TENNIS ROUNDUP : Seles Drops Two Majors, Agassi the French Open

L.A. Times Archives

May 19, 1993 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

After being stabbed in the back by a spectator during a tournament in Germany last month, Monica Seles said that she would return “when I am ready.”

Seles said Tuesday that she won’t be ready for the French Open, which begins Monday, or Wimbledon, which begins June 21. And there is a chance that the 19-year-old will miss the U.S. Open in August.

Also on Tuesday, Andre Agassi announced that he will not play in the French Open because of a wrist injury. The 1992 Wimbledon champion pulled out of two recent tournaments because of tendinitis in his right wrist.

Seles, who suffered an injury to her left shoulder in the April 30 attack in Hamburg, Germany, is recuperating at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo.

By missing the French Open and Wimbledon, Seles probably will lose her No. 1 ranking.

Dr. Richard Steadman, who is treating Seles for the inch-wide, half-inch deep wound between her left shoulder blade and her spine, said after her arrival in Vail two weeks ago that at least two muscles were cut.

“The worst would be that she couldn’t come back, but I think that’s extremely unlikely,” Steadman said. “I would think she could, but I just can’t say. I’d be hopeful. She has shown a lot of progress the last few days. I would think that I’d look for the end of the summer. If we’re going to improve on that, it would be great.”

Pete Sampras helped the United States to a 3-0 victory over Switzerland at the World Team Cup at Dusseldorf, Germany. Sampras staved off two match points in the second-set tiebreaker against Marc Rosset before defeating the Olympic champion, 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2.

Michael Chang defeated Jacob Hlasek, 6-2, 6-3, in the other singles, and the doubles team of Patrick McEnroe and Richey Reneberg defeated Hlasek and Rosset, 6-4, 6-3.

The United States, top seeded in the blue group, is seeking a record fourth title.

Americans Kathy Rinaldi and Shaun Stafford both had to go three sets to win opening-round matches at the Strasbourg Open in France.