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Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Health
- Sky News AU
'I'm not backing down': Tennis legend and former World No.1 Monica Seles opens up about finding her 'new normal' after shock diagnosis with rare neuromuscular disease
Tennis great Monica Seles has revealed she was diagnosed three years ago with myasthenia gravis (MG)- a rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease- and is now speaking out to raise awareness. The 51-year-old Serbian-American opened up about the chronic illness ahead of the US Open, which begins on August 24, telling the Associated Press she first noticed symptoms while swinging a racket- something she'd done countless times throughout her illustrious career. "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 Myasthenia Alliance Australia, MG occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the neuromuscular junction- where nerves communicate with muscles- causing weakness that worsens with activity but improves with rest. It can affect eye movement, facial expressions, swallowing, breathing, and other muscle functions. Seles said she had never heard of the condition until she saw a doctor, who referred her to a neurologist after she developed double vision and weakness in her arms and legs. "When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" she admitted. "So this is where- I can't emphasise enough- I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it." The nine-time grand slam champion is now part of the Go for Greater campaign, run by Dutch immunology company Argenx, to raise awareness of the disease. Posting a video to social media on Wednesday, Seles reflected on both her career and her newest battle off the court. "I've seen some tough competition over the years and now I'm taking on a new opponent, myasthenia gravis," she wrote. "And like all my battles on the tennis court, I'm not backing down. I'm Going for Greater with MG." Seles is no stranger to adversity, having survived a horrific on-court knife attack in 1993 during a tournament in Hamburg, Germany. The incident forced her into a two-year hiatus, affecting both her mental and physical health. She still remembers the emotional welcome from fans at the 1995 US Open. "The way they welcomed me … after my stabbing, I will never forget," she said. "Those are the moments that stay with you." Now, she says, she's learning to adapt to her "new normal", calling it just another in a series of "hard resets" she's faced throughout her life. "I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset- hard reset- a few times,' she said. The first came when she moved to the US at 13, a young girl from Yugoslavia who didn't speak English. The second was becoming a tennis champion at 16 and navigating fame, money, and intense attention. The third was the stabbing that changed her career. "And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset," she admitted. "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."
7 days ago
- Health
Tennis star Monica Seles talks myasthenia gravis diagnosis, how she knew something was wrong
Tennis legend Monica Seles is speaking out about her diagnosis with a chronic neuromuscular condition to help shine a spotlight on the disease for others who may be struggling with changes to their own health. The nine-time Grand Slam champion and International Tennis Hall of Famer, who played her last professional competitive match in 2003 and officially retired from the sport in 2008, said in an interview with "Good Morning America" Tuesday that she was diagnosed three years ago with myasthenia gravis, or MG, a rare autoimmune condition. "It was 30 years ago that I came back to the [U.S.] Open ... It was like a reset, and this was one of the reasons I decided to go public with my myasthenia gravis, because it's been a huge reset in my professional life as a tennis player, also in my personal life," Seles said, speaking about her diagnosis publicly for the first time. Seles, who is also a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical immunology and antibody innovation company Argenx, the maker of one of her medications, told "GMA" that knowing her body so well as a professional athlete helped her realize that something was wrong. "I started experiencing these symptoms of extreme leg weakness, arm weakness, double vision. So I realized, 'This is very unusual,'" she said. "Once I was diagnosed, it was like a relief, but also it was a challenge. Even coming here today -- in the old days, traveling would be a no-brainer. Now I had to get packing tips. I had to learn a new way to live with MG." Seles said she decided to spotlight her condition and share more information publicly to raise awareness of the disease. "When I got diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, I had no clue what it was. I had a hard time pronouncing it," she said, noting that she hoped to use her platform "in a good way" to prompt conversations about myasthenia gravis and its symptoms, "and really just to not feel alone." "It's been a very challenging time dealing with it," she added. "[But] knowing that there's hope out there ... and a great community ... has helped me tremendously." She encouraged people to "advocate for yourself and know your symptoms" if they are in the process of figuring out their own health journey. Seles, 51, also spoke to "GMA" about the current class of rising tennis stars and why she's getting excited for the final Grand Slam of the season in New York. "I wish I had a crystal ball. I love [Coco] Gauff, the electricity she brought to the U.S. Open," Seles said. "Obviously we have a couple youngsters coming up. As a tennis fan, you know, we just want great matches and the excitement of the fans." What to know about myasthenia gravis According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, myasthenia gravis is a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles," which include those connecting a person's bones, as well as the muscles "in the face, throat, and diaphragm." Voluntary muscles "contract to move the arms and legs and are essential for breathing, swallowing and facial movements," the agency states. MG is an autoimmune disease, a condition in which the body attacks its own healthy cells by mistake, according to NINDS. Myasthenia gravis most commonly impacts adult women under 40, "but it can occur at any age," the NINDS website states. Symptoms can include weakness of the eye muscles, as well as muscles in the arms, legs, hands, fingers, and neck, and can also include shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids and impaired speech. Blurred or double vision may also occur, according to the agency. Symptoms may not be recognized immediately as MG, according to NINDS, and "the degree of muscle weakness involved" may vary between individuals. In severe cases, the muscles that control breathing can be affected by a myasthenic crisis, which requires immediate medical attention and respiratory support using a breathing machine. These crises may be triggered by infection, stress, or medications and can occur in approximately 15-20% of individuals with MG. MG is diagnosed through physical and neurological exams, blood tests and electrodiagnostic tests such as nerve stimulation tests, NINDS states. There is currently no known cure for MG, however the agency states that treatments are available to help reduce and improve muscle weakness.
USA Today
12-08-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Monica Seles, former tennis star, addresses myasthenia gravis diagnosis
Former tennis star Monica Seles says she has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular autoimmune disease that causes muscles to get tired and very weak. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no cure for the disease, and it is more common in women younger than 40 and in men older than 60. More than 120,000 people are living with MG in the United States. Seles, 51, was diagnosed three years ago when she says that she noticed the symptoms when hitting tennis balls with people and would sometimes see two balls coming her way instead of one. "My MG journey over the past 5 years has not been an easy one. I felt isolated and defeated as many of the activities I enjoyed were no longer physically possible for me," Seles said on Argenx is an immunology company located in the Netherlands. "I've since realized that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness of this disease, empower patients to advocate for themselves and help them connect with the MG community for support." The nine-time Grand Slam champion retired from tennis in 2008. "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 U.S. as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time," Seles told the Associated Press. "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 (in 1993) – I had to do a huge reset."
12-08-2025
- Health
Tennis champion Monica Seles talks US Open, career and health after tennis
The nine-time Grand Slam champion and Argenx spokesperson opens up about her myasthenia gravis diagnosis and reflects on life after tennis. August 12, 2025
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You be Confident in Argenx SE (ARGX)?
Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its 'Baron Health Care Fund' second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund declined 5.06% (Institutional Shares) in the quarter, against a challenging backdrop for the broader Health Care sector, compared to a 6.19% decline for the Russell 3000 Health Care Index (benchmark) and a 10.99% gain for the Russell 3000 Index (the Index). In addition, please check the fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Baron Health Care Fund highlighted stocks such as Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX). Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) designs and manufactures electrical, electronic, and fiber optic connectors. The one-month return of Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) was 10.20%, and its shares gained 16.02% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 30, 2025, Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) stock closed at $598.89 per share, with a market capitalization of $36.652 billion. Baron Health Care Fund stated the following regarding Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX is a biotechnology company best known for developing Vyvgart, the leading FcRn inhibitor for the treatment of autoimmune conditions. Shares declined after Q1 Vyvgart sales came in below elevated investor expectations due to a combination of seasonal factors (such as insurance reverification) and higher Medicare Part D utilization and associated discounts. Our conversations with management and neurologists continue to reinforce Vyvgart's value as an important treatment option with strong long-term growth potential. The drug continues to launch well in both generalized myasthenia gravis and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Over time, we expect Vyvgart to demonstrate efficacy across an expanding range of autoantibody-driven autoimmune conditions, supported by encouraging Phase 2 myositis data recently presented by argenx at a major medical conference." A lab setting filled with scientific equipment and researchers in lab coats working together to develop new therapies for autoimmune diseases. Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 54 hedge fund portfolios held Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) at the end of the first quarter, which was 47 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. In another article, we covered Argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) and shared the list of high growth stocks outside tech analysts are bullish on. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
