THE STORY
On April 30, 1993, during a quarterfinal match at the Citizen Cup in Hamburg, Germany, Monica Seles was stabbed in the back by Günter Parche, a 38-year-old German fan of Steffi Graf. The attack occurred during a changeover, leaving Seles with a half-inch-deep wound between her shoulder blades. She was quickly taken to a hospital and did not return to competitive tennis for over two years. (history.com)
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Monica Seles
WHY IT MATTERS
The incident highlighted significant security vulnerabilities at tennis events, leading to increased safety measures for players. Seles' prolonged absence from the sport also impacted her career trajectory and the dynamics of women's tennis during that period.