News from 2008

Monica Seles on GMA

DWTS eliminates Jillette & Seles

Magician Penn Jillette and his partner Kym Johnson and former professional tennis player Monica Seles and her partner Jonathan Roberts were revealed to be the first two couples eliminated from Dancing with the Stars' sixth season during last night's live results show broadcast on ABC.

Penn and Kym were eliminated because the Penn & Teller: Bullshit! magician had the lowest combined score among the six male celebrity participants based on the judges' scores from last Monday night's performance episode, this Monday night's performance episode and home viewer votes cast following both broadcasts.

"I want to make it very clear -- we are not giving up. We're going to rehearse all week and we're going to be back in the parking lot for those who can't get in," joked Penn after his ouster was revealed. "There's no way my dance career ends now... There's a whole world of dance outside of this."

"I'm going to miss so much about Penn. He's been such a joy to work with," added Kym. "He taught me some magic tricks, which has been great, and he's just been so much fun."

Monica and Jonathan were eliminated because the nine-time Grand Slam winning professional tennis player had the lowest combined score among the six female celebrity participants based on the judges' scores from last Tuesday night's performance episode, this Monday night's performance episode and home viewer votes cast following both broadcasts.

"I've never danced before and I'm a huge fan of dance now," said Monica after her elimination was revealed. "I look forward to continuing, and I want to thank Jonathan because he's made every single day for the past five weeks a lot of fun."

Penn and Kym performed a cha-cha-cha routine during Dancing with the Stars' premiere broadcast last Monday night and the judges scored it a 16 out of a possible 30 points -- placing them only one point ahead of radio personality Adam Carolla and his partner Julianne Hough, who had the lowest score of any of the six male couples who performed.

"I've got to say Penn, I thought you captured the flavor of the cha-cha-cha," commented judge Len Goodman. "It was fun. It was entertaining... Your problem is your feet -- that is a real big problem in a dance competition. You've got to try to work on the technique of your footwork."

Fellow judge Bruno Tonioli compared the routine to a trailer for the movie, Shrek Goes Cha-cha-cha.

"Unfortunately the footwork was very, very heavy and the hip action was more like replacement hip action," he added. "You've got to refine it. You've got to try to be lighter on your feet."

Dancing with the Stars third judge Carrie Ann Inaba agreed with Len and Bruno that Penn has a lot of energy and a great attitude, but also thought his footwork was lacking.

"The truth is you've got to work a little but on you footwork -- we do see your feet -- and you've got monstrous feet there," she said.

Penn and Kym then performed a quickstep routine during this Monday night's performance episode broadcast, and the Dancing with the Stars judges scored it a 17 out of 30 possible points, which was the lowest score of any of the six male couples.

"When you're doing illusions, you have to convince the public that what you're doing is the real thing," said Len. "By in large, I thought you convinced me that you were having a go at a proper quickstep... But Penn, you're feet are terrible."

Bruno commented Penn's tricks during the routine -- a tie that moved on its own -- wasn't enough to get him "out of this mess."

"The footwork was really, really, really bad," said Bruno.

"Three realies!" answered Penn. "You modified it three times!"

"Atrocious..." answered Bruno.

Carrie Ann once again agreed the footwork was "not so good," but said she enjoyed Penn as a performer.

"You are so entertaining!" she said. "I enjoy watching you."

Monica and Jonathan performed a foxtrot routine during last Tuesday night's performance episode broadcast, and the Dancing with the Stars judges scored it a 15 out of 30 possible points -- the lowest score of any of the six female couples who performed and tied with Adam and Julianne for lowest overall.

"Monica, I love the fact that you set off a beautiful, romantic tone for the dance -- which is absolutely right -- a Grace Kelly-like feel," said Bruno. "Unfortunately, as the dance progresses, it turned a little bit into Grace Adler."

Bruno suggested Monica "engage her core," which would help her technique. Len agreed with Bruno on both points -- he liked the romantic aspect of the routine but also noticed her core was lacking.

"I'm surprised, because as a tennis player I thought you'd have a really strong core," he said.

"I think it takes a lot of confidence for someone like you because this obviously doesn't come very easy for you," added Carrie Ann. "But you've gone out there and you went for it. There's a beautiful delicateness that I'd like to see develop with you."

Monica and Jonathan then performed a mambo routine during this Monday night's performance episode broadcast, and the Dancing with the Stars judges once again scored it a 15 out of 30 possible points -- the lowest score of any of the six female couples and lowest overall.

"Monica, you know I love you, but I have to tell the truth," said Bruno. "It seems to me sometimes you're running on alternating currents. Either you're on, or you're off, or you're on, of you're off. You have to connect to the music. You have to manage to feel it and be on it."

Carrie Ann said it's evident Monica was "struggling" with the routine but liked her attitude.

"You came out and you attacked it. You were really going for it," said Carrie Ann. "This is a huge step for you."

"I can see that you're really out of your comfort zone," said Len. "It is a real pressure for you... It was a good job, you tried your hardest, but there's just so many technical problems at the moment."

Penn and Kym and Monica and Jonathan were then revealed to be eliminated during last night's live results show broadcast -- Dancing with the Stars first ever double elimination.

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Monica Seles on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Monica Off Dancing with the Stars

Monica & Jonathan have been voted off of Dancing with the Stars.

Monica & Jonathan's Second Performance

Seles Interview on Access Hollywood

Monica's SELF Magazine Blog

I've been thinking a lot about my core. At the last judging panel, I was told to work on it. Over the past week, in between mambo sessions with Jonathan, I've been trying to figure out how to present my core in the best possible light on the dance floor. Is there enough time to noticeably strengthen it? Should I do extra sit-ups? Dozens of daily plank poses? Walk around my house with a book balanced on my head? What dramatic measures can I take in less than a week to show off my core? And just what, exactly, is my core in the first place?

I've noticed that "core" has become a buzzword in fitness. Whether you're into pilates, yoga or weight training, everything seems focused on working, building and strengthening your core. Covering your abs, hips and lower back, it's your base for executing powerful moves and achieving balance and stability. No wonder it's become the fitness word du jour. But I've always thought of my core in a different way. For me, it is an unshakable sense of who I am. It's that inner voice that tells me I am doing OK. I am making the right choices. I am taking care of myself. I am being the best version of me.

Some days my core is as strong as a bull and I feel like I can't be stopped. On other days, it is like a whispering mouse and I have to work a little harder to get in touch with it. But no matter what is going on in my life, that core is always there. I look at this inner core as an emotional version of the fitness core. It provides me with a strong base to make powerful decisions in life, and without it I certainly wouldn't feel grounded or balanced enough to live my life to its fullest potential. A strong inner core gives you the courage to take risks (like dancing in front of millions of people) and propels you to greater heights (like executing a killer mambo in a short dress and heels). For this competition, these two cores are inextricably linked. I have to be in top physical condition to withstand six hours of practice a day (the three hours of preshow hair and makeup are far more painful!) and a strong body core is an integral part of the twists, turns, flips and shakes that professional dancers make look so easy (they aren't). But more importantly, a rock-solid inner core is absolutely essential when you are taking yourself out of your comfort zone and subjecting yourself to the scrutiny of strangers. The stronger I make my inner core, the more confidence I will exude on the dance floor. I've been working on it all week, and right now my core is feeling more like a bull than a mouse. Tonight will be fun.

- Monica Seles

Source (Click the Source link for a few photos!)

Two Interviews from Good Day LA

After conquering the tennis world, grand slam tennis champ and former number one player in the world, Monica Seles, has now taken up dancing on "Dancing With The Stars". She chats with Good Day LA about the show and the grueling rehearsals. Click here to view the video.

After her appearance on Good Day LA, the former tennis champ sat down to dish the dirt on "Dancing with the Star" just for MyFOXLA.com. Check out what she had to say about her chances. Click here to view the video.

Monica & Jonathan Rehearsing for Monday

Here's a short video of Monica & Jonathan rehearsing for Monday's Dancing with the Stars show.

Pro Players Wish Monica Good Luck

Here's a short video of current WTA & ATP players wishing Monica good luck on Dancing with the Stars.

Monica & Jonathan After the Show

Here's a short video of Monica & Jonathan after dancing last Tuesday on Dancing with the Stars.

Monica Moves On To Mambo

Monica Seles may have caught some criticism for her performance on the first round of Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday night, but she isn't letting that dampen her enthusiasm.

"The less than perfect scores from the judges couldn't dampen my mood," Seles said. "I'd done something I never thought I could do. Tennis and ballroom dancing may not be crossover sports but if there's one thing I've learned over the years it's how to stage a fierce comeback."

Seles said she's eager to get back to work with partner Jonathan Roberts.

"Thankfully I have the best mixed doubles partner a girl could get," Seles said. "Jonathan gives new meaning to the word patient and he doesn't let me stop until I get it right."

After her nerve-wracking debut she says: "The first thing I thought was, I can't wait to do this again. I practically skipped on my way backstage. I'm off to rehearsal now —there's a Mambo waiting to be nailed on Monday."

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Monica Seles working on memoir

NEW YORK (AP) - Former tennis great Monica Seles is working on a memoir.

She said in a statement Wednesday that she hopes 'to share how I found balance, strength and happiness in my life after a rollercoaster ride of exhilarating accomplishment and sometimes overwhelming tragedy'.

The book, currently untitled, will be published in 2009 by Avery, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA).

Seles, 34, won nine Grand Slam tournaments and as a teenager was the top-ranked women's player for three years, in the early 1990s. But she is also known for one of the sport's most bizarre and terrifying incidents: In April 1993, at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany, she was stabbed in the back by a man who climbed out of the stands.

Seles returned to the game 27 months later and immediately reached the 1995 U.S. Open final. Her final Grand Slam title then came at the 1996 Australian Open. She did reach two more major finals but was hampered by a left foot injury. Her last match was a first-round loss at the 2003 French Open. She officially retired last month.

Seles, who has struggled with weight problems, is currently a contestant on the hit ABC series 'Dancing With the Stars.'

'After years of having every aspect of her training, diet and life dictated and scrutinized by others, Monica took control, deciding what she wanted from life and set out to obtain it,' her publisher, Avery, said in a statement.

'Cutting through the fog of sadness, fear and frustration that made Seles overweight and unhappy, today she looks and feels better than ever and has created a life in balance.'

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Monica & Jonathan After Dancing

Here's a short "behind the scenes" video of Monica Seles & Jonathan Roberts after dancing Tuesday night on Dancing with the Stars.

Cojo Scores 'Dancing' Stars

Cojo, from The Insider, was backstage with the 'Dancing' stars and gave out his own scores! He gave Monica the "sexiest dancer" award!

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Monica's 'Dancing with the Stars' Blog

By Monica Seles
Special to MSN TV

Hi everyone!

After four long grueling weeks of rehearsals, tonight I will make my "Dancing with the Stars" debut! My partner is the wonderful Jonathan Roberts who is such a gentleman and remarkable dancer. We are dancing the foxtrot and after rehearsing for 6 hours a day, every day, it's all I've been sleeping and dreaming.

The dance floor is completely foreign to me. I have no musical background and no dance experience, so learning the choreography has been a challenge. I'm using a whole new set of muscles and techniques. In tennis you wear a stoic face and don't let your opponent see any emotions, while dancing is opposite. It's all emotions and Jonathan's been trying to get that out of me.

There is so much for me to remember - the footwork, the posture, and smile. At first I didn't know my right foot from my left. But now I am ready to rise to the occasion.

Tonight is my night to be a girlie girl - I'll put on my heels, the fancy dress, the hair, the makeup and of course I will spray tan for the first time in my life! I am ready to be twirled around and shake body parts I never had to shake before.

I am having a great time and enjoying the process. As you can see from watching the men last night, everyone is really tough competition this season. But it would be really wonderful to see a female win. So be sure to watch tonight and VOTE! I know I'm going to have a blast!

-Monica

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Ladies Take the 'Dancing' Stage

The women of "Dancing with the Stars" are stepping up the game! A graceful Priscilla Presley, leggy Shannon Elizabeth and perky Marissa Jaret Winkokur set the pace for the competition and totally rocked the stage. Then there's the natural; Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi -- whose cool style was a perfect 10 -- making Kristi the clear frontrunner! "One of the best performances I've ever seen," judge Bruno Tonioli gushed.

Priscilla proved she's still got moves at age 62, and judge Carrie Ann Inaba told her, "You just proved to so many people that age is just a number."

Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin's passionate Cha Cha inspired the judges, who gave her 22 out of 30 points. Marlee's performance garnered the season's first standing ovation, with Bruno telling her, "You may not hear but the music is running through your blood." And it turns out all that dancing is doing her body good! "I've lost fifteen pounds," she told "Extra."

Tennis ace Monica Seles may be a pro on the court, but judges made it clear she needs to punch up her game on the dance floor. "This obviously does not come easy for you," Carrie Ann told her. Then Monica broke down in tears with "Extra" backstage and admitted, "It's just so harsh. I'm not used to it." Carrie Ann revealed exclusively to "Extra" that Monica may be the first to go, explaining she's in the bottom among the women - though she hopes she won't be. "She is what the show represents. It's people who don't dance at all coming out and trying something new."

As for the men, "Adam Carolla is in the bottom," Carrie Ann said. "Dancing" fans will know if she's right - on next week's double elimination night.

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Monica Pretty In Pink

Seles Interview on Access Hollywood

DWTS Monica Seles Montage

We are so excited about Monica being on Dancing with the Stars! Here is a video montage of Monica's appearances on the first episode. There are a few cute clips of Monica in the opening of the show. Monica will be performing with her partner Jonathan Roberts tomorrow night. Good luck Monica & Jonathan!

Please excuse the audio/video being out of snyc.

Monica Seles Makes a Match on DWTS

MONICA SELES and JONATHAN ROBERTS are all geared up for their "Dancing with the Stars" foxtrot when the competition returns to the airwaves on Monday, March 17 on ABC.

"I need all the help I can get," Monica told "The Insider." "In three weeks, [it is hard] to learn something and go in front of America on national television."

The tennis champ says that when the show called and asked her to be a part of it, it only took her a few seconds to say yes.

"I haven't regretted it since then, except for the first two weeks -- every single day," she jokes.

This is the first time that Jonathan, who was partnered with MARIE OSMOND last season, has danced with an athlete -- and he says there is quite a difference.

"Where often the celebrities run out of energy and are too tired, Monica has no problem with stamina, but actually flexible moving and rhythm is a different challenge," he explains.

A self-professed tomboy, Monica acknowledges that Jonathan is accurate in his comments on her skills, but, even so, she is looking forward to her debut.

"For me as a tennis player, I never got to go to my prom, so this is my way to be girlie girlie, wear all the beautiful dresses and the makeup, and learn something so different from tennis that without the show I never would have learned," she says.

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Guttenberg & Seles Get Ready to Dance

STEVE GUTTENBERG and MONICA SELES were in a great mood on Friday as they chatted up their upcoming debuts on "Dancing with the Stars."

"I never set a foot in a dance studio," Monica admits to ET. "The first two weeks were really rough. I was trying to come up with ways to get out of it -- fake an injury -- but the last few days, I am enjoying it and having a lot of fun."

When the competition begins on Monday night, Steve will be partnered with ANNA TREBUNSKAYA, and Monica will be taking to the floor with JONATHAN ROBERTS. Both couples will be doing the foxtrot for their first dance -- and they are looking forward to all the glamour and glitter that comes with a performance.

"As a tennis player, you are a tomboy," Monica points out. "I never got to go to my prom because I was playing in the French Open. This is my chance to dress up and be really girlie, girlie."

And Steve jokes, "I wear sequins and spandex in my normal life, so I have no problem with sequins and spandex. It is a little itchy on the underwear. You have to wear them on the outside."

"Dancing with the Stars" premieres on Monday, March 17 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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Tennis Channel With Seles 'Stars' Turn

She had punishing two-handed forehand and backhands. Now, we'll get to find out if Monica Seles can do the two-step.

Jonathan Roberts and Monica Seles on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. The nine-time Grand Slam tennis champion is a contestant on the sixth season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars and fans will be able to keep up with her experiences via weekly interviews and question-and-answer videos on Tennis Channel and its Web site, www.tennischannel.com.

The youngest French Open winner in history (16 years, six months in 1990) begins her quest to wear the Dancing with the Star crown on Tuesday March 18 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Seles will perform a second routine on March 24 at 8 p.m., before the first two couples are eliminated from the competition the following night at the same time.

Following each episode, Seles will recount her week in a News & Notes short-form segment that will air repeatedly on Tennis Channel, which March 10 simulcast the NetsJets Showdown between Roger Federer and Pete Sampras from New York's Madison Square Garden, and its Web site until the next edition of Dancing with the Stars.

The network will solicit online questions from fans as well, which the tennis star will answer in a Web video each week. Additionally, Tennis Channel will post video well wishes from fans on www.tennischannel.com.

Tennischannel.com fan blogger James La Rosa also will be on the Dancing with the Stars scene, serving his offbeat observations of Seles and the series. Tennis Channel will give one fan two tickets into the show's Los Angeles studio audience, through a sweepstakes at the Web site.

"I'm excited to have this opportunity with Tennis Channel to tell fans about my experiences on Dancing With The Stars each week," said Seles. "It's great to have an outlet to stay in touch with the tennis community while I'm on the show, and I'm thankful for the network's support during the competition."

On Dancing with the Stars, Seles, partnered with instructor Jonathan Roberts, will compete against Priscilla Presley, Marlee Matlin, Jason Taylor, Kristi Yamaguchi, Adam Carolla (Comedy Central's The Man Show) Cristian de la Fuente, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenberg, Mario, Penn Jillette and Marissa Jaret Winokur.

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Mauresmo & Davenport on Seles 'Dancing'

Here are two excerpts from recent articles asking Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport about Monica Seles' upcomming appearance on Dancing with the Stars. Click on the source links for the full articles.

Amelie Mauresmo:

Q. You know, there's a show here called Dancing With the Stars, and Monica Seles is going to compete as a ballroom dancer. Do you know anything about that?
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: A what?

Q. A ballroom dancer.
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: What is that?

Q. It's a classical dance with a partner. (Speaking French.)
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Okay.

Q. It's a reality dance show. She has to perform every week as a dancer.
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Like, is she learning to do that?

Q. She's learning with a partner, spending six to seven hours a day.
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Oh, shit. Oh, yeah. She -- yeah.

Q. I was just kind of wondering what your thoughts are about it. I don't know if you can comment on it, but your thoughts about Monica competing as a dancer against other celebrities.
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I don't really have a thought about that. I guess she probably wants to have fun and learn to dance, which is convenient, sometimes, but... Yeah. What can I tell you?

Q. Does that interest you?
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: We don't have this show in France. Not yet, anyway.

Q. Would it interest you to watch her, see how she does?
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, why not?

Q. Monday night.
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: When?

Q. Monday night.
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Okay. I'll try to think about it. What time? 8:00?

Q. 7:00.
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Okay. Good. Early night. Good.

Lindsay Davenport:

If Davenport has her way, she won't be playing Monday night at the Pacific Life Open. That's because Davenport wants to be home watching her friend and tennis star Monica Seles in her debut on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

"I heard she's just doing so well, so I wish her all the luck," Davenport said. Davenport said she believes Seles can stay on the show for a few weeks.

"When people see her I think they'll be reminded of why they love her so much," Davenport said. "We'll be voting for her."

Source & Source

Dancing With The Stars Promo Photos

We received these promo photos in several emails from fellow Monica fans so we decided to post them for everyone to enjoy. Click here to view more photos.

Remember Dancing With The Stars premieres on Monday, March 17, 2008 on ABC. Check your local listings for air times.

Short WTA Tribute Video

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Dancing With The Stars Cast on Oprah

Monica Seles and the cast of Dancing with the Stars were on the Oprah show today. However, Monica didn't get to say a single word. We can't believe Oprah didn't even attempt to speak to her on air. Monica does look great though! Enjoy the video.

Dancing With The Stars Cast on Oprah

Monica Seles and the cast of Dancing with the Stars will be on the Oprah show airing Thursday, February 21, 2008. Check your local listings for show times.

We will try to post a video clip from this show sometime after it airs tomorrow. Thanks Cristina for sharing this photo!

Monica Seles on Dancing With The Stars!

Los Angeles, California - The new line-up of celebrity dancers for season six of Dancing with the Stars has been announced.

This year's dancers include an Oscar winner, Olympic Gold and Bronze medalist, and an NFL star.

The first episode airs Monday, March 17th.

Good Morning America will talk with cast member Priscilla Presley Tuesday morning, when the dance partners will be announced as well.

Season Six Celebrity Dancers:

MONICA SELES - Tennis champ, Monica Seles, is the holder of nine grand slam singles titles and was the top-ranked player in the world. She turned pro in 1989 at the age of fifteen and won her first grand slam championship, the French Open, just one year later. After a two-year absence from the tour in 1993 and 1994, Seles rose above adversity and returned to capture her final grand slam crown in 1996 winning the Australian Open. She holds an outstanding career win loss singles record of 595-122 and was ranked the13th greatest player of all time by Tennis Magazine. Her accomplishments also extend beyond the tennis court as Goodwill Ambassador for the Laures Sports Foundation and the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Microalgae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM).

The other celebrities to appear on Season Six will include Adam Carolla, Cristian De La Fuente, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenburg, Mario, Marlee Matlin, Penn Jillette, Priscilla Presley, Jason Taylor, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Kristi Yamaguchi. Click on the source link to read the full article and bio on each celebrity.

Update: Monica Seles will be partnered with Jonathan Roberts.

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Monica Seles Farewell Tribute

Seles Announces Retirement

She was so good at such a young age, taking the power game to a whole new level and displaying nerves of steel on the biggest stages. And when she returned to the game, she inspired a generation of players and fans all over again. Be it through her style, her resilience or her smile, she has been one of the most popular players in tennis history. And on February 14, 2008, Monica Seles announced her retirement from the sport.

Seles' rise to fame is well-documented - born in the former Yugoslavia, she relocated to America with her family in 1986 to train at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where she practiced for two years before starting to play the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Her style of play - powerful two-handed groundstrokes on both sides, acute angles and returning serve from inside the baseline - was a novelty at the time and took her to the very top of the game very quickly, as she became the youngest Roland Garros champion in history in 1990 (at 16 years, 6 months) and, at the time, the youngest No.1 in history on March 11, 1991 (at 17 years, 3 months, since passed by Martina Hingis). She dominated the Tour for the next two years, winning seven more majors and finishing at No.1 in 1991 and 1992.

Seles made an inspirational and successful comeback to tennis in the summer of 1995, winning her 33rd career title in Toronto and making it all the way to the final of the US Open before falling in three exciting sets to one of her greatest rivals, then-No.1 Steffi Graf. Although she won only one major after her return - the Australian Open in 1996, her ninth - Seles was still one of the very best throughout those comeback years, ranking in the Top 10 for all but four weeks between August 14, 1995 and March 17, 2003, building her career title haul up to 53 and notching wins over the players that were winning all of those majors at the time, including Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, both Williams sisters and Jennifer Capriati. Her last major final came at Roland Garros in 1998, just three weeks after the death of her father, Karolj, who had been her coach since the beginning.

Seles' last season on the Tour came in 2003, her best finishes being finals at Tokyo [Pan Pacific] and Dubai, losing competitive three set matches both times to Davenport and Henin, respectively. She withdrew from all tournaments after Roland Garros due to a left foot injury and over the next few years would keep to exhibition play, not ruling out a comeback to the Tour - until now.

"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," Seles said. "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. I especially want to thank all my wonderful, loyal fans for all of their support for me over the years. They have inspired me throughout my career in the good times and comforted me in the bad times. I have always been so proud to have such a special group of precious fans to call my very own and felt they were the best an athlete could ever hope to have. I will miss them all as much as I will miss competing in the game of tennis."

"Monica Seles is one of the great champions in the history of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, and an inspiration and role model for millions of fans throughout the world," said Larry Scott, Chairman & CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. "No one will ever forget the fierce determination and will to win that Monica brought to the court, nor the caring and warm person that she has always been off the court. Fans of women's tennis have no shortage of fond Monica memories and of amazing matches and rivalries that Monica was a part of. No doubt, Monica will soon find her rightful place at the International Tennis Hall of Fame for her many accomplishments on the tennis court."

Also among Seles' career accomplishments are:

- Holding nine Grand Slam singles titles (four at Australian Open, three at Roland Garros, two at US Open); last one was 1996 Australian Open; last time reaching final was 1998 Roland Garros (just three weeks after father's death - finished runner-up to Sánchez-Vicario); last one played was 2003 Roland Garros (lost first round to Nadia Petrova - was last match played).

- Youngest-ever winner of Roland Garros (16 years, 6 months).

- Youngest-ever winner of Tour Championships (16 years, 11 months).

- Holding 53 career Tour singles titles (ninth-most all-time).

- Holding No.1 for 178 non-consecutive weeks (fifth-most all-time); rose to No.1 for first time on March 11, 1991, becoming youngest-ever at the time (now second-youngest, passed by Hingis); year-end No.1 twice (1991, 1992).

- Earning $14,891,762 in career prize money (ninth all-time).

- Member of winning American Fed Cup Teams in 1996, 1999 and 2000.

- Winning seven of eight Grand Slams contested prior to 1993 stabbing; only Graf bettered that with eight of nine between 1988-1990.

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Monica Seles Announces Official Retirement From Professional Tennis

MIAMI, FL -- Monica Seles today announced her official retirement from professional tennis, ending one of the most storied careers in sports.

Seles issued the following statement through Tony Godsick, her longtime manager at IMG.

"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," Seles said today from Miami, Florida. "I will continue to play exhibitions, participate in charity events, promote the sport, but will no longer plan my schedule around the tour. I look forward to pursuing other opportunities with the same passion and energy that fueled my dedication to tennis and to devote more time to two of my passions -- children and animals. I especially want to thank all my wonderful, loyal fans for all of their support for me over the years. They have inspired me throughout my career in the good times and comforted me in the bad times. I have always been so proud to have such a special group of precious fans to call my very own and felt they were the best an athlete could ever hope to have. I will miss them all as much as I will miss competing in the game of tennis."

Seles, 34, earned nine Grand Slam titles, and won 53 singles and six doubles tournaments. She first became No. 1 in the world in March 1991. She was No. 1 for 178 weeks during the next two years -- the youngest No. 1 ever at the time -- until tragedy struck in April 1993, when she was stabbed in the back during a match in Hamburg, Germany. She was not able to play again for more than two years. When she did return, she won even more hearts with her comeback win at the Canadian Open, then reached the U.S. Open final the following month. Remarkably, she then won her ninth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January 1996.

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Monica Seles: Take Charge Of Your Life

Monica Seles dominated women's tennis for two-and-a-half years before she was stabbed in the back by a deranged spectator during a 1993 match in Hamburg, Germany.

It shocked the sports world.

Though she returned to the tour two years later, she never regained her top form.

During that time, her father -- her coach -- to whom she was very close, died.

The emotional scars Seles was dealing with led to a significant weight gain.

"I had a lot of inside emotional traumas going on," she told co-anchor Harry Smith Wednesday. "You could see that reflected in the body that I had."

Now, though, Seles has shed those excess pounds.

And The Early Show's newest contributor is back in championship form off the court, spending much of her time in a mode she says is very important to her -- being a role model -- trying to empower young women to be all they can be -- and offering advice on getting and staying slim.

She wants girls to know her life wasn't always easy.

Several years ago, Seles decided to do a major life-check and deal with a lot of the issues that had, she says, been making her an emotional eater.

Her tips to get over tough times:

FIGURE OUT WHAT IS EATING YOU INSIDE: You need to figure out the problem that is causing you to eat.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN LIFE: Make your own decisions. There was a time in my life where everyone is making the decisions for me. I had to take charge.

BUILD EMOTIONAL STRENGTH: Believe in yourself and know you can do it. Be strong.

WORK OUT WITH A BUDDY: Seles doesn't like to work out and doesn't like trainers. She works out with a buddy.

DON'T OVERDUE EXERCISE: Three times a week -- cardio and strength -- is enough.

Her main advice?

"It's pretty much just to play any sport for young kids, especially girls," Seles told Smith. "I mean, in my case it was tennis, but if it's soccer or basketball -- just go out there and get fresh air in your lungs, because kids are really sedentary right now, and if you start like that at age 6 or 10, what's gonna happen as you get older? ... I had my periods where I was overweight, and I can really relate to both ends of it."

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Monica to be on Dancing with the Stars?

While we have less than a month to wait for the new Dancing with the Stars lineup, we have nothing better to do with our time than to speculate who will be part of that big announcement. At one point, Tori Spelling's name was being thrown around but her pregnancy will keep her sidelined this season. Too bad for Dancing with the Stars, which apparently was looking to have a Beverly Hills 90210 cast member every season. There's always Luke Perry! This month, TV Guide and In Touch Weekly reported possible season 6 contestants. Here are the rumored cast members from several different sources.

TV Guide reported in their most recent issue that Cheryl Ladd and Monica Seles are possible celebrities to compete on Dancing with the Stars. Ladd is most famous for being Farrah Fawcett's replacement on Charlie's Angels in 1977. More recently, she appears on the NBC show Las Vegas, playing Jillian Deline, wife of Ed Deline, played by James Caan.

Keeping with the tradition that several current and former pro athletes are part of the show, Monica Seles' name has been thrown into the ring. Seles was once the number one tennis player in the world. She was the youngest winner of the French Open, at the age of 16. At the height of her career, she was attacked on the court by a spectator. She has had some success since but has never managed to capture the success that she once had.

In Touch Weekly reported this month that Kristy McNichol was also being considered for Dancing with the Stars season 6. An inside source told the magazine that McNichol fit the demographic of people who watch the show and also, brings along the nostalgia factor with her as part of the package. McNichol is a two-time Emmy Award winner for her work on the shows Family and Empty Nest in the 1970s and 1980s.

Other names that have been thrown out there include Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch, Chyna, the former WWE wrestler and current resident on Celebrity Rehab, and Brooke Hogan, the Hulk's daughter.

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