Had Monica not been stabbed, do you think she could have amassed more slams than Steffi?

Answer 1

I'm not sure if any of you watched tennis during both of their reign but Graf collected at lot of slams....first because she started sooner than Seles and second, Seles was out of commission after the stabbing.

But when Seles was around....Monica won French, US, and Australian opens...Graf was only winning on Wimbledon which is a comfort surface for her like Federer...the rest of the surfaces...she was actually vulnerable to Seles. Monica was stabbed as she was just starting to kick Steffi's butt....if that didn't happen...she would have surpassed Steffi but I could still see Graf winning a lot of Wimbledon at that time.

Answer 2

No, because Steffi was too good of a player and by looking at her last years on the tour, she confirmed that she was a true champion, not only by titles, but how she was able to defeat and hold off a number of eras and generations in the game. Even when battling injuries. If Monica had not been stabbed in 1993, Steffi would have found ways to play Monica and new girls coming up. Graf always had dimensions in her game and plan a/b/c. But Monica would for sure have won slams numbering in the teen range.

Answer 3

No. Steffi was unstoppable in the early 90s on any surface, achieving the career grand slam (all four majors) four times over. Not to mention 1988 when she one the actual Grand Slam, winning all four majors in the same year, she would have likely done the same in 95 an 96 but she didn't play the Australian in either of those years, going on to win Wimbledon, the US and French Opens in both years. Monica, in my eyes, was shaping up to be the Andre Agassi to Steffi's Pete Sampras. Insofar as the rivalry would have rejuvenated interest in the the women's game, and provided much needed sponsorship and visibility which would, in turn, raise the purses of tournaments as well as the overall level of competition. Monica was a phenomenal player, don't get me wrong, and was one of the greats of the open era (some might say she still was), I personally loved her game more than Graf's. But Monica could never beat Steffi at Wimbledon, which would count doubly against Seles in the Grand Slam category, giving one more to Steffi and one less to monica, a "two shot wing" if you will. Steffi was probably the greatest women's player of all time, she dominated like no one before or since. No one will ever no FOR SURE what could have been...it's all speculation. What happened to Seles was tragic in every sense of the word, not only for her personally but for the great game of tennis, as well. That's just my opinion, good question.

Answer 4

Definitely! There is no doubt in my mind that Ms. Seles would have surpassed what Mrs. Graf-Agassi achieved. With no disrespect to Steffi, Monica owned her. She was more dominate on every surface than Navratilova or Evert. She was practically unbeatable and was not respected by most of her peers for that.

A similar situation occurred when the Williams sisters began to dominate. Suddenly they could do no right by the opinions of everyone in or around the sport.

Once Ms. Seles was stabbed, she lost her mojo, winning only 1 Grand slam after racking up 8 right before. Ms. Graf was good, but Seles was better. What seemed to have aided in the derailing was the fact that the entire tour voted on weather or not to return her #1 Ranking that she lost only by being stabbed and EVERYONE except G. Sabatini voted against her.

Although she played on with the grace & dignity befiting the champion that she was, it seems like her heart just wasn't in it. Then her father, on of the good tennis parents, passed away, and time began to catch up to her... If that stabbing hadn't happend, tennis history would read a lot different.

Answer 5

If she could continue playing that same way, I'd say yes. I'd suggest that that is quite likely. However we know that Steffi is proven to be one of the most successful players ever, whereas Seles was stabbed and thus did not prove herself.

Answer 6

It is impossible to answer , but my gut says no, It is true that Seles was untouchable for a period of time , but then again so was Graf. Seles being stabbed was the most disgraceful thing I have ever seen in professional tennis. That was also a terrible time for Seles if you remember because her gather was diagnosed with cancer around the same time amd besides him being her coach he was her best friend, She took that loss (his death) very hard. She is a terrific person and one of the greatest players in the women's game I have ever seen during her prime.

Answer 7

tough to say man, but seles sure wasn't the same dominant player before when she came back after the stabbing incident...

perhaps it was tough to overcome the physical and psychological barriers of that horrific incident... then other younger and more athletic players also emerged...

we can never tell if seles would have won more... but history will say that tennis were deprived of the potential greatness of an emerging player due to lack of player safety and security...

Answer 8

I do not think more than Steffi, but Steffi might have had quite a few less of them!

Answer 9

Not quite sure but that would be the best moment in womens' tennis.Seles had all the weapons that Graf should worry about.

Answer 10

Don't think so. Maybe a few more but not even close.