Monica Seles — nine-time Grand Slam champion — reveals a myasthenia gravis diagnosis she received in 2022. Read her story, learn what MG is, how it’s treated, and how Seles is using her platform to raise awareness.
The Essentials
- Tennis legend Monica Seles has publicly revealed she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in 2022 and is now speaking out to raise awareness.
- She first noticed symptoms while playing casually — double vision and weakness — which led her to see a neurologist and get testing.
- Seles is partnering with immunology company argenx for a “Go for Greater” campaign ahead of the U.S. Open to shine a light on MG.
The announcement — what Monica Seles said
In a wide-ranging interview published this week, Monica Seles — a nine-time Grand Slam champion and International Tennis Hall of Famer — disclosed that she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago. She described how the earliest signs felt deceptively ordinary: double vision when she swung a racket with family and sudden muscle weakness while doing everyday tasks. Those symptoms prompted medical evaluation and the MG diagnosis. Seles framed the news as another major life “reset,” joining earlier upheavals in her life — emigrating to the U.S., coping with stardom as a teenager, and surviving a violent on-court attack in 1993 — and she said she wants to help others who face a similar journey.
Seles will partner with argenx and the “Go for Greater” campaign to raise awareness of the rare autoimmune disease ahead of the U.S. Open. The messaging is focused on recognition of symptoms, timely diagnosis and the human side of living with a chronic condition.
What is myasthenia gravis (MG)? — a concise primer
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder in which the immune system produces antibodies that interfere with communication between nerves and muscles. That interference causes variable muscle weakness that typically worsens with activity and improves with rest. Common features include:
- Ocular symptoms: double vision (diplopia) and drooping eyelids (ptosis).
- Bulbar symptoms: difficulty speaking, chewing, or swallowing.
- Limb weakness: especially in proximal muscles (shoulders, hips).
- Fatigability: symptoms typically worsen after exertion and may improve after rest.
MG can affect people of any age but tends to present more often in younger women and older men. Diagnosis is established through clinical evaluation plus tests such as repetitive nerve stimulation, single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG), and antibody testing (AChR and MuSK), and imaging to rule out thymoma when indicated. Treatment options include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., pyridostigmine), corticosteroids and steroid-sparing immunosuppressants, IVIG or plasma exchange for acute flares, and targeted biologics for refractory disease. Early recognition and specialist care (neurologists with MG experience) make a big difference in outcomes.
How Seles first noticed — the human detail
What stands out in Seles’ account is the ordinary setting for extraordinary symptoms. She says she noticed double vision while simply playing tennis with family members — something that would feel familiar and routine to anyone who has spent a lifetime with a racket in hand. At first the oddities were small: a missed ball, blurred sightlines, a one-off weakness that she could attribute to tiredness. But the symptoms persisted, prompting medical referral and testing that ultimately led to the MG diagnosis in 2022. She told reporters that even simple activities — “blowing out my hair,” getting dressed — sometimes became unexpectedly hard. Seles framed facing MG as another major life adjustment after everything she has already lived through.
That intimate description has resonance: the disease often begins with seemingly minor symptoms that progress over time, and an early evaluation by a neurologist is essential.
Treatment, management and “new normal”
Seles told reporters she is learning how to adapt and manage daily life with MG. That often means a combination of medical therapy plus lifestyle changes to conserve energy, avoid triggers (infection, some medications, stress), and manage daily tasks. Many people with MG achieve substantial control of symptoms with modern therapies, though the course can be unpredictable and varies widely between individuals.
Seles’ public openness is important: MG is rare enough that many people and even clinicians may not immediately recognise the pattern. By sharing the practical realities — the fatigue, the visual changes, the daily adjustments — Seles is humanising a condition that can otherwise feel isolating. It also helps reduce stigma and encourages people to seek early specialist care if they have worrying symptoms.
Why this matters in sport and beyond
A high-profile figure like Monica Seles speaking publicly about MG has multiple downstream effects:
- Awareness & early diagnosis: Many people attribute muscle weakness and double vision to tiredness or temporary issues; public figures can change that perception.
- Research & funding momentum: Public campaigns can drive donations and attention toward research on autoimmune neuromuscular diseases. argenx’s awareness drive tied to the U.S. Open is an example of private–public collaboration to focus attention.
- Athlete health narrative: Seles’ story joins a broader conversation about athlete health after competitive life — physical, mental and neurological — and how champions adapt to life after peak sport.
- Role model effect: For people living with chronic illness, seeing a respected sports icon live fully while managing a disease can be deeply encouraging.
How common is MG and what should people watch for?
Myasthenia gravis is classified as a rare disease — estimates vary by region, but prevalence is generally on the order of ~14–36 cases per 100,000 population depending on study methodology. It’s not common, but it’s not vanishingly rare either, and it often goes unrecognised early on. Key red flags that should prompt a medical evaluation include:
- New double vision or drooping eyelids.
- Unexplained weakness in arms or legs that gets worse with activity.
- Changes in speech, chewing or swallowing.
- Difficulty breathing or worsening shortness of breath — an emergency sign.
If readers notice such symptoms, advise them to contact a physician promptly and, if possible, a neurologist with experience in neuromuscular disorders. Early diagnosis helps guide therapy that can markedly improve quality of life.
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Monica Seles’ tennis legacy — context matters
Seles is one of the sport’s most compelling figures: born in Yugoslavia (now Serbia) and later a U.S. resident, she burst onto the world stage as a teenager, winning multiple Grand Slam titles and becoming the youngest ever world No. 1. Her career includes major high points and a dramatic setback — the 1993 on-court stabbing in Hamburg that derailed her career for years. Despite trauma and the pressures of stardom, she returned to competitive tennis and later earned a place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. That history of survival and comeback frames why Seles’ calm, considered discussion of another life reset resonates for fans worldwide.
Seles’ advocacy work — argenx partnership & “Go for Greater”
Seles announced a collaboration with argenx — an immunology company — tied to a “Go for Greater” awareness campaign timed around the U.S. Open. According to the company announcement, Seles will share her experience to highlight MG’s symptoms and resources and to underscore the importance of medical research and patient support. Corporate partnerships like this are often paired with educational content, patient stories and fundraising to benefit disease advocacy groups. Seles told interviewers she hopes to use her platform responsibly to help people feel less alone and to spotlight treatment options and research avenues.
What experts say — prognosis & modern therapies
Modern MG management has improved dramatically over recent decades. Standard treatments include:
- Symptomatic therapy: pyridostigmine (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor) to improve neuromuscular transmission.
- Immunosuppression: steroids and steroid-sparing agents (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil).
- Rapid immune therapies: IVIG or plasma exchange for severe exacerbations.
- Targeted biologics: agents such as complement inhibitors and FcRn antagonists are options for refractory disease and have been a major advance. These targeted treatments (including drugs developed or commercialised by companies in the immunology space) can reduce exacerbations and improve function in many patients. (Speak to neurology literature for more nuanced guidance.)
A neurologist or neuromuscular specialist can explain which treatments fit a patient’s severity, antibody status and comorbidities.
Reaction from the tennis world and fans
Major sports outlets and broadcast programs reacted quickly to Seles’ announcement, running interviews and explainer pieces. Fans expressed support on social media, praising Seles for using her voice to help others. Broadcasters also used the moment to remind viewers that elite athletes are not immune to chronic disease and that risk of MG is not tied to fitness. That combination of sympathy, curiosity, and practical guidance dominated early coverage.
How to cover this story responsibly (for editors and writers)
If you’re publishing or amplifying this news, consider best practices:
- Use primary sources when possible: link to Monica Seles’ interviews and the argenx announcement rather than unverified social posts.
- Avoid medical speculation: don’t guess about Seles’ prognosis or specific treatment choices unless confirmed.
- Provide context and resources: link to reputable neurology and patient-advocacy organizations that explain MG symptoms, diagnosis and care.
- Respect privacy: Seles is sharing by choice — avoid prying into unrelated private medical details.
- Elevate helpful voices: include expert commentary from neurologists and patient advocates where available.
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