Seles Breaks Down, but Too Late for Foes : Tennis: Emotion comes through after she crushes Coetzer in final to complete an amazing week at Canadian Open.

In the depths of her anguish and fear after being stabbed in the back on a tennis court, Monica Seles would scarcely have dared dream that, should she come back to the sport, she might make it to the final of her first tournament.

Certainly no one would have entertained the thought that any player absent from tennis for 28 months could possibly win her first tournament back.

What this week at the du Maurier Ltd. Canadian Open proved is that it is highly dangerous to underestimate the recuperative powers of Seles. Healthy and strong, if not fully fit, Seles had no trouble defeating Amanda Coetzer, 6-0, 6-1, on Sunday to win her first title in more than two years.

Seles fought back tears as she spoke to the crowd after the match, at once laughing and crying in her inimitable manner. When Seles thanked her parents, tears came from behind the sunglasses of Karolj Seles, who coaxed his daughter to take the first few wobbly steps toward her comeback.

The fans remained on their feet as Seles, 21, was escorted out of the stadium by red-coated Canadian Mounties after re-establishing her reputation as one of tennis’ most indomitable forces and beginning the second act of her career.

Seles did not lose a set during the tournament and lost only 14 games. The average time of her matches was 56 minutes. Her 51-minute victory over Coetzer was the most lopsided final in the tournament’s history.

Seles displayed an ability to lift her game when called for, as is expected with all top players. However, Seles has given the impression that she never fully unleashed all that she was capable of. The volleys that she has worked so hard to improve, for example, were not fully revealed.

It may be true that Seles chose this tournament for her comeback simply because it fell at a time when she was ready.

But consider, too, that it was a shrewd calculation to play only one week before the U.S. Open. Coetzer pointed out that Seles’ style is so unusual that it will take most players several matches to get accustomed to it. No one will have that luxury at the Open.

Coetzer also had a remarkable week. She defeated three of the top five seeded players: Steffi Graf, Mary Pierce and Jana Novotna. Coetzer came in ranked No. 27 but will probably move to No. 21 in today’s rankings. She had the unusual opportunity to defeat two No. 1-ranked players in the same week.

The task was beyond Coetzer’s ability Sunday. The South African was expected to employ her usual tactic of running opponents around the court. In the stifling heat of center court at the National Tennis Center it would have been a wise approach. Seles had other ideas.

“Monica played a very good match,” Coetzer said. “She didn’t allow me to get into the match at all. She didn’t allow me to hit the ball like I had all week. I couldn’t judge the ball well in the air. I felt rushed. She’s getting the ball back so fast.”

Seles again dominated from the baseline, pounding 23 winners to one for Coetzer.

Her tennis has been powerful, but the players here have been talking about Seles’ mental toughness, which they expected to return more slowly.

Seles admitted that during matches here she has had flashback and “dark thoughts.” Asked if she had exorcised all her demons this week, Seles was reflective.

“I don’t know,” she said. “There are still thoughts. Reality is still here. I can’t forget that. I can get through [the thoughts], but the reality is it still happened. I can’t put that away. I think I am able to put it aside and go on with my life, which is for me the most important thing, and do what I love to do. And move away from that period.

“But it will always be there.”