Tennis icon Monica Seles, a nine-time Grand Slam champion and one of the sport’s most formidable competitors, has publicly revealed her diagnosis with myasthenia gravis (MG)—a rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease that causes varying degrees of muscle weakness. The announcement comes just ahead of the U.S. Open, a tournament where Seles once dazzled fans with her powerful baseline play and indomitable spirit.

A Silent Struggle

Seles, now 51, shared that she began experiencing symptoms nearly three years ago. What started as double vision and subtle fatigue soon escalated into more alarming signs: difficulty lifting her arms, trouble walking, and even struggling to blow dry her hair. “When I got diagnosed, I was like, ‘What?!’” she said, reflecting on the moment she learned she had MG. “I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it.”

Her journey to diagnosis was not straightforward. Like many MG patients, Seles underwent a battery of tests before receiving confirmation from a neurologist. The disease, which affects the communication between nerves and muscles, can be elusive and often mimics other conditions.

Understanding Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the neuromuscular junction—the point where nerve cells communicate with muscles. This disruption leads to muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Common symptoms include:

  • Drooping eyelids

  • Blurred or double vision

  • Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or chewing

  • Weakness in the arms and legs

  • Fatigue that intensifies with exertion

While there is no cure, MG can be managed through medications, lifestyle adjustments, and in some cases, surgery. Some patients experience remission, though symptoms may return.

A New Mission

Seles is now channeling her energy into advocacy. She’s partnered with argenx, an immunology company, to launch the “Go for Greater” campaign—a platform designed to support and empower those living with MG. Through this initiative, Seles hopes to shed light on the disease and encourage others to seek help and speak openly.

“This diagnosis was a hard reset,” she said, comparing it to other pivotal moments in her life, including her move to the U.S. at age 13 and the traumatic on-court stabbing incident in 1993. “But I’m learning to live with it, and I want others to know they’re not alone.”

Legacy Beyond the Court

Monica Seles’s courage in sharing her diagnosis adds another layer to her legacy—not just as a tennis champion, but as a resilient figure who continues to inspire. Her openness may help demystify a condition that affects thousands but remains underrecognized.

As the tennis world turns its attention to the U.S. Open, Seles’s story serves as a powerful reminder that strength isn’t just measured in titles—it’s also found in vulnerability, advocacy, and the will to keep going.