Seles reveals her diagnosis with myasthenia gravis
The nine-time grand slam winner and former world No.1 first noticed the symptoms of the neuromuscular disease while she was swinging a racket.
"I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot."
The 51-year-old Seles, who won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it "a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but ... can occur at any age, including childhood."
The Tennis Hall of Famer said she'd never heard of the condition until seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms - "just blowing my hair out ... became very difficult," she said - and legs.
"When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" said Seles, who is partnering with argenx, an immunology company headquartered in the Netherlands, to promote their Go for Greater campaign. "So this is where - I can't emphasise enough - I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it."
It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany.
"The way they welcomed me ... after my stabbing, I will never forget," Seles said about the fans in New York. "Those are the moments that stay with you."
She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting.
"I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset - hard reset - a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing - I had to do a huge reset," Seles said.
"And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust,'" she added. "And that's what I'm doing now."
Former tennis superstar Monica Seles has discussed for the first time her diagnosis of her autoimmune disease - myasthenia gravis.
The nine-time grand slam winner and former world No.1 first noticed the symptoms of the neuromuscular disease while she was swinging a racket.
"I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot."
The 51-year-old Seles, who won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it "a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but ... can occur at any age, including childhood."
The Tennis Hall of Famer said she'd never heard of the condition until seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms - "just blowing my hair out ... became very difficult," she said - and legs.
"When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" said Seles, who is partnering with argenx, an immunology company headquartered in the Netherlands, to promote their Go for Greater campaign. "So this is where - I can't emphasise enough - I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it."
It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany.
"The way they welcomed me ... after my stabbing, I will never forget," Seles said about the fans in New York. "Those are the moments that stay with you."
She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting.
"I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset - hard reset - a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing - I had to do a huge reset," Seles said.
"And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust,'" she added. "And that's what I'm doing now."
Former tennis superstar Monica Seles has discussed for the first time her diagnosis of her autoimmune disease - myasthenia gravis.
The nine-time grand slam winner and former world No.1 first noticed the symptoms of the neuromuscular disease while she was swinging a racket.
"I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot."
The 51-year-old Seles, who won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it "a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but ... can occur at any age, including childhood."
The Tennis Hall of Famer said she'd never heard of the condition until seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms - "just blowing my hair out ... became very difficult," she said - and legs.
"When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" said Seles, who is partnering with argenx, an immunology company headquartered in the Netherlands, to promote their Go for Greater campaign. "So this is where - I can't emphasise enough - I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it."
It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany.
"The way they welcomed me ... after my stabbing, I will never forget," Seles said about the fans in New York. "Those are the moments that stay with you."
She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting.
"I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset - hard reset - a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing - I had to do a huge reset," Seles said.
"And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust,'" she added. "And that's what I'm doing now."
Former tennis superstar Monica Seles has discussed for the first time her diagnosis of her autoimmune disease - myasthenia gravis.
The nine-time grand slam winner and former world No.1 first noticed the symptoms of the neuromuscular disease while she was swinging a racket.
"I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot."
The 51-year-old Seles, who won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it "a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but ... can occur at any age, including childhood."
The Tennis Hall of Famer said she'd never heard of the condition until seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms - "just blowing my hair out ... became very difficult," she said - and legs.
"When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" said Seles, who is partnering with argenx, an immunology company headquartered in the Netherlands, to promote their Go for Greater campaign. "So this is where - I can't emphasise enough - I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it."
It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany.
"The way they welcomed me ... after my stabbing, I will never forget," Seles said about the fans in New York. "Those are the moments that stay with you."
She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting.
"I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset - hard reset - a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing - I had to do a huge reset," Seles said.
"And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust,'" she added. "And that's what I'm doing now."
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Courier-Mail
2 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Tennis legend Monica Seles diagnosed with rare disease
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tennis. Followed categories will be added to My News. Tennis great Monica Seles revealed she has been diagnosed with a rare muscle-weakening condition. Seles, 51, started experiencing double vision and extremely depleted strength in her arms and legs in 2019, The Sun reports. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. A long string of tests and scans - delayed by the Covid pandemic - ruled out brain tumours and motor neurone disease. The nine-time Grand Slam champion was eventually diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in 2022. Now Seles has gone public on neuromuscular auto-immune disease - which currently has no cure - and will raise awareness for the condition with an event around this month's US Open. MG affects most of the body but particularly the muscles that control the eyes - although symptoms can vary from day to day. Approximately 15-20 people per 100,000 - or 0.015 per cent of the population - are affected by MG, which sees the immune system attack the neuromuscular junction where nerves and muscles communicate. SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 30: Champion Dominika Cibulkova (R) of Slovakia receives the trophy from WTA Legend Ambassador Monica Seles of the United States after the singles final during day 8 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore at Singapore Sports Hub on October 30, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo byfor WTA) 'I would be playing (tennis) with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball,' Seles told AP. 'I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' 'These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore. 'It took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. 'It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot.' Seles won seven of her nine Grand Slams by the age of 18. That included reaching eight Major finals in a row - winning seven - before she was tragically stabbed in April 1993 on court during a match in Hamburg by a fixated fan of Steffi Graf. The Yugoslavia-born star - who switched nationality to USA - returned in 1995 after a two-year absence. She reached the US Open final in her first Major since the stabbing then won the 1996 Australian Open, her ninth and final Grand Slam title. The lefty, who played with a double-handed forehand and backhand, officially retired in 2008 five years after her final competitive match. The tennis icon opened up on her rare condition. (Photo by Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) Seles celebrating after winning the Australian Open. (AP Photo/Steve Holland, file) Now living in Florida, she told The Athletic about her MG diagnosis: 'I thought, 'OK, just push through it.' 'But a couple of instances happened when — on court and in daily life — I realised there was something going on. 'After coming out of my former country to the IMG Academy, I had to totally reset. 'When I became No1, it was a huge reset because everybody treats you differently. 'Then obviously when I got stabbed, that was a huge reset. And then when I was diagnosed, it was a huge reset. 'The day-to-day part of managing it, depending on my symptoms, is really adjusting, you know. I think anybody else who has Myasthenia Gravis knows it's a continuous adjustment. 'After my stabbing, I had to deal with that internally for quite a few years to process it and my MG diagnosis was kind of very similar. 'I had to understand my new normal of day-to-day life, what I can do work-wise and different things.' This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission. Originally published as Tennis legend Monica Seles diagnosed with rare disease
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tennis legend Monica Seles diagnosed with rare disease
Tennis great Monica Seles revealed she has been diagnosed with a rare muscle-weakening condition. Seles, 51, started experiencing double vision and extremely depleted strength in her arms and legs in 2019, The Sun reports. A long string of tests and scans - delayed by the Covid pandemic - ruled out brain tumours and motor neurone disease. The nine-time Grand Slam champion was eventually diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in 2022. Now Seles has gone public on neuromuscular auto-immune disease - which currently has no cure - and will raise awareness for the condition with an event around this month's US Open. MG affects most of the body but particularly the muscles that control the eyes - although symptoms can vary from day to day. Approximately 15-20 people per 100,000 - or 0.015 per cent of the population - are affected by MG, which sees the immune system attack the neuromuscular junction where nerves and muscles communicate. 'I would be playing (tennis) with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball,' Seles told AP. 'I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' 'These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore. 'It took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. 'It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot.' Seles won seven of her nine Grand Slams by the age of 18. That included reaching eight Major finals in a row - winning seven - before she was tragically stabbed in April 1993 on court during a match in Hamburg by a fixated fan of Steffi Graf. The Yugoslavia-born star - who switched nationality to USA - returned in 1995 after a two-year absence. She reached the US Open final in her first Major since the stabbing then won the 1996 Australian Open, her ninth and final Grand Slam title. The lefty, who played with a double-handed forehand and backhand, officially retired in 2008 five years after her final competitive match. Now living in Florida, she told The Athletic about her MG diagnosis: 'I thought, 'OK, just push through it.' 'But a couple of instances happened when — on court and in daily life — I realised there was something going on. 'After coming out of my former country to the IMG Academy, I had to totally reset. 'When I became No1, it was a huge reset because everybody treats you differently. 'Then obviously when I got stabbed, that was a huge reset. And then when I was diagnosed, it was a huge reset. 'The day-to-day part of managing it, depending on my symptoms, is really adjusting, you know. I think anybody else who has Myasthenia Gravis knows it's a continuous adjustment. 'After my stabbing, I had to deal with that internally for quite a few years to process it and my MG diagnosis was kind of very similar. 'I had to understand my new normal of day-to-day life, what I can do work-wise and different things.'
ABC News
9 hours ago
- ABC News
Tennis legend Monica Seles reveals myasthenia gravis diagnosis as her latest 'hard reset'
Monica Seles first noticed the symptoms of myasthenia gravis while she was swinging a racquet the way she had done so many times. The 51-year-old Seles, who won the first of her nine major trophies as a 16-year-old at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with the neuromuscular autoimmune disease three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG. "I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot." According to the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: "[MG is] a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but … can occur at any age, including childhood." It can lead to problems with speaking, chewing, swallowing and breathing, and while many complications are treatable, some can be life-threatening. Seles said she had never heard of the condition before seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her legs and arms, when even "just blowing my hair out … became very difficult". Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ The tennis legend said she wished at the time of her diagnosis, she "had somebody like me speak up about it". She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting. This year marks three decades since Seles returned to competition and reached the final at the 1995 US Open, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany. "I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset — hard reset — a few times," she said. "I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old [from Yugoslavia]. Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. "Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes [everything], and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. "Then obviously my stabbing — I had to do a huge reset. "And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust'. And that's what I'm doing now." AP
