Monica Seles defeated Chanda Rubin 6-4, 6-2 to capture the Madrid Open. Its Seles' 53rd career singles title.

Meanwhile, Martina (the original, not the little Swiss Miss) teamed with Natasha Zvereva to capture the doubles title. Navratilova becomes the oldest woman to win a WTA singles or doubles event by claiming her 166th career doubles title and her first since 1994! Way to go Martina!

YES!!! Two for the old guard, and a couple of tugs at the heartstrings to boot! I don't care how small the tournament, I don't care who else is playing, I am so happy every time Monica wins a tournament. She's a total class act, a wonderful amazing human being, and still a contender (not a favorite, perhaps, but definitely a contender) at the Slams.

I don't care how many Slams she's won or weeks she's been #1 <cough>, Hingis will always be "Hingis" (whereas I tend to refer to most of the top women by their first names) because Navratilova is the one and only "Martina" for me.

I love both Monica and Martina to death! I'm so happy to hear this news!!

The victories by these two great women today prompted me to dig up this story from Monica's autobiography: In February 1995 while Monica was still recovering psychologically from the stabbing, Martina phoned her and asked if she could visit Monica because she (Martina) needed the practice prior to competing in Fed Cup that year. Monica agreed and they had a super time hitting on Monica's home courts, followed by some bouncing on Monica's trampoline.

During lunch Martina said, "You know, Monica, we'd all love to have you back on the tour. It has to be your decision, but I just want you to know that everyone would welcome you with open arms."

Monica was quite touched. When it was time for Martina to leave,she took a gold bracelet from her wrist and said, "Monica, I want you to have this. It has brought me a lot of luck."

When Monica said that she could never accept it, Martina replied, "When you come back, you can return it to me."

Monica asked,"What if I never come back?"

Martina: "Then you'll never return it. But it will still bring you luck."

In the book, Monica writes: "I only wore that bracelet once over the next few months. But I'd look at it often, especially when the nightmares made sleep impossible and left me feeling hopeless. Slowly, I began to think about my comeback. Maybe it was the bracelet, or maybe it was just time to move on. I like to think it was a little bit of both."

It was July of that year when Monica played her comeback match in an exhibition against (appropriately enough) Martina.

I just want to say that I love both of those women very very much. Both are personal heroes of mine.

Ditto to everyone else's comments about these two great champions. I think they caused the two revolutions in women's tennis, first causing all the players to get fitter and stronger, then causing all the players to increase their power and strength or risk getting blown away, And, as BoSoxRudy says so perfectly, Navratilova is the only Martina in tennis.

Well lets not dis "The other Martina" she was named after Navratilova, and has proven herself quite well! Also lets not forget Zvereva is a gr8 doubles player and has been a pioneer in her own right! IE Changing the policy of "pay checks" in the Eastern Block Countries! Still I say congratulations to both Seles and Navratilova- Zvereva on their victories!

Seles and Martina N. are two of the most gifted and most determined champions of all time. For them to win titles in 2002 at the same tournament is surprising and delightful.

This was Monica's 53rd career title - while I know Martina N. leads the list of all time titles, does anyone have a list of the top women's title holders? Certainly Graf and Evert are right up there, but I've never seen a top ten list of female tennis title holders?