The Yugoslav-born tennis star had the potential to become one of the greatest stars in the game but a tragic incident derailed her career when she was in top flight.

Seles, who turns 42 today, became the youngest woman player to be ranked World No1 at 17 in 1991, a year after becoming the youngest to win the French Open.

She also holds the record of simultaneously winning the French and Australian Open three times on the trot.

She had won eight grand slam titles and was the reigning World No1 when a crazy Steffi Graf fan ran on court and stabbed her in the back in Hamburg.

Although she won another Australian Open in 1996 and a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Seles never regained her competitive edge and played her last match at the French Open in 2003.

She finished with 53 singles titles and officially retired in 2008.

1968: David Batty, England footballer who played at ‘98 World Cup. Also played for Leeds, Blackburn and Newcastle (47).

1973: Jan Ullrich, retired German cyclist who won gold and silver at the 2000 Olympics, later banned for doping (42).

1978: Jarron Collins, former NBA player and current assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors (37).

1983: Aaron Rodgers, American NFL star of the Green Bay Packers and MVP for the 2011 and 2014 seasons (32).