Comeback kings and queens who defied the odds

Monica Seles

Monica Seles looked poised to rule women's tennis in the early 1990s, becoming the youngest woman to reach the world No 1 ranking in 1991 before winning three out of four Grand Slams in 1992 with victories at the Australian, French and US Opens.

In 1993 she again looked set to dominate, opening the year by winning the Australian Open with a defeat of German great Steffi Graf.

In April, however, Seles was stabbed by a deranged spectator while playing at a tournament in Hamburg.

Although she soon recovered from her physical injuries, the emotional scars meant Seles did not return until 1995 and the following year she won her 10th and last Grand Slam at the Australian Open.