"I NEVER THOUGHT MY PULLING OUT OF WIMBLEDON WOULD CAUSE SUCH A STIR" - WHEN MONICA SELES WAS FINED $6,000 FOR WITHDRAWING FROM GRASS MAJOR

Monica Seles was once surprised when she was penalized for withdrawing from the 1991 Wimbledon Championships. She had pulled out just three days before the tournament started.

Seles' withdrawal from the Grasscourt Major surprised many, as she was in stellar form that year, having already won the Australian Open and French Open. Her appearance at SW19 would have given her a shot at completing the Career Grand Slam, considering she later won the US Open, too. She had a similar chance the following year but couldn't achieve it.

The Yugoslavia-born American announced her withdrawal in a non-explanatory fax message to the All England Club committee, citing a "minor injury." This controversial decision led to a $6,000 penalty from the WTA, adding to a similar fine she received in January 1991 for using her single permitted medical excuse to withdraw from an Australian event.

Monica Seles, who appealed the fine, later confided to the Los Angeles Times her disbelief at the uproar caused by her actions.

"I really never thought that my pulling out of Wimbledon would cause such a stir," Seles said. "It's so hard for people to understand. First of all, the hardest thing was for me to say I wasn't going to play Wimbledon because of an injury. Secondly, I was getting a lot of different medical opinions. Very confusing."

"Then the pain was there and I didn't know how to deal with it, so I just really said, 'I need to take time away from everything. I need to go alone and just think this over. When I'm ready, I will make my statement further.' I hoped people could wait," the nine-time Major winner added.

Seles continued:

"I mean, I'm not the person who's going to come out and say crazy things. I couldn't do a press conference saying, 'I'm not playing Wimbledon this year.' I would be crying all over the place. It was enough pressure on me to make the decision."

Monica Seles never won Wimbledon throughout her career

Monica Seles never won Wimbledon during her career but came agonizingly close in 1992 when she reached the final.

The former World No. 1 powered through Jenny Byrne, Sabine Appelmans, Laura Gildemeister, Gigi Fernandez, Nathalie Tauziat, and Martina Navratilova to reach the championship match where she faced unconquerable odds against Steffi Graf.

Seles' other Grand Slams include four Australian Open (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996), three French Open (1990, 1991, 1992) and two US Open (1991, 1992) titles.

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