Honestly, if you grew up watching tennis in the 90s, Monica Seles was basically a force of nature. That grunting, the two-handed power from both sides—she didn't just play tennis; she redefined it. But lately, the headlines haven't been about her legendary return or that tragic day in Hamburg. Instead, everyone is talking about a new battle. Monica Seles has myasthenia gravis (MG), and she’s finally speaking out about it.
It’s weirdly humanizing, right? Seeing someone who was once the most physically dominant athlete on the planet talk about how she can't even blow-dry her hair anymore without getting exhausted. That’s the reality of this condition. It’s a "reset," as she calls it. And if you know Monica's history, you know she’s the queen of the hard reset.
Why Monica Seles and Myasthenia Gravis is a "Hard Reset"
In August 2025, Monica dropped the news that she had been silently fighting this thing for about three years. She chose the lead-up to the U.S. Open—the site of her famous 1995 comeback—to go public.
Basically, myasthenia gravis is this rare autoimmune disease. Your immune system gets confused and starts attacking the connection between your nerves and your muscles. Think of it like a frayed charging cable. The power is there, but the signal just isn't getting through.
For Monica, the first signs were subtle but terrifying. She was playing a casual game of tennis with some kids and family members when she suddenly saw two balls coming at her.
"I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can’t ignore," Seles told the Associated Press.
That double vision (doctors call it diplopia) is a classic MG giveaway. But it wasn't just the eyes. She started feeling extreme weakness in her legs and arms. Simple stuff became a mountain. For a woman who used to sprint across a baseline for hours, not being able to hold a hair dryer is a massive, jarring shift.
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The Struggle to Get a Diagnosis
You’d think a world-class athlete would get diagnosed in five minutes, but it took three different neurologists for Monica to get an answer.
Why? Because she looks healthy. She’s Monica Seles!
Doctors often look at fit people and assume they’re just "tired" or "stressed." It took a specialist who looked past her athletic pedigree to see the clinical reality. This is a huge issue in the MG community. Because the disease is rare—affecting about 20 out of every 100,000 people—it’s frequently misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue or even psychological issues.
Understanding the "Snowflake Disease"
People call myasthenia gravis the "snowflake disease" because no two cases are exactly the same. Some people, like the actress Suzanne Rogers from Days of Our Lives, had it hit their face and throat so hard they couldn't speak. Others might just have a drooping eyelid that comes and goes.
In Monica’s case, it’s a mix of ocular and generalized MG.
What’s actually happening in the body?
- The Signal Block: Normally, your nerves release a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical fits into receptors on your muscles like a key in a lock, telling the muscle to move.
- The Attack: In MG, your own antibodies block or destroy those locks.
- The Result: The more you use the muscle, the weaker it gets. You rest, and the strength comes back—temporarily.
It's a "pacing" game. Monica has had to learn to manage her energy in a way that’s the polar opposite of her "go for broke" tennis style. It’s not about pushing through the pain; if you push through MG, your muscles just stop working. In severe cases, it can even hit the muscles used for breathing, which is a medical emergency called a "myasthenic crisis."
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The "Fourth Reset" of a Champion
Monica views this diagnosis as the fourth major "reset" of her life.
First, it was moving from Yugoslavia to the U.S. at 13 without speaking the language. Second, it was the fame and pressure of being the world No. 1 at age 16. Third, and most famously, it was the 1993 stabbing in Hamburg that changed the course of sports history.
Now, at 51, she’s facing this.
There’s no cure for myasthenia gravis. Let that sink in. You can manage it with medications like pyridostigmine (Mestinon) or immunosuppressants, and there are newer, high-tech biologic treatments like the ones made by argenx (the company Monica is now partnering with for their "Go for Greater" campaign). But you never "get over" it. You just learn to live with it.
Honestly, the way she talks about it is pretty inspiring. She told Good Morning America that she actually thanks the sport of tennis for her diagnosis. Because she was so in tune with her body from years of pro play, she knew the minute something was off. She didn't just brush it off as "getting older."
What Most People Get Wrong About MG
There’s a common misconception that people with MG are "frail" or "sickly" all the time.
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That's not it.
You can look perfectly fine one minute and be unable to swallow or hold your head up the next. It’s an invisible disability. For Monica, she might feel great in the morning, but by the time she’s traveled or done an interview, the "battery" is drained.
She’s mentioned that traveling is a "no-brainer" no more. Now, it requires packing tips, rest days, and extreme planning. It’s a logistical nightmare compared to her days on the WTA tour.
Real Insights for the MG Community
If you or someone you know is dealing with weird muscle weakness, Monica’s story offers a few tactical takeaways:
- Trust the "two balls" rule: If you're seeing double or your eyelids are drooping, don't wait. That's not just "eye strain."
- The 3-Neurologist Rule: If your doctor says you’re "just stressed" but you can’t lift your arms to wash your hair, find a new doctor. Especially if you have an athletic background, doctors might have a bias toward your "apparent" health.
- Document everything: Seles is a big advocate for keeping a symptom diary. Because MG fluctuates, you might feel fine by the time you actually get to the doctor’s office. You need to show them what happened at 8:00 PM when you couldn't chew your dinner.
- Community is a literal lifesaver: Websites like MGUnited.com provide "Action Plans" that help patients explain their symptoms to doctors who might not be familiar with the disease.
Monica Seles isn't looking for pity. She’s looking to be the person she wished she had seen when she was first diagnosed—someone who is living a full life, even if they have to "adjust the bounce" of the ball. She’s still the same fighter who won nine Grand Slams; she’s just fighting a different kind of opponent now.
Actionable Next Steps for Patients and Caregivers
If you suspect you're dealing with similar symptoms, the best thing you can do right now is visit MGUnited.com or the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) website. These resources provide specific "doctor discussion guides" that help you navigate the tricky diagnosis process. If you are already diagnosed, look into the "Go for Greater" Action Plan—it’s the tool Monica uses to track her symptoms and maintain her quality of life.
Ultimately, the goal is to get a referral to a neurologist who specializes in neuromuscular disorders. A general practitioner often isn't enough for a condition this complex.