Paris, May 28: Facing up to her earliest ever Grand Slam exit yesterday three-time French Open champion Monica Seles conceded that she was fighting a losing battle to stay on the court. The 29-year-old, who fought her way back following an absence of over two years after being stabbed in the back by a fanatical Steffi Graf fan in Germany ten years ago, slumped 6-4 6-0 in just under an hour to hard-hitting Russian Nadia Petrova yesterday. It was the second time in two weeks that the American veteran went down to 76th-ranked Petrova after retiring in Rome two weeks ago with a left foot injury which she admits has become unbearable. After one battle to return to the court, surgery is something Seles is loath to consider at this stage in her career.
"Realistically I know I'm in the later stages of my career. I don't have the luxury of taking five or six months off," she said.
"At the same time I don't want to have the surgery to put a screw in my foot, I am trying everything.
"I mean you think five months off, surgery, that's another three months of training. "Lyndsay (davenport) has done it. She's two years younger than I am. It could be done but I just don't think I would have that uphill challenge in me to do it.
Bureau Report