Monica Seles Trending Now: What Happened to the 9-Time Grand Slam Champion and Where She Is Today

The roar of Roland-Garros carried an echo from the 1990s this week when nine-time Grand Slam champion Monica Seles praised Novak Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of history—and the world No. 1 answered with heartfelt gratitude. “In every era there’s a player who stretches the limits of the sport. For us it was Steffi Graf; today it’s Novak,” Seles told Serbian television during French Open coverage on Tuesday, adding that Djokovic’s “mental strength reminds me of the best years of my own career.” The comments quickly went viral on tennis social media, sparking a cross-generation conversation about greatness. Djokovic’s response arrived within hours. “Thank you, Monica, for those beautiful words,” he posted on X. “Your fighting spirit inspired me when I was a kid swinging a racket in Belgrade.” The 24-time major winner also referenced Seles’ “courage after 1993,” a nod to the knife attack in Hamburg that forced her two-year hiatus but never dimmed her legend. Sports outlets from Belgrade to Melbourne amplified the exchange, with Sportskeeda calling it “the feel-good moment of the French Open fortnight.” Why Seles’ approval matters in 2025 • Shared Serbian heritage: Born in Novi Sad, Seles blazed a trail for Balkan tennis athletes before becoming a U.S. citizen and winning four Australian Opens, three French Opens and two U.S. Opens. • Parallel dominance: Both players reached world No. 1 before age 20 and excelled on every surface. • Resilience narrative: Seles’ comeback after the 1993 stabbing mirrors Djokovic’s recovery from elbow surgery and pandemic-era scrutiny, strengthening the symbolic bond. Legacy spotlight fuels renewed interest Google searches for “Monica Seles French Open” and “Monica Seles Djokovic praise” spiked Wednesday morning, while clips of her two-handed forehand racked up millions of views on Instagram and TikTok. Tournament broadcasters seized the moment, airing highlight reels of Seles’ 1990–92 Paris three-peat during rain delays. Ticketing sites reported an uptick in Roland-Garros museum tours featuring her memorabilia. Expert voices weigh in ESPN analyst Mary Joe Fernández said the exchange “bridges generations for a sport always hungry for narrative.” Long-time coach Nick Bollettieri’s academy, where Seles trained, posted a tribute: “From Monica to Novak, attacking tennis never goes out of style.” What’s next for Seles Now 51, the Hall of Famer devotes her time to motivational speaking and her upcoming memoir sequel, expected this autumn. Sources close to her management team hint at a potential cameo in the Netflix “Break Point” series, focusing on the psychological toll of elite competition. Takeaway The French Open often crowns new champions, but 2025’s most talked-about rally came off the court—between a legend who once ruled Paris and the champion trying to do it again. Monica Seles’ salute to Novak Djokovic not only stirred nostalgia; it reminded fans why tennis greatness transcends eras, surfaces and even the darkest chapters of the sport’s history.