Tennis icon Monica Seles has openly talked about her myasthenia gravis diagnosis, a rare autoimmune condition affecting the neuromuscular system. This revelation has been made by the athlete who has been dealing with the illness for the last three years. Seles’s choice to address the situation marks a significant occasion, impacting not just her admirers but also the wider medical community, as it brings awareness to a chronic ailment that is frequently misinterpreted. The announcement underscores her lasting strength, a trait she has consistently shown during her extraordinary life and profession.
Myasthenia gravis, often referred to as MG, is a disabling disorder that leads to muscle weakness and tiredness. This chronic autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system erroneously targets its own healthy cells, interfering with the nerve-muscle communication. Symptoms frequently vary and may entail drooping eyelids, double vision, and weakness in the arms, legs, and facial muscles. For Seles, an athlete whose career relied on immense power and accuracy, these symptoms were especially concerning. Her diagnosis represents another significant hurdle in a life marked by remarkable achievements and intensely personal battles.
Seles first noticed the symptoms while doing what she had done for most of her life: swinging a tennis racket. She described seeing two balls instead of one and experiencing a disconcerting weakness in her limbs. These initial experiences, which were difficult to ignore, led her to seek medical help. After a lengthy diagnostic process, she was referred to a neurologist and finally received the life-altering diagnosis. This part of her story is a critical one, as it highlights the importance of recognizing and acting on unusual symptoms, particularly for a condition that can be difficult to identify.
The timing of her public announcement is particularly meaningful, coming just before the US Open, a tournament where Seles has a deep and emotional history. The New York crowd famously welcomed her back to professional tennis in 1995, following the on-court stabbing that had forced her into a two-year hiatus. Her return to the US Open final that year was an epic moment of perseverance, and her latest revelation continues that narrative of strength in the face of adversity. By speaking out now, Seles is using her platform to raise awareness and support others who may be living with the same condition, a gesture that reflects her profound sense of empathy and her desire to give back.
Seles’s journey also serves as proof of the concept of a “hard reset,” a phrase she has employed to characterize several significant changes in her life. Her first reset took place when she relocated from Yugoslavia to the United States during her adolescence to follow her tennis ambitions. The second reset occurred when she achieved peak success in her sport at a tender age, managing the fame and stress that accompanied it. The third, and most well-known, reset happened after the 1993 stabbing incident. Currently, with her myasthenia gravis diagnosis, Seles is confronting a fresh and distinct kind of reset—one that demands adjustments to her daily routine and embracing a “new normal.”
The identification of a neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis poses a significant challenge for someone who was once an elite athlete. Although Seles is not currently participating in professional competitions, her physical state and abilities have always been crucial to who she is. This ailment is particularly tricky because its symptoms intensify with exertion and alleviate with repose, a harsh irony for someone whose livelihood once depended on their athletic abilities. Seles’s experience demonstrates that, even with her extraordinary mental and physical resilience, managing a long-term illness demands a core transformation in outlook and an ongoing adaptation process.
Monica Seles’s revelation about her diagnosis with myasthenia gravis is a powerful and touching moment. It is a story not just about a medical condition but about a life of incredible perseverance and courage. By sharing her journey, she is raising awareness for an important cause and offering a message of hope to others. Her life, marked by triumphant highs and devastating lows, continues to be an example of how to face life’s unexpected challenges with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit of determination.
