Monica Seles has the chronic neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis.
The 51-year-old legend, who has won nine grand slam titles and was elected into the tennis Hall of Fame in 2009, has had the diagnosis since 2022. Now she talks openly about the disease in an interview with AP.
It has taken some time to really take it in and talk openly about it because it is tough. It affects my daily life quite a bit, says Seles.
The former American world number one, who was born in Serbian Novi Sad in former Yugoslavia, discovered the first symptoms, double vision, when she played tennis.
I played with some kids or family members and missed the ball. I felt: "Okay, now I see two balls".
Myasthenia gravis most often affects women under 40 or men over 60 years. Anyone can be affected, even children, according to American health authorities.
Monica Seles played her last professional match in 2003 and retired in 2008.
