T365 Recall: When Martina Hingis whitewashed Monica Seles in 39 minutes

The Martina Hingis-Monica Seles clash at the 2000 Ericsson Open was expected to be one of the matches of the tournament, but it turned into one of the most lopsided contests in history.
Hingis was the reigning world No 1 with five Grand Slam titles to her name while she also finished runner-up at the 2000 Australian Open a few weeks earlier.
Seles was a former world No 1 with nine Grand Slam titles and, although she was not the same player as before she was stabbed in 1993, the American was still at the top of her game.
So it was no surprise that a capacity crowd of 14,000 people turned up at Stadium Court for the semi-final, but it was all over in 39 minutes and Seles was booed off the court.
The 28-year-old, who was troubled by a right ankle injury, won only 21 points – seven in the first set and 15 in the second – and finished the match with a double fault.
Here is the full match, all 39 minutes of it.
Hingis had some sympathy for her opponent, who was clearly struggling physically and mentally, after the match.
“Not everyone knows what’s going on behind the scenes,” the Swiss said. “Monica just wasn’t herself today.”
In her autobiography years later that, Seles admitted that she should not have played.
“It was the worst defeat of my career and the quickest: a measly thirty-nine minutes. I was mortified,” she wrote. “The fighter in me had refused to default even though it would have been the smarter choice.
“As the crowd threw raucous catcalls, boos and whistles at me, I could feel my face flushing with embarrassment and I hobbled off the court as quickly as my ankle would let me. For the first time in my career I had failed to win even one game. Not one.”
Latest
-
Tennis News
Former world No 1 urges Australian public to give Novak Djokovic ‘another chance to explain himself’
“He was being a leader and it just came off wrong in the public.”
-
Tennis News
Ashleigh Barty happy to ‘knuckle down’ and get back into routine ahead of Australian Open
Ashleigh Barty ready for her big comeback.
-
Australian Open
2021 Australian Open prize money breakdown: Smaller cheques for winners, boost for first-round losers
A look at the 2021 Australian Open prize money.
-
Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios ‘very misunderstood’, but he will ‘always have your back’, says fellow Australian
“We’re almost brothers – pretty close.”
-
Tennis News
Changes made to ATP and WTA schedules to aid those affected by quarantine
Players will also be given priority for gyms and ice baths.
-
Australian Open
Boris Becker on what happens next for Alexander Zverev after a turbulent 2020
Boris Becker backs Alexander Zverev to win maiden major.
-
Australian Open
Dominic Thiem dismisses calls for the Australian Open to be cancelled
Dominic Thiem insists Australian Open should go ahead.
-
Tennis News
Timeline of Andy Murray’s injury nightmare as he pulls out of Australian Open
A timeline of Andy Murray’s injury woes since 2017.
-
News
Andy Murray ‘gutted’ as he shelves plans to play at Australian Open
Murray has been unable to solve a quarantine conundrum.
-
ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal learn their fate in ATP Cup draw
Serbia will begin defence of ATP Cup against Germany and Canada.