A True Champion Monica Seles is a naturally competative left hander who hits with two hands on both forehand and backhand. Her ability to hit a rising ball with perfect timing allows her to project thunderous drives off both wings which can destroy all opposition. An improving serve that is now equal to that of most women, plus a greater willingness to volley, allied to an acute tactical awareness, make her arguably amoung the finest match players of all time.

No Wildcard Entry Seles seems unlikely to commit to the Pilot Pen tournament, the last hard court tune up befor the US Open.  A wildcard entry has been offered to the nine time grandslam champion, however an entry has yet to be confirmed. Updated: Rivals & News

Tennis Match on A Barge for Monica and Mac

Tennis stars John McEnroe and Monica Seles staged a water-borne tennis match on a floating grass court today.

The pair played aboard a barge being towed along the River Thames from London’s Waterloo Pier to Tower Bridge.

Cheered on by onlookers, the players were joined by an umpire, a ball girl and a security boat which helped recover lost balls from the water.

Speaking after the game McEnroe tipped Tim Henman to win this afternoon’s Wimbledon match against Australian Mark Philippoussis.

He said of Henman: “He has in been in the quarters every year except one in the last eight and that was when he lost to Philippoussis so I think he knows what he is up against.”

Adding: “He needs to play well in order to beat Philippoussis. I would pick him to win but it is not going to be easy.”

McEnroe urged Henman to use the Wimbledon crowd to his advantage, saying: “He chooses to internalise more of his feelings than I do and as a fan of his and a fan of tennis I recognise that if it is done properly you can get an edge for yourself by using fans to your advantage.

“I will always continue to recommend to Tim to get more emotional or acknowledge more the crowd because I think that is not utilising a weapon if you don’t have it. It is like having it in your back pocket but just not taking it out.”

The floating grass court is to be moved on to dry land close to Tower Bridge where it will be the centrepiece of a tennis event held to coincide with the final days of Wimbledon.

Monica Seles will join Pat Cash for a celebrity tennis match in aid of the charity Sport Relief to mark the launch of the American Express-sponsored Wimbledon at Tower Bridge on Wednesday night.

Speaking after today’s waterborne game Seles said there had been no clear winner.

“It was such a thrill to play with John on a barge on the Thames. I have never done anything even close to this before. I am thinking this was a dream,” she said.

 

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