Product Description

At the age of sixteen, Monica Seles crashed on to the world tennis scene by becoming the youngest winner in French Open History. For three years, she dominated the tennis circuit, racking up eight Grand Slam titles, winning three back-to-back French Open titles. At post-match conferences she charmed the media with her trademark giggle. In January 1993, Seles defeated Steffi Graf in the Australian Women's Open and in April of that year, while playing a quarter-final in Hamburg, a boning knife was plunged between her shoulder blades by a Graff fan. Everything changed. The incident shocked the tennis world. Seles' injuries healed, but Seles did not. Now, in this compelling book she tells us in her own words what followed - years of seclusion, the fog of despair, binge eating, dealing with criticism about her weight from a brutal press, losing her father-coach to cancer and never regaining her dominance on court despite getting in to the top 10. After years battling to regain fitness and tennis glory, an excruciating injury forced Monica to take time off from tennis in 2003 and she embarked on her own journey. She abandoned the arduous workouts and punitive diets, and slowly uncovered the painful emotions behind years of tumultuous feelings. This is a human and inspiring story of determination, amazing talent and touching vulnerability, that Seles hopes will motivate and inspire others to find happiness in their own lives. Monica Seles is a former No 1 professional tennis player who became the youngest-ever champion at the French Open in 1990 and went on to win nine Grand Slam singles titles. In 2007, she was appointed goodwill ambassador for the UN's Global Sports for Peace and Development Initiative.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71286 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
"* 'Perhaps the most adored figure in the sport's history' --Sports Illustrated"

About the Author
Monica Seles is a former No 1 professional tennis player who became the youngest-ever champion at the French Open in 1990 and went on to win nine Grand Slam singles titles. In 2007, she was appointed goodwill ambassador for the UN's Global Sports for Peace and Development Initiative.

Customer Reviews

Monica Seles a real inspiration
I ve just finished reading Monica Seles' autobiography and it was absolutely brilliant, what a fascinating interesting and truly inspirational lady. I learnt a lot about a life in tennis and the sacrifices that are made and this womans personal struggles to get her life back on track. I advise anyone who has an interest in peoples lives so to speak to read this truly inspiring book which managed to reduce me to tears in parts. I read it as I am a big tennis fan but you really dont need to be to enjoy this book. Absolutely fantastic.

MONICA SELES COMES OUT OF THE KITCHEN
This is a good book. Honest, easy to read, endowed with good humour and a refreshing frankness. I can see why it is a hit with those with eating disorders: Seles really did have an over indulgence problem but her story reveals how being denied grieving the death of a loved one can have deep ramifications. She also captures the intensity, ruthlessness and incessant, unrelenting pace of the WTA tour that is the life of a pro tennis player. This excerbated her inability to grieve for the loss of her Father and really come to terms with her stabbing. Until she took time out from tennis, it is only then she grieves, acccepts the injustice of her stabbing and grabs life by the balls and loses weight naturally at her own pace under her own terms. What a life, extreme highs and lows but a great read! I was not a Seles fan when she was at her peak but I was fascinated by her relentless focus and intensity and ability to beat my idol - Graf. I also wondered why, like many, she remained so heavy despite playing loads of tennis.... this book explains just exactly what was going on behind the public persona - a heck of a lot to deal with in terms of real sadness. A difficult life to lead in the public eye but as Seles herself said in an interview, such scrutiny comes with the territory when you have been Tennis World Number One at 17......

Fascinating, excellant read
A very interesting eye-opener into the devotion and dedication it takes to be a top player and a very frank, touching insight into her personal life, her grief, her long recuperation from the stabbing and her eating disorder in response to it. A fascinating read for all fans or for just anyone who needs to take control of their lives. An excellant book for everyone.