Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 5 Live,21 Sep 2026,43 mins

SeriesTennis' Darkest Hour

5. Where is Monica Seles?

Sport's Strangest Crimes

Available for over a year

On paper, Monica Seles was expected to return to winning ways in just a few short months; this shocking crime would be a dark chapter that tennis would be keen to forget. So, why did months turn to a year, one year into two? Why was everyone left wondering - where is Monica Seles? We explore one of the strangest elements of this crime - Seles’ fight for justice, and how she seemed to be the only one suffering any consequences for the crime that befell her. We’ll hear from one of the few people that spoke to Seles when she disappeared from public life, revealing the true torment she was living with after her physical wounds had healed. Plus, how using food for comfort had given way to something more insidious; something that would prove to be one of the toughest opponents to beat. After so long away from the game, was a comeback beyond the realms of possibility even for a record breaker like Monica? Her story had been hijacked on that dark day in Hamburg, but was there another chapter yet to be written? Warning: This episode contains references to eating disorders. Presented by Clare Balding Produced by Emma Roberts Additional reporting by Russell Fuller Mixed by Gareth Isles Executive Producer: Joe Haddow Assistant Commissioner: Rob Green Commissioning Executive: Stevie Middleton

Programme Website
More episodes