Monica Seles, a nine-time Grand Slam tennis champion and International Tennis Hall of Famer, publicly revealed in August 2025 that she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in 2022. This neuromuscular autoimmune disease causes muscle weakness, fatigue, and symptoms like double vision, droopy eyelids, difficulty speaking, swallowing, or chewing, and weakness in the arms, legs, or neck. Seles first noticed symptoms while playing tennis, such as seeing “two balls” instead of one, and struggled with routine tasks like blow-drying her hair due to arm weakness.
Key Details:
- Diagnosis Timeline: Seles began experiencing symptoms in 2019, with a confirmed diagnosis in 2022 after consulting a neurologist.
- Impact: The disease significantly affects her daily life, requiring her to adapt to a “new normal.” She described the adjustment as a “hard reset,” similar to past challenges like her 1993 stabbing and moving to the U.S. as a young teen.
- Purpose of Sharing: Seles is speaking out to raise awareness about MG, partnering with Argenx (a Dutch immunology company) for their “Go for Greater” campaign ahead of the U.S. Open starting August 24, 2025. She aims to empower patients and connect them with the MG community.
- Prevalence and Treatment: MG affects about 20–60 per 100,000 people in the U.S., with higher rates in women under 40 and men over 60, though it can occur at any age. There is no cure, but treatments like medications, immunosuppressive therapies, and thymectomy (thymus gland removal) can manage symptoms. Some cases may enter remission.
- Seles’ Perspective: Known for her resilience, Seles emphasizes adaptability, telling mentees, “You’ve got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you’ve just got to adjust.”