Monica Seles and Jonathon Roberts

Posted By: admin On: March 17, 2008 Comments: ( 0 )

Monica Seles
Occupation: Grand Slam tennis champion

Partnered With: Jonathan Roberts

BACKGROUND:
Tennis champ, Monica Seles, is the holder of nine grand slam singles titles and was the top-ranked player in the world. She turned pro in 1988 at the age of fourteen and won her first grand slam championship, the French Open, just two years later. After a two-year absence from the tour in 1993 and 1994, Seles rose above adversity and returned to capture her final grand slam crown in 1996 winning the Australian Open. She holds an outstanding career win loss singles record of 595-122 and was ranked the13th greatest player of all time by Tennis Magazine. Her accomplishments also extend beyond the tennis court as Goodwill Ambassador for the Laures Sports Foundation and the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Microalgae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM).

Jonathon Roberts

Partnered with: Monica Seles

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• 2004 USA Rising Star Latin Champion
• 2003 Blackpool Rising Star Latin
• 1997 USA Rising Star American Ballroom
• 2 times undefeated USA pro-am 10 dance champions
• 3 times undefeated USA pro-am Latin champions
• 2 times USA pro-am American Ballroom champions.

STATS:
Style: Latin
Nationality: American
Based in: San Jose, California
Status: Not Currently Competing

BACKGROUND:
During Season 1, Jonathan partnered supermodel Rachel Hunter into 4th place. Season 2, Jonathan and his partner journalist Giselle Fernandez, finished in 8th place. He partnered charity campaigner Heather Mills into 7th place during Season 4.

Jonathan started dancing 11 years ago, at the age of 20. He is one of the few competitors representing America who was actually born in the United States.

Coming from a big sports background in high school (namely basketball), it was as much of as shock to Jonathan as it was to his family and friends when he discovered a passion for ballroom dancing. Jonathan went to see the Al Pacino movie Scent of a Woman and there was something about the famous tango scene that struck a chord. He took advantage of the free ballroom lesson offered on his movie ticket stub, and the rest is history.

With his first partner, Jonathan won the 1997 USA Rising Star American Ballroom before deciding to focus on the Latin style.

Jonathan Roberts has been dancing with his current partner (and wife) Anna Trebunskaya for six years. Although only having danced together for a relatively short time, they have achieved many high placements in competitions around the world.