The On-Court Stabbing of Monica Seles | Darkest Day in Tennis History

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In 1993, a deranged fan attacked #1 ranked tennis player Monica Seles in the middle of a match at the peak of her career. Already considered one of the best woman tennis players of all time by that point at 19 years old, the assault instantly made international news and has been regarded as one of the most infamous moments the sport has ever seen. No one, of course, was affected more than Monica, and the last physical and psychological effects would in turn unravel her perfect life into a lasting nightmare.
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[@CULTTENNIS]

UPDATE: Australian Open TV copyright claimed the video due to my clip of Monica winning the ‘96 Australian Open (even though it’s fair use) around the 7:05 mark, so I had to trim it out. Hope y’all don’t mind 😿

[@denniszenanywhere]

My father told me this story a number of times. How even graff cried in private for not being able to beat seles. That seles was so dominant, no one even came close. The story stuck with me even if I didn’t play tennis. It was stuck in my head when I was growing up that I never regarded anyone even graff later as a true champion when there was seles who was robbed off her throne. Tragic indeed.

[@MyCoolMac]

This would indicate it was not fair use..

[@therinalamare815]

Pkò0lokkkklo9ff

[@mavjudanegmatova7121]

Ю

[@mavjudanegmatova7121]

Х

[@aadeyemi5767]

She was a teenager and everyone failed her. Shame on everyone that failed her

[@dallasyap3064]

Yeah

[@fredstah714]

100 percent correct. Tennis organization failed her big time.

[@charlie172011]

Yeah the only one who supported her was Sabatini who abstained from voting against the protection of Seles ranking.

[@radar0412]

Everyone but Me. 😁

[@dalepadgett568]

Not just because she was a teenager but because everyone failed her, I agreed

[@tanishqagrawal9753]

The fact that other players said no for her to keep her rank just shows how jealous and shameless the other players were

[@brucee6123]

Sabatini abstained from voting on it; all the other players voted against protecting it.

[@brucee6123]

The video is incorrect; it says that the decision was "unanimous", which would mean all the women were in agreement on not protecting her ranking as a unanimous decision is a universal one. In fact, that is wrong: Sabatini abstained from the vote (you would have thought Graf would have done that too). It was not a self-sustained injury, it was one caused by exceptional circumstances. Pretty disgusting that they did that, even if you think of sport as all about winning. I imagine that must have been, in a manner of speaking, another stab in the back.

[@fabriciopucheta8109]

@@brucee6123 i didnt know that Gabriela Sabatini abstained from the vote. Thats honor and dignity of the argentinian.

[@brucee6123]

@@fabriciopucheta8109 I think she is a very good - and why quite shy and humble - person. In the early 1990s, she came to Indonesia for a series of three exhibitions against Yayuk Basuki. I was living there and was supposed to write a profile of her, but couldn't get approval from her agent in Washington (Donald Dell, I think). I tried to meet her at a sponsor function, she was polite and friendly. But as I didn't get the one-on-one with her, I wrote a piece that was quite snide about it. And I regret that because I think she's a person of honor.

[@valentinodelpiero4861]

Bruce Emond yes. Everything was against Monica pre-stabbing, in a way you could even get to think it was gestated... Actually nobody accepted that a teenager with the weirdest technique out there was kicking everybody’s ass at just 4 years on tour, just getting started, at only 19 you still have to reach your full potential... Overall I think it is a story of triumph, tragedy, and triumph one more time.

[@brendan95delany]

I just don't understand how you can escape jail time for intentionally STABBING someone.

[@fatwp6345]

white privilege combined with inept judges

[@user-cw3tf9tq9v]

@Commander In Chief I have the same question. I think it is because of security. To have more security, thus control...

[@lord9490]

It's Germany mate.... there's no such thing as justice in that country

[@niksmoret2744]

Address this question to a corrupted german judge/s and their illu masters.

[@jemand8462]

it's not the US but Germany, remember that. Here we don'T even have a life sentence, the maximum prison time for us is 25 years, no matter what you have done, you could have killed 1000 children. Our principle is to give everyone a second chance, give everyone the chance to redeem himself and the idea that locking up people is much more expensive than trying to make them better people and then let them serve the society. Long story short: He had several psychiatric conditions which - in Germany - mean that you can't be found guilty or just partially guilty. In this case he was in fact found guilty but because of his condition was sentenced to 2 years on probation after 6 months of jail time (before the trial).

[@recruitmentch]

The sport failed, the WTA failed her, the courts failed her and to make matters even worse, her own fellow professionals failed her. Absolutely heartbreaking.

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

Must be that being the first loud GRUNTER in tennis may have played a role in the lack of compassion & support from the other players and tennis federation.

[@donshafer7722]

Since then, even some men as well as ladies incorporate the “grunt”. Yes, the others were so miserable in not supporting her.😡

[@Fraudkovic]

cope and seethe . Its not the other players fault she got stabbed . Why should they suffer because shes suffering . Why dont you donate 90% of your next months salary to a homeless person. Why dont you never dine out again? Just use that money to donate . But you wouldnt . So drop the white knight act.

[@6julio6]

That is just incredible... The lack of empathy, the lack of support from other players, the lack of support from the tennis federation...

[@charlie172011]

The only one who supported her was Sabatini who abstained from voting against the protection of her ranking.

[@Saddamuel]

In what way did the other players not support her. It's very wrong to say that she should have kept her ranking and that the other players did anything wrong by saying she shouldn't keep her ranking. I don't know how all tournaments work, but she definitely should have gotten wild cards when she returned. There are other ways players and friends can support her other than a nonsensical freeze on her ranking.

[@ribusgan]

@@Saddamuel And how DID they do that? What did Graff or German Tennis Association do to mitigate Seles's pain?

[@JamesFrew1]

That’s why Monica pretty much only trusted Sabatini after this-she was the only player to have her back and spoke of how disgusted she was by the entire system.

[@anuktachattopadhyay6457]

True. There was a lack of sportsmanship shown by the other players. The fact is that Seles was such an overpowering force on court - most female players were relieved she was out of action. Envy and selfishness played a part.

[@ItsMeBenson]

Damn the saddest part is that the tennis federation didn't compensate and all the other players just did her a massive dirty by not acknowledging her ranking. That must have been one of the loneliest times for someone to go through

[@clash5j]

All the players voted NOT to freeze her ranking while she recuperated, except for Sabatini who abstained

[@sarashepard7504]

People are dirt

[@pigstrotters4198]

"Germany is the country where that man attacked me from behind, yet was not sufficiently punished," she said later in a television interview. "I cannot understand why this man did not have to pay for his crime." Two factors saved Seles from further harm. At the moment of her attack, she was bending forward to get up from her seat, sparing her the full length of the blade, which missed her spine by five centimetres. (It was regarded as attempted assault).!! She refused to ever play in Germany again. (Which I understand completely).

[@dvo66]

@@clash5j abstaining is as bad as voting no

[@ronlegas8180]

Those women were jealous

[@StormyPeak]

I remember when this happened and was just appalled that the German courts just let the man walk free. I remember thinking back then that Germany has a lot to be ashamed of, and that bogus 'trial' just added to their shame. To this day, I still believe that the German court let the man go because those ruling the case carried a huge bias, and on a personal level, favored Graf and hated seeing Seles defeat her in matches. This was their petty way of adding insult to injury for Seles. If it had been Graf injured in the same way...that man would probably still be in prison as a danger to society.

[@88feji]

Maybe the judge was also a fan of Graf ... he wants to pour salt on Seles's wound to delay her comeback ... No intention to murder ? The stab missed her spinal cord by less than a centimetre .. Seles could have been paralysed for life ! Intention to paralyse her for life is not much better ... Worst judge ever. And extremely disappoint that Graf never supported to freeze Seles's no.1 ranking, how can she, out of all people, not shown her support for Seles to keep her ranking to encourage Seles to come back to the sport ?? Only Sabatini wanted to keep Seles at no. 1, my respect for Sabatini went through the roof when i saw the news, she has the compassion and sympathy for Seles that everyone else lacks ..... PS. Martina Navratilova also wanted Seles keep her top ranking when she returns as she was the one who made the proposal as the president of the WTA then ... she expressed disappointment when her proposal did not go through ........... so, a huge respect to Martina too.

[@Smudgeroon74]

@StormyPeak You know it. The fact also that Seles was from Yugoslavia was another stick the German justice system used to beat her with. Belgrade owed a huge amount of financial indebtedness to Germany. Monica was just too good and was getting the better of Steffi in many of the big tournaments.

[@eddy_8232]

I was a big Graf fan and saw how dominant Seles was when the two played. After watching this video, i am reminded that the intent of the attack was indeed successful as Seles was never the same after the attack and Graf returned to the #1 ranking almost immediately. Graf benefitted the most and her titles should have an asterisk next to them.

[@kazuakigabychan8147]

Monica prevailed on big occasions. In Grad Slams, she beat Graf three times out of four outings. Monica's defeats came when she was a much younger and budding player. Alas! If Monica had not been stabbed, she might have won more GS titles than Serena.

[@vincenzofranchelli2201]

Graf said nothing about the court decision not to jail the attacker, and did not support Monica keeping her #1 ranking so she could take it for herself. They shouldnt just have an asterix they should be wiped from history. She deserves jail also, and not a single title of any kind.

[@88feji]

Seles was ascending to her physical peak in about 5 years, so its very likely she would completely dominate tennis and shut out Graf at Wimbledon too ... .. instead, Seles's eating problem became worst due to the stabbing as she had once said in interview that she found comfort in eating to forget her trauma ... Chris Evert could have racked up at least 28 slams (instead of the 18 she now owns) if not for her great rival Martina Navratilova rising to challenge her ... Its very likely Graf and Seles would share a similar 18-18 slams like Evert/Navra, or even a 15-26 slams in Seles's favor ...

[@alexpiper1115]

@@kazuakigabychan8147 Probably but it would be silly to assume that Steffi wouldn't have won a few of those herself. Remember that Graf backed up a stellar 1988 season with an impressive 1989 season (Graf was literally one set away from TWO back-to-back calendar grand slams) . I think if Seles weren't stabbed, their numbers would look more like Chris and Martina.

[@cheetah595]

Graf was 6-4 over Seles at GS events.

[@torchtorch1480]

All I can say is she got stabbed on her back not only from that man.

[@torchtorch1480]

@@cmj199318 which part that you think it meant to funny? Clearly, she didn't get stabbed just by that man. Judges who released that man, tennis players, etc. She got stabbed on her back from many ppl that failed her. Which part that funny? and why you think that's funny? Seek psychiatric yourself if you interpret as it meant to be funny

[@saucy8850]

@@torchtorch1480 I love how the guy deleted his reply after this

[@rezarfar]

@@torchtorch1480 dunno what that guy said, but reading your reply to him makes me mad at him.

[@mikewhocheeseharry5292]

Not sure what he said but he might have misinterpreted your comment “she got stabbed in the back not only from that man”, as saying she took it in the rear by not only that man.

[@1983Jacko]

@@mikewhocheeseharry5292 If you think that then you need help my friend.

[@starllama2149]

He stabbed her! How could he not be jailed?? Everyone saw it. What the hell

[@muhammadabidi8188]

Germanlet government

[@matthew92604]

@@muhammadabidi8188Germany went from killing indiscriminately to refusing to sentence a man who stabbed a child in just short of 50 years. Strange place, to say the least lol.

[@dancecommenter9305]

I believe they also found out that he was mentally not all there, and they didn't want to punish a mentally disabled person so harshly.

[@demented9131]

@@matthew92604 modern germany is permanently cucked

[@matthew92604]

@@dancecommenter9305 I'm sure most people who stab children on television aren't all there mentally. They probably shouldn't be roaming the streets though. That is what I imagine most people would call "a clear danger to society."

[@l9ikjam]

Sounds to me this guy got paid to do this and he was protected from going to jail

[@sunshinef263y]

Paid? A lot of idiots in these comments.

[@jf8085]

Agree, she was upending the hierarchy very quickly

[@Dzanarika1]

Isn't it obvious?

[@chameleonedm]

@@Dzanarika1 No, who is supposedly paying him to do this?

[@johnclifford1537]

I am Australian and she won so well in 91-92-93 that no one was in doubt she would dominate the decade. Her comeback win in 96 was fairytale stuff, one of the most emotional things I have seen on a tennis court. She later said though that triumph took everything she had and indeed it was her last grand slam. So sad.

[@jk12324]

So basically, the bad guy won in this story

[@sarashepard7504]

Always

[@claytonmorgan1843]

Basically yeah

[@ValensBellator]

As did Germany.

[@claytonmorgan1843]

@@ValensBellator Germany has a history of being the bad guy. Seems things haven't changed much, eh?

[@billyz5088]

​@@claytonmorgan1843 ~~ they have a tragic history of allowing some terrible "leaders" to get into power ~ sadly, my country (USA) now also shares that dubious distinction.

[@erin9377]

The stabbing is one of the biggest tragedies in tennis, and the way Seles got treated by the other players in the association was a disgrace. It's impossible to know what would have happened if things went differently, but Seles would be remembered fondly as one of the best of all time, instead of the GOAT-that-could-have-been who fell victim to struggles she never deserved.

[@guillermodellatorre8529]

I think they should have left her at number 1 until graff take it away from her. That's what I would have done

[@robeltonicholas6223]

It shows how far some people would go to get were they want to.... Or others would do to allow their obsessions drive them to insanity and obscure impulses to act violently !!! It also gave a startlingly discovery of the way these sporting organizations operates based on their rulings , because of what they the organizations stand to gain !!!!!

[@prashantkumarchoudhary6124]

Completely agree. Huge respect to her for coming back and showing all other players who is the boss. I have a firm belief she could have proved to be kryptonyte for Steffi if she would have been there on court.

[@katelynneshockey9393]

I know it's so selfish and thats how you know non of those girls are good tennis players if your that petty and that selfish to completely forget about a tennis legend as if she never exsisted like that you have no right to be on that court.

[@mezstah]

The true goat of tennis.. She would have cakewalked through the 90s 26 slams would been easy doable

[@Sunny----10]

This is so sad someone takes your best years from you and just walks away. 😔

[@akankshasharma943]

Shame on every single person who were responsible for this all to happen.. how can you live with peace after practically destroying someone's life

[@Cybernaut76]

Günter Parche died a year ago at the age of 66. From what they say, he had other health issues too than just morbid attitude towards tennis.

[@pratheekk__]

The Monica Seles incident made me realise that life isn't fair

[@areez22]

First time I hear about it. It's made me angry.

[@shevikwombat2637]

Life is never fair...

[@eu3145]

You should have realised much much earlier, when Christ was crucified!

[@tartardealer7859]

@@eu3145 🙏

[@gregoryrodriguez5621]

@@Mustradamus tell that to rich white folk

[@TheWinezen]

Graf's silence on the clearly wrong court result, and refusal to condemn the assailant or the Hamburg championship organizers for negligent security was complicit in the destruction of her rival

[@Fox_Mccloud11]

It’s disgraceful tbh, I know nothing about her but her silence says everything about her

[@wiselearning4189]

German people, what do you expect?!

[@gutgolf74]

@@wiselearning4189 Wow, just wow. Why don't you get informed and grow up just a LITTLE before typing nasty stuff like that?

[@wentasticmathematics1340]

Oh stop it. This put Stefi in an impossible spot. No champion wants to win like this - they want to beat them on the court! Stefi was always quiet and reserved and was likely very uncomfortable with the whole situation. She did her best to stay out of it. She’s not the villain.

[@zorrozorro1552]

@@wiselearning4189 you cannot criticise an entire nation for that, that's disgraceful from your part.

[@nehajha7431]

She spent her whole life to attend that greatness and that man took it away in mere seconds .

[@1983Jacko]

Monika had 8 grand slam titles at age 19! If this attack didn't happen there is high likelihood that we would be looking at the greatest women tennis champion ever. Later she was stabbed in the back by the tennis federation and all the other players which are now claiming to be these huge phony feminists. Disgusting world

[@sebastien4346]

They need to make a movie on her ASAP so she can be remembered what a story of a warrior

[@markuse3472]

It's called "Wimbledon." That's the closest will get.

[@ISN-ir5gw]

They won't make it because she comes from Eastern Europe. Had it been an American, there would have been numerous movies by now.

[@yuja88]

Monica is a warrior. I hate how media was so bluntly cruel to her, especially when she was just coming back on the tour after the attack. But, as always, she astounded everybody. Such a strong beautiful woman. I wish people would give her more credit for her performance after the incident rather than bringing each and every time these "if"s.

[@areez22]

Indeed. But how was the media cruel to her? Tell me about it

[@etzarah8310]

How were they cruel to her? Not trying to refute your point, I’m genuinely curious.

[@lia.mira88]

@@areez22 I have watched several interviews with Monica herself and other documentary-type videos about this case. There were some articles mentioned which contained a lot of unnecessary comments about her physical appearance after her comeback. It felt like some journalists were mocking her, even though I am sure that anybody could guess that her weight gain had to be related to her PTSD, but a lot of people just failed to show any empathy. I am not saying, of course, that all journalists were evil to her, but it is still horrible that some people thought it would be an okay thing to leave nasty comments about a person who struggled so much with her mental health at the time. Idk, this still angers me.

[@areez22]

@@lia.mira88 Thanks for sharing

[@etzarah8310]

@@lia.mira88 That's incredibly rude. That and the fact that the WTA unanimously voted not to freeze her ranking for a little while seems like such cold treatment to me. Compounded with the fact that the attacker got off with a slap on the wrist, it's a real shame how poorly she was treated by everyone after the incident.

[@SilencedButNotForgotten]

Wow, heartbreaking... A whole career destroyed... A man attacking a teenager...

[@Internet_surfer.]

"Monica Seles", now I will remember this name forever

[@shonebx]

She was 19 and had 8 GS in the era of S.Graff! Can just imagine how many more she could have won. Her tenacity, will and the power was something else. And she was such a star in her former country, not even remotely she had a status and the following in the US when she became american citizen

[@rnsw4572]

I totally agree- Graf would have way less slams and Seles would be the one with 22 or more- for me the women’s goat is definitely between Serena and Seles, which is only fitting since Seles was Serena’s idol..

[@zackfair8407]

Actually , she turned 19 literally a month before her 9th slam ; by age 20 , she would have without a doubt at least 10/11 grand slam. Seles was the greatest talent ever existed on tennis ; makes me wonder if we will saw another one like her in the future...

[@markuse3472]

STEFFI GRAF 6-4 PRIOR TO THE PAPER CUT, 4-1 AFTER THE BUFFET. Steffi was dominating Seles, Seles simply had the easier draws in that time hence made it to the finals more. What stupid people fail to mention are a few things. 1, most players figured Seles out, her unbending two-handing everything, and they went at her. It's that simple. 2. She won one more slam, proving she was still the same player. However, her huge weakness was figured out. 3. It happens in ALL sports: baseball, basketball, football, boxing, hockey, gymnastics, TENNIS, etc., where someone does great a year, two, a few, then drop. IT. HAPPENS. But stupidity is what most Seles fans educate themselves with so you create your 'stories.' Steffi is The GOAT, no screams and howls needed--as in the Williams, who did it just to annoy and distract their competition. 4. They did the correct, right and professional thing. You don't play, you can't keep your spot. You expect the traffic to be stuck all day because the lead car needs to change all it's tires, all it's lights, the starter, etc? Get a brain, people. Lastly, Steffi also had to deal with a few physical/medical problems and mental issues (her dad's legal problems). What if she hadn't, what if...what if...

[@novakgoat5335]

@@markuse3472 Graf is a hack.

[@markuse3472]

@@novakgoat5335 1-4 or so slams, yes, she may be, but Twenty Two (22) and the only Golden Slam year ever speaks volumes, something stupid people wont comprehend.

[@TheWinezen]

German court was biased in favour of their home champion. How could anyone not be jailed for assault and nearly maiming their victims?

[@hicktown1969]

Big power behind the scene

[@pigstrotters4198]

They general German public "disliked" hated Seles because she was taking over their darling Graff. They tend to be like this. It was the same with Schumacher. I know, I lived in Germany then.

[@joeschmoe7866]

@@pigstrotters4198 not cool

[@jon.schnee]

@lol shit some do. Some don’t. I for myself hate hamilton. But this is only my opinion.

[@GatsuKS]

Because the stabber was not some random lunatic, he was sent there to do a job.

[@Vedrajrm]

So she basically got stabbed in the back by everyone. Both literally and figuratively

[@jazmin3496]

I was 10 when this happened and Seles was synonymous with tennis for me. My father did believe that it was only Graf who benefited from this entire thing, fan or not; and her silence on the court's ruling and the way the rest of the players disgraced themselves with their pettiness sometimes did make me wonder. But I'm glad she fought her way and I'll always admire her for that. I've never been able to view Graf separate from this incident though.

[@markuse3472]

STEFFI GRAF 6-4 PRIOR TO THE PAPER CUT, 4-1 AFTER THE BUFFET. Steffi was dominating Seles, Seles simply had the easier draws in that time hence made it to the finals more. What stupid people fail to mention are a few things. 1, most players figured Seles out, her unbending two-handing everything, and they went at her. It's that simple. 2. She won one more slam, proving she was still the same player. However, her huge weakness was figured out. 3. It happens in ALL sports: baseball, basketball, football, boxing, hockey, gymnastics, TENNIS, etc., where someone does great a year, two, a few, then drop. IT. HAPPENS. But stupidity is what most Seles fans educate themselves with so you create your 'stories.' Steffi is The GOAT, no screams and howls needed--as in the Williams, who did it just to annoy and distract their competition. 4. They did the correct, right and professional thing. You don't play, you can't keep your spot. You expect the traffic to be stuck all day because the lead car needs to change all it's tires, all it's lights, the starter, etc? Get a brain, people.

[@aleksandarcvetkovic5436]

@@markuse3472 Sure If opposite happened-someone knifed Steffi and Seles benefited from that-I doubt you'd use same arguments. People don't need you to explain them how things work at high stakes in big money sports, it is well known. Rubbishness of your post is in attempt to rationalise and declare those kind of things as usual-happening on regular basis, because they are part of sport. Somebody stabs Schumacher in 2001, FIA says nothing, attacker walks free, Hakkinen wins 8 titles. How do you like it?

[@Boom12]

What a dark day. She could've had more. But it's so admirable. She had everything against her, and yet, was still able to power through for one more Australian Open win. That is true mental strength.

[@nikolak4225]

Like Novak, although Novak didn't get assaulted ofc

[@kymcharles1179]

If you think about it, three years (give her a few months to get going again) is 12 grand slams. You wouldn´t bet against her winning nine of them. That would giver 18. Plus add a few more with continued success, she would have mid 20´s of titles. Such a tragedy for tennis history.

[@valentinodelpiero4861]

Nikola K I agree with you. Even if I am not Novak’s biggest sympathizer, you can’t unsee it. Interesting they come from the same region...

[@MegaTobins696]

Nothing like Novak actually....

[@andrejmitrovic4958]

@@nikolak4225 pray god that he won't be stabbed🙏

[@YeTism]

No way Graf would have won 22 grand slams if this didn’t happen

[@malcolmnorman5694]

Agreed

[@WilliamRobinson-bb6mr]

Equally so, Graf might have not lost her motivation in '94 due to constant thrashings of her rivals.

[@anujbeatles]

You could also say then she wouldn't have retired early and played on until she won enough. If, if, if.. doesn't exist.

[@RickeGnool]

''If if if it doesn't exist'' - Rafael Nadal

[@Dom-yv4nq]

I find it hard to say those things. Suppose she suffered a debilitating injury on or off the court shortly thereafter? Supposed Graf stepped up... hard to say. Either way it was an horrific act and the judge who released the man did the tennis world an injustice.

[@shirin8402]

Thanks to You for making such a informative video... I'm thankful, I stopped by. Much respect for giving unbiased analysis!

[@anyone58]

Subbed, amazing content, for a casual fan, this is massively underrated. Thanks.

[@hobosdominecraft1]

This is downright one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen in sports history. It’s bad enough that she lost her place in tennis but losing your parents and the damn man who stabbed you gets free too??! The world did her wrong when she did nothing.

[@theyeshhh]

I felt so sad after watching this video. I can’t even imagine the pain Monica must’ve gone through.

[@Fraudkovic]

Lol she won a slam agter the stabbing so its not like she becane worse . Just more people figured her out . But i do think she couldblve won 3-4 more slams during the off time she had to take . Unlike the idiots who think she was going to win 30 slams 😂

[@Anon0757]

​@@Fraudkovic🤡🤡

[@AcemanX]

Omg this poor girl, she was stabbed and then lost the trials then had to watch the other one win all the glory, that is nuts

[@mohammadadnan5565]

I was watching the match live. I loved the way she played and then all of a sudden this shocking thing happened. Very deplorable

[@stevend.bennett427]

Graff's subsequent success has to be examined in light of the absence of competition.

[@markuse3472]

STEFFI GRAF 6-4 PRIOR TO THE PAPER CUT, 4-1 AFTER THE BUFFET. Steffi was dominating Seles, Seles simply had the easier draws in that time hence made it to the finals more. What stupid people fail to mention are a few things. 1, most players figured Seles out, her unbending two-handing everything, and they went at her. It's that simple. 2. She won one more slam, proving she was still the same player. However, her huge weakness was figured out. 3. It happens in ALL sports: baseball, basketball, football, boxing, hockey, gymnastics, TENNIS, etc., where someone does great a year, two, a few, then drop. IT. HAPPENS. But stupidity is what most Seles fans educate themselves with so you create your 'stories.' Steffi is The GOAT, no screams and howls needed--as in the Williams, who did it just to annoy and distract their competition. 4. They did the correct, right and professional thing. You don't play, you can't keep your spot. You expect the traffic to be stuck all day because the lead car needs to change all it's tires, all it's lights, the starter, etc? Get a brain, people.

[@MrTopsecretagent]

@@markuse3472 you don't have to be so german...

[@muhammadqureshi932]

it is impossible to describe how good seles actually was before the attack her opponents were scared to be on the same court as her and i think seles would have 22 grand slams had that not happened

[@dneneb1698]

One day, I hope to win a grand slmas.

[@88feji]

Seles was absolutely destroying the field during that time. I remember she frequently gave unending streams of bagels (6-0) and breadsticks (6-1) to not just lower ranked players but also top 10 players from tournaments to tournaments.... The big reason she did not win Wimbledon that year when she participated was because she was shamed into not grunting during play, that immensely affected her usual game as she grew up grunting during points .... years later she did admit that the need to focus on suppressing her grunting affected her concerntration during play ....

[@randomstuff-oe3fo]

Wow, I was so upset after figuring out that guy didnt go to jail. Wow.

[@CC-bu2gv]

after figuring it out.. didn't they just say that?

[@randomstuff-oe3fo]

@@CC-bu2gv yes but this is my reaction to it.

[@mrkilwag]

Germany putting their people to jail? Please...

[@gdhchuno]

You did an awesome job with this video!

[@jamesr2164]

She truly was an absolutely phenomenal tennis player. No one to this day in the open era has won as much and as fast as she did from the moment they turned professional. Within just a few short years on the tour she had already amassed 8 singles grand slams, and by the time of the stabbing in 1993 Graf was sitting at 11 singles grand slams after being on the tour since the early 80's. Seles at that point in 93, after just being on the tour for a few years, had defeated Graf in 3 out of their 4 grand slam finals that they played against one another, and Seles was just three grand slams away from tying Steffi, but then the stabbing happened. Die hard Graf fans hate that statistic, but it is the truth whether they like it or not.

[@JC-li8kk]

“Why did you stab this person?” - To temporarily disable them. “You’ve done this country a great service. You’re free to leave.”

[@stevenz2998]

Classic german government. Real criminals.

[@dosa2990]

Yeah absolutely

[@penusliski]

German court, Graf is German, Monica Serbian. Go figure

[@M.L.official]

imagine this shit lmao i cannot believe this

[@tottance77]

Yes, that’s it. I think Probably he didn’t do it for free, a lot of interests behind

[@trime547]

Gunther not getting a lengthy jail sentence is insane.

[@areez22]

It is blood boiling.

[@joeschmoe7866]

Utterly insane

[@areez22]

@frodo roo Indeed

[@anthyavila9726]

The conspiracy theory makes sense.

[@Altdisneystudio]

It’s disgusting

[@leokim1458]

Amazing channel! Got yourself a new subscriber!

[@borood1188]

She would have been the greatest. She had 8 slams before even turning 20, she was 19 when attacked.

[@yezmirsheppard-halika6892]

WOW

[@JiraiyaSama86]

Security still needs to be better at tournaments. Federer and Rafa were lucky that those 2 guys didn't do any harm, but for them to even get that close- that's worrisome.

[@choide19]

Which two guys? We’re they attacked at some point?

[@loganlazz9335]

@@choide19 not attack, one guy tried to kiss Nadal but still got to him, before security and another guy ran and put a hat on fed carrying a flag with him, they could have done way worse tho. I think there was another where a guy had a flare on him 😂

[@andrewqi6695]

69 I cannot like

[@glasrazuma8132]

Forgot someone? I'll give you a hint - he's also Yugoslavian.

[@oliviaz.3309]

@@glasrazuma8132 Federer and Rafa were mentioned because there have been famous incidents of fans running up to them on court, i don't think the same thing has happened to Nole

[@ditadevon6980]

Talented Monica definitely took the tennis world by storm. Some jealous and wicked people just couldn't handle that. She's an inspiration!

[@M.L.official]

Leave it to the Germans to ruin another thing :)

[@ShreyasBharadwaj]

I remember Monica being in the news regularly when I was growing up, but never knew her story until today. I'm glad that we were able to see a glimpse of her brilliance as a talented teen. The wedgie story is still heartbreaking.

[@pranavhkul]

Seles and Graf were the Fed and Nadal of that era.. one a fiesty warrior, the other a crowd favourite with more style and talent. The main difference was Seles was winning the hard court slams as well whereas Graf was reduced to single slam a year (Wimbledon). I am a big Seles fan but I don't think she would have won much at Wimbledon due to her style of play. At the same time, I don't think Graf would have been able to win anything much apart from Wimbledon. She might have changed her tactics but that doesn't guarantee you success. Ask Fed on clay against Nadal! Who would have won most is up for debate. But generally in WTA, two athletes dominating at the same time is a rarity. So mostly Seles would have ended up with few more than Graf.

[@Sealdrop]

this channel is a gem and will get a million subs

[@CULTTENNIS]

I can wish!! 😝 Thank you!!!

[@marcelleratafia2360]

why?

[@TheBenedictchan1]

Another example of the phrase "When it rains, it pours." Tragedy seem to hit Seles in her life all at once.

[@savioblanc]

Yeah, her dad being diagnosed with cancer and dying within 2 years would have been absolutely traumatic for her

[@Unknown-eo8yj]

The most win grand slam title by teenager

[@franciscodelossantos9043]

Bruh I was never into tennis till I seen your account great videos there hella entertaining. Keep it up

[@pblinus]

Although it doesn't matter to anyone, Steffi Graf has lost my respect today.

[@koolsmoothfan]

same here

[@DjokovicIsOurLordAndSaviour]

It's not her fault her rival was stabbed.

[@pblinus]

@@DjokovicIsOurLordAndSaviour what about a statement from her?

[@blueshoes5145]

@@DjokovicIsOurLordAndSaviour what about her actions after the event ? Was that not her either ?

[@DjokovicIsOurLordAndSaviour]

@@blueshoes5145 I don't know what she did, or did not say after the event. But, I'd be very surprised if she in any way condoned the attack.

[@federicodamario9162]

After she came back from this, out of the top 25 top players of that moment, Gabriela Sabatini was the only one in favor of keeping Seles' ranking. Sad.

[@mooglare]

she actually abstained from voting, which is just as bad as voting to not keep sele’s ranking

[@Romans8-9]

I feel sorry for Monica but freezing the rankings is pointless. It took her over 2 years to compete again. That is way too long to freeze the rankings.

[@riteshrangari1748]

@@mooglare abstaining from voting isnt bad idea for sabatini because tennis federation might have kicked her out if she said yes. Who knows. So she decides to abstain and not vote. Everyone was against seles and sabatini wanted to support her but abstaining is only best thing she could do

[@M.L.official]

@@mooglare I would agree but who the fuck knows what went on in that voting room. This entire thing is rotten to the core. When a court rules 'oh you only tried to temporarily disable her you didnt actually try to kill her even tho the motion of you plunging the knife into her back is like you are trying to kill her, youre free to go sir' there is definitely something wrong.

[@markuse3472]

STEFFI GRAF 6-4 PRIOR TO THE PAPER CUT, 4-1 AFTER THE BUFFET. Steffi was dominating Seles, Seles simply had the easier draws in that time hence made it to the finals more. What stupid people fail to mention are a few things. 1, most players figured Seles out, her unbending two-handing everything, and they went at her. It's that simple. 2. She won one more slam, proving she was still the same player. However, her huge weakness was figured out. 3. It happens in ALL sports: baseball, basketball, football, boxing, hockey, gymnastics, TENNIS, etc., where someone does great a year, two, a few, then drop. IT. HAPPENS. But stupidity is what most Seles fans educate themselves with so you create your 'stories.' Steffi is The GOAT, no screams and howls needed--as in the Williams, who did it just to annoy and distract their competition. 4. They did the correct, right and professional thing. You don't play, you can't keep your spot. You expect the traffic to be stuck all day because the lead car needs to change all it's tires, all it's lights, the starter, etc? Get a brain, people.

[@sebastianresch5146]

Crazy story. Great video

[@danielgron8954]

Such an insane story that shows a glimpse into the reality of the world that is bustling all around us. Just crazy to remember this and fully understand this in retrospect. I remember this playing in the background amongst the news as a kid. Wow.

[@tkerce21]

Wow... That’s messed up! No jail time, loss of law suit, unanimous decision to not keep her spot. Yet she still arose.

[@Caesarsinclairjr17]

One of the best sports channels on youtube

[@scottphillips7795]

Battle city best tournament arc in anime 👀

[@fritzhollmann5332]

The best!

[@superbitesizedbuckets2451]

No

[@andrejmitrovic4958]

@@scottphillips7795 best arc in yugioh lowkey

[@rebootcomputa]

My god the way she was treated was horrendous

[@bordercollie1140]

I was a steffi fan back in the day, so obviously I wasn't overly fond of Monica. But hand on heart she was the best female tennis player of all time, if that awful incident didn't happen I think she would have had the ability to win 50 grand slams, that's how good she was.

[@sunshinef263y]

50? You are not credible. Hyperbolic much?

[@lillianzhan9]

This day was terrible. Thanks for the video Cult Tennis.

[@kcwidman]

This channel is not about tennis, it’s about great stories that happen to be about tennis. I’ve never found myself interested in tennis, but you’ve got me hooked. Well done!

[@krahvata]

I am disgusted by everyone involved in this situation. The greediness of every single player, the tennis world and the justice system in Germany is disgusting. If I was Graf, I wouldn't be jumping for joy just like that.

[@marleneflourentzou680]

Unacceptable that Parche was not imprisoned-also torally unfair that Seles was not allowed to keep her ranking- this is discrimination at the highest level

[@nachoalvarez7171]

Actually she did

[@mchase4]

I’m a tennis fan and in awe of your superb editing and amazing voiceover. What editing software do you use? FCPX???

[@WaqarAhmed-ir4ih]

It's a secret honey ☺️

[@mchase4]

@@WaqarAhmed-ir4ih 😱

[@CULTTENNIS]

Thanks for watching, seriously!! 😇 and yes FCPX!!

[@WaqarAhmed-ir4ih]

@@CULTTENNIS Dude we decided not to tell anyone about it remember? 🥺

[@mchase4]

@@CULTTENNIS So much keyframing. Mad respect.

[@melthoidserendipity1332]

I remember the time well and the public reaction. Steffi was the darling that had stopped Navratilova's career and so was a hero to many. Monica was the first of the women grunters and this alone made her unpopular. It still astounds me how little empathy people had for her for such a traumatic event. Thanks for this doco. It's important to remember how good she was. And important for commentators like McEnroe when spouting comments like Serena is the greatest womens tennis player of all-time.

[@Lola-qy9yt]

serena has more wins than seeles so john wasn't wrong.

[@melthoidserendipity1332]

@@Lola-qy9yt more wins just means playing longer, free from injury and personal issues as well as the quality of players around in your era

[@bijoucelia8638]

@@melthoidserendipity1332 Serena, free from injuries? You get to read her professional and personal life

[@Smudgeroon74]

The fact that Seles was from Serbia, would've lost her a lot of support after the attack she suffered in 1993. The Serbs were public enemy number 1 all over Europe due to the conflict in Bosnia. The media manipulation of public sympathy would also have played a large part in events.

[@thisis008]

Unbelievable talent; she won 8 grandslams as Teenager

[@reactions4u438]

I strongly believe that she would've won at least 20 slams

[@andrews6341]

She would not have . Seles was an amazing player and some of the most amazing timing . Graf however was technically more powerful and had other skills apart from hitting the ball hard. Davenport , Williams came along as well and were much harder hitters than Seles who was never a good mover.

[@michaelwerner7032]

@@andrews6341 Williams came 5 years later. She wouldn't have been able to stop Selles in her prime

[@FikiCar0]

@@andrews6341 lol she was and is the best women tennis player ever

[@deepakpancholi3380]

Dude she won 7 out of 8 grand slams she faced ... And what tells you that she wouldn't have beaten Serena .. if not 20, at least 10 more GS titles were on their way..

[@francisvandermosen302]

This really makes me cry. I love tennis because of her and I started playing tennis because of her. I discovered other tennis players thanks to her. She has inspired so many professional players...

[@benjaminreyes321]

According to Google, when Monica Seles played again 2.5 years after the stabbing incident, she was given co-no.1 ranking for 6 months.

[@shanikaayanna9767]

I was only 3 years old when this happened, but I still can’t see HOW??! No one in the crowd should have been able to get that close to any player, let alone a player of her stature at the time!!

[@valentinodelpiero4861]

Monica is the player I admire the most. Really liking how you told this story and appreciate your effort making this great video. Thank you for all of it. Definetely subscribed!

[@jassingh2360]

We never saw her at her best. She had only just turned 19 when she won her 3rd Australian Open, it was that final, where she had improved her volleys, serve and athletism that marked her cards unfortunately. After that match Steffi said she had to improve her backhand in particular. Monica was still evolving as a player. Her attacker also cited the 93 final as a point where he knew he had to act to take her out of the game. He got what he wanted. We will never know how great she might have been. She was definitely robbed of her best years and returned a shadow of her former self and only showing rare glimpses of her past brilliance and no consistency post her return. Plus the extra 30lbs she was carrying post return certainly didnt help

[@markuse3472]

STEFFI GRAF 6-4 PRIOR TO THE PAPER CUT, 4-1 AFTER THE BUFFET. Steffi was dominating Seles, Seles simply had the easier draws in that time hence made it to the finals more. What stupid people fail to mention are a few things. 1, most players figured Seles out, her unbending two-handing everything, and they went at her. It's that simple. 2. She won one more slam, proving she was still the same player. However, her huge weakness was figured out. 3. It happens in ALL sports: baseball, basketball, football, boxing, hockey, gymnastics, TENNIS, etc., where someone does great a year, two, a few, then drop. IT. HAPPENS. But stupidity is what most Seles fans educate themselves with so you create your 'stories.' Steffi is The GOAT, no screams and howls needed--as in the Williams, who did it just to annoy and distract their competition. 4. They did the correct, right and professional thing. You don't play, you can't keep your spot. You expect the traffic to be stuck all day because the lead car needs to change all it's tires, all it's lights, the starter, etc? Get a brain, people.

[@kazuakigabychan8147]

Monica would have won the 93 US title, should we have had Haweye.

[@100meek7]

That sounds like a heck of a career and boy it must be so influential and multiple exposed realities in front of the tennis world. I think the world should remember this women and her story should be motivation to millions ahead. Great job on the mic👍

[@Bokgat]

Nicely stated without bs sir. Lovely memories. She also peeved me at the time as the first grunter in our great game. Sad that this happened of course. Cheers

[@dks13827]

They didn't do anything to the guy. Shows you Germany.

[@awakeandalive4248]

I used to watch Monica in action and she was way more devastating than Graff and she never truly recovered from this incident, sad, because right now the talk about the greatest female tennis player of all time would be between Monica and Serena Williams.

[@WilliamRobinson-bb6mr]

It is the biggest 'what if' in tennis. Great video as usual.

[@charlie172011]

There is another one: what if Maureen Connolly didn't fell from that horse that ended her career when she was only 19 years old? She played 11 GS and won the last 9. She was literally unstoppable. And there's also the "what if Borg didn't retire at 26?" but that was his choice so nothing to do there.

[@gabrielvasquez4783]

This is so sad, I hope this never happens to anyone (especially sports players) again

[@GurpreetKaur-hj9xg]

I was watching that match when she got stabbed. That incident ended her career. How bad people can be. That guy should have been in jail for atleast half of his age. Crime is a crime- mental health is not an excuse to let criminal walk away easily.

[@Ss-tt9pp]

How the hell did a man who brutally stabbed another person, let alone a rising star and celebrity walk free??!!

[@chrisnoble2084]

Yeh doesn't make any sense at all must be something going on

[@JC-li8kk]

This is why I don’t leave the country.

[@Ss-tt9pp]

@@JC-li8kk Lol

[@147betagamma]

I knew of that instance by stumbling upon Hugh Laurie's (rather questionable) song "I'm in love with Steffi Graf" (that he performed in an episode of "A bit of Fry and Laurie") on yt a couple of years ago, but I had never bothered to look up the backstory. Until today Monica Seles had just been the name of a great former WTA player to me, not of the girl who totally dominated the tour prior to being stabbed. Thank you for the great and, in my case, enlightening video!

[@micham5730]

Thanks for the video. Had never heard that story. Shame on Tennis Association.

[@clos888]

her sport failed and backstabbed her in every sense of the word

[@singingmyblue8000]

This video is very well-edited and wraps up the story perfectly. Keep up the great job!

[@chadvaldesjr1581]

This is the best tennis channel on youtube, the way you explain these stories is so good

[@lamyeasultana1276]

Your voice is really good 🙂 Love from Bangladesh ❤️🥰

[@Mayvrick]

Rightly made video 👍

[@robinred1851]

Monica Seles, I will remember and love you forever. With love from the Čech Republic 🇨🇿.

[@elaineoh3984]

Did they ever ask Steffi Graff why she voted against Monica keeping her ranking?

[@markuse3472]

STEFFI GRAF 6-4 PRIOR TO THE PAPER CUT, 4-1 AFTER THE BUFFET. Steffi was dominating Seles, Seles simply had the easier draws in that time hence made it to the finals more. What stupid people fail to mention are a few things. 1, most players figured Seles out, her unbending two-handing everything, and they went at her. It's that simple. 2. She won one more slam, proving she was still the same player. However, her huge weakness was figured out. 3. It happens in ALL sports: baseball, basketball, football, boxing, hockey, gymnastics, TENNIS, etc., where someone does great a year, two, a few, then drop. IT. HAPPENS. But stupidity is what most Seles fans educate themselves with so you create your 'stories.' Steffi is The GOAT, no screams and howls needed--as in the Williams, who did it just to annoy and distract their competition. 4. They did the correct, right and professional thing. You don't play, you can't keep your spot. You expect the traffic to be stuck all day because the lead car needs to change all it's tires, all it's lights, the starter, etc? Get a brain, people.

[@manoalex6575]

Add to two tennis legends I liked watching... I hate those 2 now after this documentary... Steffi and Agassi... I mean they look so great and polished and run an earthly foundation... But how can they appear to say a word or not have a conscience... About the incident... I'm beginning to doubt if the stabbing was motivated... And if Steffi still stayed on in Germany by now the Press would have hounded her... In which ever angle you try to view or justify.. This incident and it's after effects just are murky and too hard to swallow... It is a shame....

[@kazuakigabychan8147]

Not only Monica fans, tennis fans won't forget this fact. This is a real stigma for this person.

[@nakmuay7705]

I haven't played tennis since high school gym. And I sucked. I'm 35 now. Why do I enjoy these vids so much?

[@Halengar]

Bro I don’t even like tennis that much (no offense) but your videos are awesome!!

[@MassimoMSSR]

The fact that Graf had the audacity to vote no is disgusting.

[@tentringer4065]

According to Wikipedia, Graf was not at the tournament where players voted, so she did not vote.

[@jessg101]

Awesome Video, the most interesting tennis channel. Please keep the videos coming, they are so good and addicting.

[@annettevakay9037]

This whole story needs to be made into a movie or mini series!

[@keve4253]

the fact Steffi Graff voted no shows how evil she is

[@roygaming8929]

The story is clear. bitter rivalry took the star out of Monica...the entire thing sounds like a plan

[@ValensBellator]

Really seems like Germany genuinely breathed a sigh of relief at these developments and did everything to move on and not address it. I have a feeling if it wasn’t a German being supplanted things would have turned out much differently.

[@MuadDib111]

Imagine some German/British/American player get stabbed, on some tournament, in some small random country. Imagine consequences for that man, for that tournament and that country. Sad.

[@tusharsingh4543]

The equivalent of this is a Federer fan stabbing Nadal after he gained the #1 ranking and the courts and tennis federation doing nothing to help Nadal recover and get justice. Pretty disgusting if you ask me!