Tennis icon Monica Seles recently shared that she received a life-altering diagnosis of a neuromuscular disease three years ago. Seles, aged 51, made her condition, myasthenia gravis, public before the upcoming US Open tournament.
With a remarkable career that includes nine Grand Slam titles, the Serbian-American athlete clinched the Australian Open four times, the French Open thrice, and the US Open twice. Seles retired from professional tennis in 2008, with her final match occurring five years earlier.
Formerly ranked as the world No.1, Seles now copes with a rare condition characterized by muscle weakness that can impact various body parts. She first observed symptoms approximately five years ago, recalling instances during tennis games when she struggled to see clearly and experienced muscle weakness.
Expressing her challenges, Seles mentioned, “It was a gradual process to come to terms with it and speak openly about it because it significantly affects my daily routine.” The diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, a condition she had not previously heard of, followed consultations with medical specialists due to symptoms like double vision and arm weakness.
Seles, who is married to Tom Golisano and has two children, likened her current situation to a past traumatic event in her life. In 1993, she was attacked with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany, and her return to competition at the 1995 US Open after the incident left a lasting impact on her.
Reflecting on her life’s challenges and transitions, Seles emphasized the importance of adapting to new circumstances, drawing parallels between her past experiences and the current phase of coping with her health condition.