Monica Seles, a Serbian–American former professional tennis player, is the youngest of two children born in an ethnic Hungarian family of Ester and Karolj.
Her father began coaching her in tennis at the age of five and was responsible for developing her two-handed style for both the forehand and backhand.
Highlights
- Karolj was a former Olympic-caliber triple-jumper and cartoonist who used creative methods to train Monica.
- Ester balanced work and family life, helping finance her early training.
- Monica wore his wedding ring during the 1998 French Open, reaching the finals while grieving after Karolj’s death in 1998.
Monica won the Junior Orange Bowl tournament at 11 and enrolled at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy for two years.
In 1988, she played her first professional tournament as an amateur at the age of 14 before turning professional on February 13, 1989.
She won her first career title at Houston in May 1989 and reached the semifinals of her first Grand Slam singles tournament at the French Open.
Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranked her as the world No. 1 in women’s singles for 178 weeks and finished as the year-end No. 1 three times.
Monica was the youngest-ever French Open champion in 1990 at the age of 16 and dominated the women’s circuit in 1991 and 1992.
Unfortunately, Günter Parche, an obsessed fan of Seles’s rival Graf, stabbed her with a boning knife between her shoulder blades on April 30, 1993.
After a two-year absence, she made a comeback and secured her ninth major title at the 1996 Australian Open. However, she struggled to maintain a consistent level of top performance.
On February 14, 2008, she officially announced her retirement and was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in January 2009.
Tennis has been and will always be a huge part of my life. I have for some time considered a return to professional play, but I have now decided not to pursue that. I will continue to play exhibitions, participate in charity events and promote the sport, but will no longer plan my schedule around the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. I look forward to pursuing other opportunities with the same passion and energy that fueled my dedication to tennis and to devoting more time to two of my passions – children and animals.
Monica Seles
Monica Seles’s Father’s Genius And Mother’s Love Shaped A Champion
Monica Seles, the daughter of Ester and Karolj Seles, was born on December 2, 1973, in Novi Sad, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia. Her parents raised her alongside her elder brother, Zoltan.
She was born to an ethnic Hungarian family, and her parents played pivotal roles in shaping her career.
Karolj Seles was far more than just a tennis coach. He was a multifaceted talent with a deep passion for sports and the arts.
In his youth, he was an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper and later studied sports science and biomechanics alongside fine arts at university.
He took pride in his artistic career as a professional cartoonist for Dnevnik and Magyar Szó newspapers.
Moreover, Karolj’s creativity extended to Monica’s early training. He drew Tom & Jerry cartoons on tennis balls and devised playful drills to make tennis fun for her.
He recognized her natural talent and developed her iconic two-handed forehand and backhand, which baffled opponents.
Likewise, he would coach Monica over the phone, offering match-winning advice even when he was bedridden during his battle with cancer.
Karolj applauded his daughter’s opponents as much as he cheered for Monica. Tragically, he passed away from cancer in 1998, just weeks before Monica’s last Grand Slam final at the French Open.
On the other hand, Ester provided constant support, balancing work and family life. She helped finance Monica’s early training alongside Karolj.
She’s always been the backbone of the family. I seem to be a mix — very outgoing at times like my father, also quiet like my mother. In the beginning, mom was the worrier, specifically about the pressure. She’d say, “All this travel, all this competition. You’re just a little girl, what’s this thing going to do to you?”
Monica Seles
Ester and Karolj eventually joined their two children when they moved to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. They uproot their lives to support their children’s careers.
Monica Seles Gets Emotional Remembering Her Father
Monica Seles opened up about the profound impact of her late father, Karolj Seles, on her life and career.
She acknowledged that her success on the court would not have been possible without her father’s unwavering support, guidance, and love.
In addition to being a father, Karolj was her coach, confidant, and best friend. His influence shaped her into the fierce competitor the world admired.
Sadly, their lives took a heartbreaking turn when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
The Seles family endured the pain of his illness for five years, with Monica stepping away from tennis for months at a time to be by his side.
Karolj lost his battle with cancer in 1998, just weeks before the French Open. His passing left an irreplaceable void for Monica, who didn’t have anyone to share her feelings with.
Karolj had been her rock, the man who believed in her dreams and pushed her to greatness.
I know I’m going to get very emotional when I will talk about him in July. But really, without him, I would have never nurtured my tennis. He and my brother were the first to really introduce me to the sport. But without my dad’s love for the game and really just making it fun, he never made it for me like it was something I had to do. It was just something fun.
Monica Seles
Despite her grief, Monica found the strength to compete at the 1998 French Open, wearing her father’s wedding ring on a chain around her neck as a tribute.
Miraculously, she fought her way to the final, playing with a mix of sorrow and determination. Her love for her father remains as strong today as it was then.
Karolj Seles may have left this world, but his spirit lives on in the champion he helped mold.
Rest In Peace, Karolj Seles.
Additional Information
- Monica Seles was the first female tennis player to win her first six Grand Slam singles finals.
- She was listed in 19th position in Tennis Channel’s 2012 list of the 100 greatest tennis players.
- She married businessman Tom Golisano, who is 32 years her senior.
- As of 2025, her net worth is estimated at $50 million.
