Noisy Seles has a sound chance

THE venomous double-fisted punches off both sides, the face scrunched up with effort and determination, and, most of all, the grunt announces that Monica Seles is back.

Her trademark noise once bugged opponents and prompted one British tabloid to take decibel readings on centre court at Wimbledon.

But somehow it's become the most welcome sound at a tennis tournament in years. If few expected Seles to turn up at the French Open a week last Monday, then no one could have possibly imagined she would find herself in the women's final tomorrow. Now only Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, whom she has defeated 14 times in 16 meetings, stands between Seles and her fourth French title. Her father Karolj, who was her coach and confidant, died from cancer 11 days before Roland Garros and although entered, no one really believed the thrice former champion would play. "It was just too tough for me to stay home, having so many memories in every corner, so many things, so many people coming up, so many of my dad's friends," she said. "I guess she surprised everybody," says Martina Hingis, the world No1 who was utterly dominated by Seles in their semi-final yesterday. "She is back in probably better shape than ever." Karolj's cancer was diagnosed two months after she was stabbed in the back in Hamburg five years ago. His failing health was a constant preoccupation when she returned to competitive tennis in 1995 and was one of the reasons why she never rescaled the heights of winning eight Grand Slams. But here she has looked focused and fit. "I was the same as before, but mentally, it was a lot tougher to concentrate and maybe now it's a little easier," she said. The tennis outfits Nike have provided for the tournament are black. A coincidence, she explains. "I'm really glad it's not a bright colour, because it feels more appropriate."

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