Seles honored at Tennis International Hall of Fame ceremony

A big congrats to Monica Seles who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Newport, R.I. on Saturday.

The 35-year old captured 53 Tour titles during her career; was the top lady baller for a total of 178 non-consecutive weeks (fifth all-time); won the 1991 and 1992 US Opens, the 1990-92 French Opens, the 1991-93 and 1996 Australian Opens; and earned the big end of the year prize at the Tour Championships from 1990-92.

Her career will not only be remembered for her many championship runs and records but also for the knife attack by a Steffi Graf fan during a tourney in Hamburg back in 1993 that ended her domination of the WTA Tour. She returned after 27 months away but managed to win only one major thereafter - the '96 Aussie Open.

Moni told the crowded gathered on Saturday,

Growing up as a little girl, I could never dream I would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I have a hard time believing it now.

AH, if only the ladies on the WTA today had half the heart, grit, determination and charisma you possessed in your time...

In any case congrats to you Moni! You'll always be my tennis idol.

*clap, clap, clap*

(Photo: Getty Images)

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Rich Rodriguez is a self-described “tennis addict” who not only plays regularly around his home base of Brooklyn, NY but also writes the blog Down the Line!

Unless otherwise stated, no particular sexual orientation of anyone depicted is implied or should be presumed.