Legends Gabriela Sabatini, Monica Seles Reunite at MSG

nostalgic and eagerly anticipated reunion, tennis legends Gabriela Sabatini and Monica Seles graced Madison Square Garden with their presence. This remarkable encounter unfolded a quarter of a century after their memorable five-set showdown at the WTA Championships, which unfolded on the iconic carpet court of the World’s Most Famous Arena. The event, now etched in tennis history, featured these Hall of Famers in the opening match of the BNP Paribas Showdown, setting the stage for Roger Federer’s showdown with Grigor Dimitrov.

The Seles-Sabatini rivalry harkened back to their initial professional meeting during an evening match in the second round of the 1988 Key Biscayne tournament. A 14-year-old Seles faced off against Sabatini and, despite her youth, left an indelible impression on the seasoned player. Reflecting on that momentous night, Seles fondly recalled, “I was 14 years old when I played Gabriela for the first time. I think I played the first night match of my career after losing to Chris Evert in my previous match. So I was excited. I was star struck by Gabriela. The great thing about Gaby was that she treated you the same way whether you won or lost against her.”

Both Hall of Famers enjoyed fervent fan followings in New York, whether at the U.S. Open or the season-ending tournament at MSG. Their playing styles sharply contrasted, with Seles dominating the baseline with her two-handed groundstrokes, while Sabatini employed heavy topspin off both wings and displayed a deft touch at the net.

Seles, a nine-time Grand Slam champion, prevailed in 11 out of their 14 encounters, including a dramatic 6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 victory in the 1990 WTA Championships Final, a match that took place when the season-ending event was hosted at Madison Square Garden. However, Sabatini earned some bragging rights by winning the exhibition rematch at the Garden.

Seles expressed her nostalgia for Madison Square Garden, noting, “For me, one of the saddest days in my career was when the season-ending championships were moved from Madison Square Garden to Germany. There’s only one Madison Square Garden. The fans just live with you through every single point. When you play at Madison Square Garden, the fans are really close to you—you feel their energy—and as a player, you thrive on that.”

Sabatini, echoing the sentiment, hoped that the World Tennis Day celebration would inspire the next generation to pick up a racquet and contribute to the growth of the sport from the very heart of this Garden Party.