Chris Evert, widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, has said on Twitter that Monica Seles would have won more slams if she had not been stabbed, suggesting that Steffi Graf would not have won as many.

The former world number one’s comment comes ahead of Serena Williams’ attempt to win her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, and break Graf’s record for the most slams in the open era at the US Open.

“If Monica wasn’t stabbed, she would have won more”

Evert originally responded to a fan’s comment on Twitter about the controversy, saying it was “really sad” that Seles, who was the world number one at the time, was attacked.

Chris Evert's first comment on Twitter (Chris Evert's Twitter Account)
Chris Evert's first comment on Twitter (Chris Evert's Twitter Account)

When questioned by another user about whether she was undermining Graf’s achievements, Evert responded by commenting “I’ll say it better, as to not take anything away from Steffi. If Monica wasn’t stabbed, she would have won more GS’s {Grand Slams}”

Chris Evert's second comment on Twitter (Chris Evert's Twitter Account)
Chris Evert's second comment on Twitter (Chris Evert's Twitter Account)

When Seles was stabbed on April 30th, 1993 in Hamburg by an obsessed Graf fan, Gunter Parche, when leading a quarterfinal match against Magdalena Maleeva, the then-Yugoslav had won seven of the last nine Grand Slam tournaments, missing Wimbledon in 1991 and losing in the final to Graf in 1992.

In the absence of Seles, the dominant player at the time of her stabbing, Graf won six of the nine Grand Slam titles available, and took five more titles after Seles returned; Seles, who would later compete for America, just won one slam after she returned to the tour.

Graf and Seles after the 1995 US Open final (AFP/Timothy Clary)
Graf and Seles after the 1995 US Open final (AFP/Timothy Clary)

Comment comes as Graf’s record is under threat

The recent interest in the German’s 22 Major titles comes as Serena Williams looks to break the record by winning an astonishing 23rd slam title.

The American, who, after a year of waiting, equaled Graf’s record after beating Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final, is the favorite heading into the US Open and is the top seed, though she has not played since her loss to Elina Svitolina in the Olympics.

(L-R) Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams and Chris Evert after Williams won her 18th Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2014 (Corbis Sport/Tim Clayton)
(L-R) Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, and Chris Evert after Williams won her 18th Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2014 (Corbis Sport/Tim Clayton)

Williams was congratulated by Graf after equalling her record, whilst, just two years ago, received a special presentation from Evert and Martina Navratilova after the US Open triumph which saw her match their 18 Grand Slam titles.

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About the author
Oliver Dickson Jefford
20. English Literature student at the University of Southampton. Aspiring sports journalist from Hertfordshire.