Steffi Graf, a tennis legend who conquered nearly every opponent throughout her career, harbored a rare fear when it came to facing one particular player: *Monica Seles*. Despite Graf’s dominance and 22 Grand Slam titles, Seles, with her fierce intensity and intimidating baseline play, posed a unique challenge that even Graf acknowledged.
Their rivalry, though limited in terms of matchups, remains one of the most intriguing in tennis history. Graf and Seles only faced off 15 times, but Seles’s ability to disrupt Graf’s rhythm, particularly on the hard courts and clay, made her the one opponent Graf dreaded meeting on the other side of the net.
“For Steffi, Monica was the ultimate challenge. She was powerful, relentless, and had the rare ability to take control of a match from the baseline,” said former tennis player and coach, David Wheaton. “Graf was known for her grace and versatility, but Seles was an unrelenting force. It was a complete contrast in styles.”
What made Seles such a dangerous rival was her ability to attack relentlessly with both forehand and backhand from the baseline. Graf, who excelled with her fluid, all-around game, often struggled against the sheer power and speed that Seles brought to every match. Their head-to-head record, with Seles leading 10-5, is a testament to the challenge Graf faced.
But it was more than just the playing style that made Seles so formidable. Their rivalry hit a tragic turning point when Seles was attacked by a crazed fan during a match in 1993, sending shockwaves through the tennis world. Graf, who had already won several major titles, was seen as the leading figure of women’s tennis. But Seles was quickly emerging as her toughest challenger, and many believe that had it not been for the attack, Seles could have matched or even surpassed Graf’s Grand Slam record.
“I think Graf knew that if Monica had remained healthy, her career could have been even more decorated,” said tennis historian Ben Rothenberg. “There was an unspoken acknowledgment that Seles could have been a greater threat to Graf’s legacy had she been given the chance.”
After Seles’s recovery, the two met again, but the impact of the stabbing was profound. While Graf maintained her dominance in the sport, Seles’s return was marked by a series of emotional and physical setbacks that prevented her from fully challenging Graf at her peak. Nonetheless, the “what if” of their rivalry has lingered in tennis discussions ever since.
In interviews, Graf has spoken about the respect she had for Seles’s talent, acknowledging her as the one player who could consistently challenge her on the court. Graf’s admission of this fear, rare for an athlete of her stature, only adds depth to their rivalry and highlights the complexity of her career.
Though their direct competition was cut short, the question of what could have been between Graf and Seles is one of tennis’s most enduring “what-ifs.”
