She’s the American who shares the longest Australian Open win streak with Novak Djokovic

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An all-time great from the 1990s matched Djokovic’s astonishing run in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic stands alone as the most decorated player in Australian Open history, with 10 Men’s Singles titles to his name. His dominance included a remarkable 33-match winning streak between 2019 and 2024, a run that delivered four championships before Alexander Zverev finally halted him in a tense semi-final.

But Djokovic is not the only player to have woven together such a commanding sequence in Melbourne. Long before his era, an American superstar produced an equally extraordinary run that stretched across nearly a decade and made her one of the most feared competitors of her generation.

Monica Seles’ 33-match unbeaten run at the Australian Open

The player who matched Djokovic’s feat was Monica Seles, whose brilliance at the Australian Open began the moment she debuted in 1991. Just 17 years old at the time, she won the title on her first attempt, beating Jana Novotná in the final. She successfully defended her crown in 1992 with a straight-sets win over Mary Joe Fernández, then completed a three-peat in 1993 by defeating Steffi Graf.

Seles did not compete in the 1994 and 1995 editions after the infamous 1993 stabbing incident, but returned in 1996 and immediately reclaimed the trophy with a dominant win over Anke Huber. She missed the next two tournaments again before returning in 1999, reaching the semi-finals and beating Graf along the way. Her streak ultimately ended at 33 matches when Martina Hingis — the reigning champion in 1997 and 1998 — defeated her in straight sets before going on to lift a third consecutive title.

Seles’ later career and retirement

A nine-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, Seles remained a formidable force well into the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her 1999 Australian Open semi-final appearance proved to be her last deep run in Melbourne, though she continued to compete until 2003.

She officially retired in 2008, announcing she would no longer pursue a full touring schedule but would continue playing exhibitions and supporting charitable events. Over the course of her career, Seles captured 53 WTA singles titles and secured her place among the greatest competitors the sport has ever seen.