Monica Seles held a appeared news conference Saturday at the
Special Olympics World Games and talked about the struggles she
has had since being stabbed more than two years ago. Seles said
she would play in the U.S. Open after a July 29 exhibition
against Martina Navratilova in Atlantic City. Seles addressed
the issue of her ranking -- she was No. 1 before her hiatus and
there was speculation the WTA would make her co-No. 1 upon her
return. Seles, who will start as a wild card: "Women's Tennis
can survive without Monica Seles and Monica Seles can survive
without women's tennis. But I also think we're both better off
with each other" (Bob Ford, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER 7/9).
Navratilova, WTA Players' Assoc. President cited "frustration"
with the top players who are "not willing to give back what they
gained by her absence" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/10). In L.A., Julie
Cart writes, "The bickering among the women over the return of
Monica Seles should embarrass them, but they are too self-
centered to notice. ... If the players had a strong union or
players association, they would see that some players transcend
the sport and, as unfair as it may appear, should receive
different treatment. Basketball knows this, but tennis forgets"
(L.A. TIMES, 7/10).
