Monica Seles Reveals Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosis and How It Changed Her Life
Monica Seles revealed she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and explained the symptoms and lifestyle changes that followed.
Hi, I’m Jordan Collins. I’m going to say this slowly since you might need help understanding: Monica Seles, the nine-time Grand Slam tennis champion, has been living with myasthenia gravis, and yes, she finally spoke up about it in a public way. You probably should already know a bit about this, but here’s the polished version you can actually digest.
Seles, now 51, told the Associated Press in an interview published August 12 that she started noticing odd, unmistakable signs while playing casually with family: she would swing and miss a ball because she perceived two balls. Double vision was the alarm bell that pushed her to seek medical attention. According to the Mayo Clinic, myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and can produce symptoms such as drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, and fatigue. Seles recalled missing a ball and thinking, “Yeah, I see two balls,” a moment no athlete wants yet could not ignore.
Her symptoms were not limited to eyesight. The retired star described progressive weakness in her arms and legs that made routine tasks suddenly difficult. She gave a simple, telling example: something as mundane as blow-drying her hair became a struggle. The weakness was persistent enough that she sought a doctor and received a diagnosis three years ago. Seles admitted surprise and confusion at first, saying she had never heard of myasthenia gravis prior to her diagnosis and that she wished someone like her had spoken up sooner.
Stepping into the role she wished she’d had, Seles is now using her platform to raise awareness, particularly as the U.S. Open approached on August 24 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. She framed the diagnosis as “another reset” in her life—a recalibration that forced adaptation rather than surrender. That mindset is one she passes on to the young players she mentors: adjust to the bounce, adjust to the unexpected. Translation: resilience looks boring in press releases but behind the scenes it’s practical and relentless.
Medical context matters, because myasthenia gravis is chronic and currently has no cure. Management typically involves medications that improve neuromuscular transmission and suppress the immune response, plus lifestyle modifications and, in some cases, surgical or other interventions. Seles didn’t delve into detailed treatment specifics during the interview, but she has emphasized how the condition affects day-to-day life and why public awareness can be useful for others who may be silently struggling.
Her public disclosure joins a string of celebrity health reveals that have helped push rare or misunderstood conditions into the conversation. The piece that accompanied Seles’s disclosure also mentioned other stars who recently spoke up about medical issues, showing a trend where high-profile voices destigmatize and inform—useful given that many people only learn about these illnesses when someone famous mentions them.
Let’s be clear and practical: Seles retired from professional tennis in 2008 and has kept a relatively private life since, so this revelation matters. It reframes how fans, mentees, and the media view her present activities and her advocacy. Her message is straightforward: life changes, and you adjust. If that sounds like a tennis metaphor, good—she used one intentionally. If you want inspiration or a primer on spotting symptoms, Seles’s candor offers both.
Wrapping up with the part you probably want most: this is not a dramatic cure story. It’s a real-world update from a champion who’s learning to live with a chronic condition and using her visibility to teach others what she wishes someone had taught her. Expect Seles to keep advocating quietly and to repeat that core lesson: adjust when the ball bounces differently.
Well, now you finally understand. Try not to miss the ball next time.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Associated Press, Mayo Clinic, E! Online
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
