You'd never know it based on media coverage, but one of the most exciting tennis tournaments in ages is currently happening right now in Melbourne, Australia. The Australian Open is typically difficult for Americans to follow because it's happening on the opposite side of the Earth, but so far, there have been a handful of upsets and some excellent performances from Justine Henin and top seed Serena Williams.
Back in 1996, the Australian Open served as the stage for an emotional comeback for Monica Seles, who was crowned champion of the tournament on this day 14 years ago. Not only was it the ninth Grand Slam win for the 22-year-old Seles, but it was her first since getting stabbed in the middle of a match in one of the most harrowing incidents in the history of organized sports. Back in 1993, Seles was squaring off against Magdalena Maleeva in a tournament in Hamburg, Germany. In the middle of the match, a man named Gunther Parche stormed the court and stabbed Seles in the back with a 10-inch blade. (The psychologically unstable Parche said he did it so Seles wouldn't take the top ranking away from Steffi Graf, Parche's favorite player.)
Seles took two years off from professional tennis, derailing what could have been a record-breaking career (she was on her way to becoming the most successful teenage pro in history). Still, she fought her way back, winning the first tournament she entered upon her return and getting to the finals of the U.S. Open in 1995. Her victory in Australia capped off an incredible comeback that the members of Shout Out Louds can certainly get behind.