Monica Seles ponders another comeback to tennis

Sixteen years ago, at Wimbledon in 1991, Monica Seles was far from popular in the tennis world. The newly-crowned world No. 1 had taken the first two majors of the year - her second and third career grand slams, respectively - and was looking to challenge reigning grass court queen Steffi Graf at the All Englad Club.

But then, mysteriously, Seles withdrew from Wimbledon, citing interest and vanishing. A media storm ensued as angry journalists sought to find out the real cause for the teenager’s withdrawal. London tabloids printed headlines claiming Seles was pregnant (with Elvis’ and/or alien’s baby) and that she had mysteriously died.

The truth was, Seles has suffered shin splints from over-training and had to pull out of the tournament at the last minute. Throughout much of her early career, the grunting girl from Yugoslavia was far from the “favorite” column in most tennis fan’s books.

Yet in 1993, on that fateful day in Hamburg, Seles’ life – and the history of women’s tennis – was changed forever. Along with a gashing wound on her upper back, Seles garnered the sympathy of the sporting world that day. Two years later, when she returned to professional tennis as an American darling, she was the toast of the tennis world.

So now, 16 years after Wimbledon, 14 years after Hamburg and almost five years since her last professional match – a first round loss to Nadia Petrova at the 2003 French Open – Monica Seles might be returning to professional tennis, for real.

There’s been much talk over the last half decade about a return of Seles and her American counterpart Jennifer Capriati, who last struck a tennis ball professionally in the fall of ’04. Neither woman has played competitively since then, but both have hinted at partial – if not full – comebacks to the pro tour.

Just this summer, the New York Daily News ran a frighteningly sad piece on Capriati, who has battled depression while going through several shoulder and knee surgeries following her departure from the tour.

Seles, however, has maintained a busy social schedule in her time away from the WTA. She has been a constant fixture on the exhibition tour, often matching up with good friend Martina Navratilova for friendly battles reminiscent to their dominance of tennis in the ‘80s and early ‘90s.

This weekend, both Capriati and Seles will be participating in an exhibition event in Los Angeles that features both Jensen brothers and the recently retired Justin Gimblestob.

While Seles voices hope for a return to the tour at the Nasdaq 100 Open in Miami (held in March), Capriati has remained vague about her plans for a return. "I certainly would not ever be able to do a full schedule again, because of the foot," Seles told the Los Angeles Times this week. "But I'm thinking about the Slams and about some of the better tournaments that lead into them.

With the return of new mother Lindsay Davenport this fall, it seems both Seles and Capriati have been inspired by their countrywoman’s success. Bolstered by two healthy Williams sisters, American women’s tennis could be set for a renaissance – and, dare I say: a dominance?

Justine Henin has been just that – dominant – on the tour over the past few years, stepping past hurdles like Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and Amelie Mauresmo with ease. And while all four American women offer a similar hard-hitting style, their experience and confidence is unmatched by anyone on tour, save Henin.

So if Monica Seles is to return to tennis in March, or May, or at Wimbledon for that matter, you can bet that the 34-year-old would get a little different treatment from the press - and fans - this time around. Tabloids would read: “The Queen has Returned” and “2008: Monica Seles Still Swings!”

Those sound much better than any pregnancy rumors, and tennis fans would be rejoicing, all across the world.