Nine-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Monica Seles will be inducted in the US Open Court of Champions this year and will be a sole inductee at that.
The tennis legend will make an appearance during the Finals weekend of the US Open 2013 Tennis Championships for the official induction ceremony. The on-court ceremony will be hosted by US Fed Cup Capitain Mary Joe Fernandez and will take place prior to the start of the women’s singles final on Sunday, September 8.
“Monica Seles is not only a great champion, but a graceful competitor who inspired us all,” said Dave Haggerty, Chairman, CEO and President of the USTA. “Her captivating talent was surpassed only by a dignified courage that remains an inspiration for our sport. She truly deserves to be honored among the greatest of US Open champions.”
The US Open Court of Champions salutes the tournament’s all-time greats, with Seles joining prior inductees Andre Agassi, Arthur Ashe, Don Budge, Maureen Connolly, Jimmy Connors, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Althea Gibson, Pancho Gonzalez, Steffi Graf, Billie Jean King, Jack Kramer, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, Molla Bjurstedt Mallory, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Margaret Osborne duPont, Ken Rosewall, Pete Sampras, Bill Tilden and Helen Wills.
Seles won the US Open in 1991 and 1992. She went on to miss the event for two years after she was stabbed at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany in 1993. During her comeback, she went on to reach the US Open final in 1995 and 1996.
Inductees are selected by a panel of international print and broadcast journalists from the roster of U.S. Championships/US Open winners based on their performances at the tournament and their impact on the growth of the event.
