"My friends have kids... but I don't feel I need to be married or have a family to be complete" - When Monica Seles felt at peace with not having kids
Monica Seles once opened up about being content with a life without marriage or children. The former World No. 1 also envisioned what her life would look like after her retirement from professional tennis.
Seles clinched nine Grand Slam titles during her illustrious career, eight of which she won before turning 20. She enjoyed unwavering support from her family during her journey, with her father Karolj serving as her coach, her mother Ester being the "backbone" of their family, and her older brother Zoltan being her training partner. However, the Yugoslav-born American didn't feel the need to have a family of her own.
In a 2003 interview with Sportstar, Monica Seles was asked whether she wanted children. The former World No. 1 disclosed that she enjoyed being surrounded by kids, since the majority of her friends were parents. However, she expressed her belief that she would be just as fulfilled being the godmother to others' children, without needing to have her own.
"Oh, almost all my friends have kids now. There's a lot of them around, it's pretty advance. But I don't feel I need to be married or have a family to be complete. I see it as a natural transition that, if it happens for me one day, great. If not, I'll be godmother to a lot of kids. That's good too," Monica Seles said.
Although Seles was at peace with not having children, she disclosed that she loved working with kids as she contemplated her future after retirement. The former World No. 1 also shed light on her fondness for horses and water.
Monica Seles emphasized that she needed a schedule to function properly, admitting that she couldn't imagine a life that revolved around staying at home and spending time shopping with friends.
"That will be the challenge for me in the future. But I love horses, I love water, I love kids and working with them. I'll need to do something. I can't just go home and go shopping with my friends. I love having a schedule, and for most of my life. I've had a hectic one. I can't function without one," she added.
Monica Seles: "I just want people to like me for who I am... Hopefully, when I get married I can pass those qualities on to my kids"
During the aforementioned interview, Monica Seles opened up about her desire to be loved for her authentic self, taking pride in the values instilled in her by her parents. The former World No. 1 also expressed hope to pass those same qualities on to her future children when she got married.
"I just want people to like me for who I am, for the qualities that my parents instilled in me. I'm very proud of that, very proud of them. Hopefully, when I get married I can pass those qualities on to my kids. That's what really matters to me, and beyond that I don't want to do anything to make people like me more or less," Monica Seles said.
Seles competed in the last match of her career at the 2003 French Open, where she suffered a first-round exit. In 2009, the nine-time Grand Slam champion began dating American businessman Tom Golisano, who is the founder of Paychex and is estimated to be worth $6.4 billion. They got engaged in 2014 and later tied the knot.
Although Monica Seles and her husband don't have children together, the former World No. 1 became stepmother to Gosilano's two children, Steven Golisano and Cynthia Golisano, from a previous marriage.