the title.

[@douglasanderson3020]

@@pianoplayer1977 Capriati didn't do well in her early matches with Graf, then never got to play Graf in 91 when she was most vurnerable. So she never gained a mental hold of any sort in that match up. Seles was lucky to start playing Graf in 90-91 when she was most vurnerable (and wasn't 13 when she first began playing Graf like Capriati was in the first half of 90) gain some wins, and gain some momentum/ confidence already for even when she began playing better again. Capriati and Seles? Well despite the devastating US Open defeat Capriati always had some confidence in that match up. Capriati's best shot was also her forehand, and Graf's forehand is stronger so it was a bad match up. Her forehand could overpower Seles, but could not overpower the Graf forehand, which since Capriati isn't a smart player is the pattern she would always get into playing. Seles played Graf smartly, used her advantage of huge power off both sides, to take advantage of her weaker slice backhand, and open up spaces, so she only hit to the forehand when Graf was on the run or not on her terms. Seles was also more tanacious and got a lot of balls back which frustrated Graf to errors sometimes.

[@oloscarlopez8]

Great match. One of the greatest of all time. Seles.

[@itsmeforsure5475]

Jen was serving @ 5-4 and 6-5 in the 3rd. Seles did not shy away from the big points, she hit some amazing shots, thats why she was #1 at the time. Jen battled one of the all time greats in womans tennis to the very end. Nothing to be ashamed of there.

[@jboogie6921]

Your comment reminds me of the ‘91 Wimbledon final between Graf and Sabatini where Gabby also served for the match twice before losing. Both were heartbreaking losses.

[@criotermic]

THIS was probably the best female match ever played..perhaps only SELES vs graf RG92! Those were the good day when we had a real queen at #1!! No struggling..no shaking..only talent - power and willing for winnig!! Thank you Monica!!💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@criotermic]

@Ilya Kuryakin well i preferred it this way..the 2° best female match ever played!! graf lost to Martina and Martina lost to Monica!!

[@criotermic]

@Ilya Kuryakin ahahaha ok!!!

[@weyman4317]

I love Monica Seles- she was poetry in motion. Love the double handed shots and body rotation- mesmerising.

[@carrerau7138]

I don’t think you have any clue what “poetry“ is…. 🤣😄😂

[@twebster9498]

These two should have had a rivalry like Martina and Chris.

[@carrerau7138]

😄🤣😂😆😂😄🤣

[@beatriceportinari5773]

Monica Seles fundamentally changed women's tennis. All of the others had to adapt, and do better, Graf especially. I believe Seles would have won a few more GS titles if it weren't for that maniac stabbing her.

[@adamlarsson3828]

i think that Graf would have been extremely fortunate to win two more slams, had Seles not been removed from the game. i have read several articles from this era what each writer noted was that Seles was continually *improving (her first serve, closing down the court, adding variety). Seles was robbed, terribly, of reaching her full potential.

[@Mysicalgreenunicorn03]

But every generation as this person. Navratilova was that in the late 70s, Bille was this for the 70s and Margaret for the 60s. The William sisters were that for the 00. Power wise there isn’t anyone that’s topped them, yet. Their age has meant their speed has dropped off a bit. I wonder who will evolve the game next it’s been too long. Seles was amazing to watch. Such a shame her career too a turn like it did

[@oleharder8490]

There is a lot of sentimental revisionism because of her stabbing, but she never had the edge over Graf in head-to-head. After barely losing any matches from 1987-1989 Graf had a huge slump due to personal issues in her life. She started losing to players she had never lost to previously. Look at how few times they played between 90-92'. Why is that? They should have been playing in the finals of every tournament. Graf went from winning everything to not even making the finals very often. She was losing to other players, not to Seles. Once her personal issues were behind her Graf went back to winning everything.

[@adamlarsson3828]

truly ridiculous. Steffi Graf had no-one to play. Seles and Davenport BOTH strongly indicated this. ______________ Monica Seles on how the women’s game changed (from summer 2002), the New York Times. “Seles, a strong link in the recent history of the women's game, having overtaken Steffi Graf, who ended the era of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, is well placed to judge the evolution of the sport. "The game has changed. The game went through a very stagnant period from '93 to '96, I think. In '97 the girls started to get bigger, stronger, faster. You see the girls now are six feet tall. Everyone has a 100 mph serve."

[@olaraay]

@@oleharder8490 Great timing that Grafs "personal issues" were behind her after Seles got stabbed. She won the next 4 slams for goodness sake. No graf fan ever acknowledges that the stabbing paved the way for Graf to win 4 in a row. And they never will. When Seles got stabbed they were more or less equal (apart from Wimbledon) and Seles was younger. 2 US Open each, seles was 3-2 french open and they both tied 3-3 in australia. And as for wimbledon it was just a surface Seles didnt like but great effort to reach the 4th-QF-F in her her first 3 visits there.

[@drn21]

Great match! Mónica ❤️

[@Lawrence_619]

Monica was a "brute" when it came to how she approached, hitting a tennis ball...that power combined with the most drastic angles we had ever seen, made her a nightmare. But she was also thoughtful and something of an intellect on court, because she was very aware of her "soft spots" and shortcomings. So her mind, made up for what she couldn't do physically. She was the furthest thing from being the athlete that Capriati was. But on the other hand, if Seles was something of a brute, Capriati, was a brute, even moreso...her approach was very simple..."see ball, hit ball...very, very hard". And that was about it. You never saw the wheels turning in Jennifer's mind...she was all, power.

[@cara1111]

The fastest backhand (Seles) met the heaviest forehand (Capriati). EPIC GAME!

[@th8257]

Interesting how Capriati's forehand developed over the years. At this stage of her career it was considered her weaker wing. She hits it in a slightly old fashioned Chris Evert type way, and you can see Monica targeting it at times. By the time she won her first grand slam ten years later, her forehand technique had changed a lot. She had made it into much more of a weapon and played it with a more modern open stance. Also looked like she changed her grip from an eastern grip to a semi western grip in those years.

[@ericlopez9107]

These two young ladies and future champs, although Seles had already won some GSlams, were hitting the ball with such pace and consistency, it hadn't really been seen before, and they were hitting harder than most young men of the same age and level....Amazing!! 🤤🤤

[@kazuakigabychan8147]

You can say that agaon!

[@GinoTagoylo-me3hq]

Classic match. For those non tennis players watching this…monica’s grunts were only partly because of the effort she exerted in hitting these hard balls, but also for timing. In those times most players did not make contact with the ball as the ball was rising. Most hit the balls at the peak. She hit the balls on the rise consistently on both sides and it required perfect timing each time. The grunts were rhythmical to help with perfect timing. Agassi on the mens side did this as well.

[@zelmoziggy]

I don’t care what the reason was. I care only that they were very annoying. Case in point: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYC5qJqDatBpd68si=2adjipQT-no6RV0P

[@ricardoerdoscappon3640]

Seles is the most prolific teenager tennis player (men or women) ever, all her slams were as a teenager, she owned Graff and every other player of her generation.

[@dansby37]

Her and Maureen Connorly were, each won 8 Grand Slam singles titles as a teenager (with Connoly winning the first Grand Slam by a woman in 1953)

[@carrerau7138]

When Seles was #1 she “owned“ Steffi 2-5 H2H. Comparable how Sharapova owned Serena.

[@carrerau7138]

@@dansby37Connolly won 9 slams as a teenager.

[@jamesr2164]

@ricardoerdoscappon3640 Seles was a phenomenal player. She won 8 singles Grand Slams as a teenager, and holds the record still for most Grand Slams as a teenager in the Open Era. She won 8 as a teenager before the stabbing, and 1 when she was 22 years old.

[@carrerau7138]

@@jamesr2164 Yes, but it was the perfect storm for her in the early 90s: 1) Evert retired. 2) Navratilova 33/36 years old. 3) Steffi playing 2 of her worst seasons ever (due to severe off-court distractions). 4) Sanchez not yet peaking. 5) Hingis still a toddler.

[@edwardhannah]

I felt so bad for Jennifer because she was so close to winning this match. Her father has stated that she was deeply affected by this loss for years. Monica was just so mentally tough.

[@likuidtalent4818]

Capriati fought hard mentally & physically over the years and defeated Seles at last in Australian Open 2001 in three set. The only win for Capriati over Seles in GS & in other country besides US... Excellent player Jennifer Capriati so talented! btw Im Seles fan lol!

[@edwardhannah]

Huge fan of Seles myself and in 91 and 92 she was unstoppable. Capriati coming back stronger and becoming a multiple grand slam champion.

[@hill4252]

I think the pressure and expectation was way too high for a 15 year old, Capriati was never the same after this, I remember watching the Australian Open quarter final against Sabatini in 92 and the strain was so visible on Capriatis face, she had looked so carefree and enjoying her tennis in 91 and it was sad to see. Apart from the Olympics in 92 she just didn't seem to enjoy playing anymore. So glad she fulfilled her potential in 2001, a great come back story

[@MasioW]

I remember reading that Capriati really believed that she would win this US Open. Absolutely was devastes by this loss and floundered around coasting on her natural talent. So glad for her that she was able to bounce back and live up to her Grand Slam potential.

[@rushrush1209]

Capriati had some heartbreaking losses at the US Open.

[@nccamsc]

That match reminds me of some of the most brutal battles Nadal and Djokovic waged.

[@leisurefarm]

Just an incredible third set - it's like Nintendo tennis

[@likuidtalent4818]

hahaha!

[@Luca33600]

Monica Seles played the most beautiful tennis game ever 🔥

[@fabricehaubois2442]

Amazing to think Jen never got to a single US final... most experts would have guessed she certainly was good enough to win several opens

[@nccamsc]

What a battle. Won the last 5 points of the tiebreaker to close it out.

[@tonynavaro4488]

SELES IS THE GOAT IF NOT STABBED WITH KNIFE BY GRAF FAN

[@thoukisth]

Selles is the GOAT ... I mean the accuracy the power the smarts the relentless aggressiveness ... I remember we were all in shock ... Selles really did change the game ... and Graff took all the glory ... if Selles was not so viciously deprived of her prime she would have had the numbers too ... and by the way the German freak who stabbed her did not spent a single day in prison ...

[@kazuakigabychan8147]

Unfortunately. justice does not prevail in so many countries.

[@ileanasantamaria2364]

​@GoTeam And was derailed by it, decisively.

[@rattata30]

And kept sending gifts to Sheffield and stuffing receiving them! Now tell me if that’s right?

[@networth00]

@MRbrach Graf beat Seles when Seles was 15yo. That 1 Wimbledon final was when they made Monica stop grunting. During her glory years that was the only Wimby she entered once she got on a roll.

[@brendanbrown3100]

@@networth00 watch that Wimbledon final again. Seles starts grunting again after a few games. It didn’t bother Graf.

[@jskellyjskelly7708]

I would contend the 1989 FO Semi Graf v Seles changed women's tennis. Not this match, maybe power off both sides but women's baseline power tennis changed when Graf played Seles in FO semi 1989

[@OneDogRescue]

Monica and her angles....i loved her so much....my all time fave!!!

[@TheFiloujones]

Look at the way Capriti signs autographs et the end LMAO 😂😂

[@garybarawidan9252]

The Seles return game was so Ferocious...

[@gary8306]

Wow, She was a force of nature.

[@po11112]

really well edited USTA, thanks

[@Motley365]

I love watching Seles play

[@goranmehmedpasic7955]

Monica is the best tennis player of all time.Seles is No 1 !!!!!!! Seles is GOAT Seles is the tennis God. The stabbing just made Monica immortal. Monica enters the annals of tennis. Monika is the best. She is history and her enemies are garbage.

[@carrerau7138]

Is there any GOAT poll in which Seles gets even 1 % of the votes? I‘m asking for a friend.

[@ferdyspears]

Monica and tennis were robbed of so much in 1993. Thirty-one years after this match, Monica is still 6th all time in total number of Grand Slams, blocked from the top steps by some tennis Immortals. And by a German psycho.

[@carrerau7138]

Seles is 8th all-time in total number of slams. The German (that is very important to mention apparently) psycho blocked Seles from competing at the remaining 3 slams in 1993. Nothing else.

[@Paglia444]

Loved Monica's hair that year

[@th8257]

Monica really let up in that second set, losing a set and 3-0 lead. It very nearly cost her the match. As always though, she produced her best right when it mattered most.

[@riccardombollani]

My favourite match in tennis

[@keithjacobson1640]

Amazing that Capriati never got to a single Open final. She had her best chance against Henin in 2003 SF. Probably should have won that match.

[@FlabbyTitmuss]

Her best chance in terms of ranking/ opponent was Dementieva in 04, but Capriati just didn't play a good match at all. The Henin match was superb...almost as good as this one.

[@JohnSmith-qg3jb]

What an insanely great match.

[@carrerau7138]

Yeah, Seles beating a 15-year-old girl (who won a whopping 14 tournaments in her long career) proves that Seles was better than the GOAT…. 😄🤣😆

[@greggraham9785]

Capriati is and will be my favorite tennis player!!

[@sergioricardoasgiselealves5336]

Seles desde a minha adolescência é minha inspiração!Também jogo com as duas mãos

[@njt7117]

I remember watching this match live and both ladies put it all on the line. This was the beginning of the womens power game. Had Monica not been stabbed I believe she would have ended up with more grand slams than Graf who won 8 of her titles after the Seles stabbing.

[@carrerau7138]

Which slams would Steffi not have won? 🙄

[@njt7117]

Steffi would have likely lost the 1993, 1995 and 1996 French Open and US Opens and the 1994 Aussie Open. Those seven alone would have dropped her to 15 titles and bumped up Monicas. And that is assuming Seles did not eventually beat Graf at Wimbledon.

[@carrerau7138]

@@njt7117 Why would Steffi have lost the 93, 95, 96 FO? 😂🤣😂 Because she lost the FO 90 final with 73-74 on points played and the FO 92 final with 8-10 in the 3rd set…? 🙄 In 1990 and 1992 Steffi also lost to Garrison, Sabatini and Sanchez in slams! Whereas In 1993, 1995, 1996 Steffi made 10 of 10 slam finals. 😍 And Steffi losing against Seles on the fast hard courts of the USO?? 😄😆 Seles beating an in-form Steffi at the AO 94 when she even struggled against a slumping Steffi in the AO 93 final (who also lost to 36-year-old Navratilova one week later in Tokyo)? 😂🤣😂 You are a truly insane fanatic!

[@JoseLopez-fd8sn]

looking back at this match showed what the future held for tennis overall in that power will take over. Also I am pretty sure for those that watched this match could not imagine what the future held in store for these two. Capriati had to fight personal demons to achieve greatness while Seles greatness was cut short by a nutcase.

[@netfun8087]

I never recognized how cleanly Capriati hit the ball, her groundstrokes are very well constructed and executed. I’m a huge Seles fan, and while her stroke production is not traditional, the resulting shots are certainly impressive. But the real Seles hallmark is her mental toughness.

[@th8257]

The two and a half year age difference really the deciding factor here. Monica just that bit physically stronger. Capriati exhausted by the end. Tripping over her feet as she did near the end is a real sign of fatigue.

[@davideferrari5702]

Seles.. Magnifica...

[@normadesmond6017]

one of the best matches ever. And then Seles went out because of a nut who attacted her, and Capriati because she had to become pro at 13 and couldn't cope. Such a shame.

[@grainneATL]

USTA it'd be great if you added a little video blurb at the beginning of these match posts. Give it a nice 30 second intro and things to look out for. It's always new to someone and this one is new again to others. Help people get in the game and enjoy it even more. Theres gotta be an intern with a polo shirt that would be glad to do it!

[@user-kx6vk3nj9u]

Best player I ever saw

[@carrerau7138]

You should watch a few Navratilova, Graf, Henin, S. Williams matches.

[@danguee1]

If someone with a modern racquet with modern strings hit the ball with the racquet head speed and acceleration Monica had, they'd be hitting bullets. Just look how she whips through the ball with so little reward in terms of speed.

[@julrenharl]

Please upload the full match.

[@veerapongpongsittisak5626]

I miss her power game!

[@dinahanderson]

This match made me Monica Seles fan

[@Andrea-xs4ks]

I understand that it is logical to cheer for your compatriot but not to applaud as the rival athlete deserves, it is really poor.

[@johnn.5033]

Some of those calls were SUPER close though in favor of Monica. And I’m a super big Monica fan. It does make you wonder how some of these matches would have changed with Hawk-Eye

[@Andrea-xs4ks]

@@johnn.5033 with hawak-eye Monica would won 95 Us final against Steffy and 98 Rg and others matches and tournaments.

[@Andrea-xs4ks]

@@johnn.5033 I'm not talking about the dubious calls that tennis history is full of. I'm saying it's absolutely unsportsmanlike and sleazy not to applaud when she made spectacular shots

[@albator94230]

Amazing !

[@johnieting]

Lots of power without the technology today

[@3883melange]

So incredible!!

[@rathnakarbrahmavar3152]

Seles knows how to raise the level of her game at crunch situations....But Steffi and others don't....

[@th8257]

Interesting that Monica targets Capriati's forehand a lot. In those days, it was definitely Capriati's weaker wing. In her later years, Capriati seemed to have altered her technique somewhat and it looked like she changed her grip. Her forehand became her main weapon and it seemed like her backhand became less consistent.

[@douglasanderson3020]

Her forehand was always her more lethal side I thought. You probably don't see as I know you are a Graf fan, and against Graf, the best forehand ever, Capriati's forehand looked less effective as it was still overpowered and overwhelmed regularly by the Graf forehand, while her backhand would look more potent as particularly on surfaces with a decent bounce it could overpower the Graf slice backhand, but against anyone else it was her more dangerous side, including Seles.

[@trevisrobotie924]

both kids were just incredible!as far as i'm concerned this match's is draw!both won

[@riccardombollani]

Monica, the G.O.A.T

[@tintanews]

Forever Monica 🌷

[@Jonny-yh2nl]

The number of slams won is not the measure. Seles is the greatest womens player ever.

[@carrerau7138]

She holds 4 remarkable records for a #1 player: 1) worst slam final loss ever (to Graf, Wimbledon 92) 2) worst H2H record against any opponent ever (2-5 against Graf) 3) loss to youngest player ever (Capriati, 15 years & 3 months) 4) loss to oldest player ever (Navratilova, 36 years and 5 months) Her win/loss record against Graf, Hingis, Davenport and Williams sisters is 15-49. She has won Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament in the world, zero times. She was a flash in the pan who profited enormously from Steffi Graf being distracted by an awful blackmail scandal in 1990-92.

[@robfalter2522]

@@carrerau7138 monica was not a flash in the pan.

[@carrerau7138]

@@robfalter2522 She used her small window of opportunity to the fullest.

[@robfalter2522]

@@carrerau7138 she got stabbed. otherwise she would have a lot more slams. she got cheated in life and tennis fans got cheated out of numerous monica-steffi grand slam matches

[@moviefan4life166]

Typical Seles, exploding with mental toughness. Capriati led in that third set the whole time from 3-1 to serving at 4-3, and serving for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 and Seles completely elevated her game on every occasion and clearly in the tiebreak. Incredible given their ages but truly incredible by Monica to always find that higher level. She always seemed to win the close battles like the one in 91 down match point to Mary joe at the AO and against Steffi at the FO in 92.

[@GeoAce777]

1:21 those kind of shots are what make tennis a very beautiful game, much like a beautiful header in football (Borgetti '02 WC match) or the butterfly in swimming 😌

[@fedfan3079]

One thing I hate about old matches is they don’t have the score displayed on screen 😖

[@godsinbox]

Imagine if the Ump told them not to grunt. Would've changed women's tennis forever!

[@michelez715]

Seles had the best return of second serve I've ever seen, man or woman. If her opponent missed her first serve, she could more or less give up the point than and there, because Seles wd play a winner on the return.

[@tedhellirand8383]

I loved Seles, she was amazing !

[@seanjames1967]

if not for her stabbing, she would have earned so many more titles...she knew how to defeat Steffi easily...that stabbing affected her mental health and she was never the same...i kinda stopped watching tennis when she got hurt...so sad, but I guessed it wasn't meant to be...

[@carrerau7138]

Defeat Steffi easily? In your wet dreams? Steffi leads Seles 10-5 H2H. Even 5-2 when Seles was #1 (the worst H2H record ever for a #1 player). Are you paid to post such BS here on YT?

[@th8257]

Although Jennifer lost, her play in this match demonstrated when Monica was most vulnerable - to players who could put her on the back foot and take the initiative from her. Back then, only Steffi Graf and Jennifer Capriati could do that from the baseline (Martina Navratilova could do it from the net when she was really on form), and Monica would struggle in later years against the likes of Davenport and the Williams sisters because they also could take control of the point from her.

[@46foryounger]

That was freakin insane. Seles was phenomenal but honestly back in the day I couldn’t stand watching her because her grunting was so off putting. I also noticed that the opposing player would start grunting too when they played her. I can’t believe JC was only 15 yo here that’s freakin insane

[@robertl426]

I'm no fan of loud grunting, but it got far worse after Seles, just look at Sharapova for example. Back then grunting was relatively new, Seles arguably lost a Wimbledon title because of the controversy surrounding it.

[@thenlightn1]

You can't fully appreciate the points without knowing the score.

[@kewsiyehboah6058]

Monica ( 17yrs 8 Months.. ) Vs Jennifer ( 14 yrs 5 Months ).. Amazing J.C never got to an US Open Final.. Monica I think would have Won 17 - 19 Slams..

[@jupitercensus8084]

Jennifer was 15 years 5 months in this video.