It’s a little known autoimmune condition, but Serbian–American tennis legend Monica Seles has revealed that she has secretly been battling myasthenia gravis (MG).

Affecting just 140,000 people in the US, the disease occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the communication between nerves and muscles.

It can lead to weak muscles, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and breathing and blurred vision. 

Seles, 51, who won nine grand Slam titles throughout her career on the court, said she was diagnosed with MG three years ago, but hopes that now, by speaking out about the disease, it will help to raise awareness. 

Dr Johnny Parvani, an emergency medicine physician, told DailyMail.com that MG is very rare and in his 10 years of practice, he had only a few encounters.

He revealed that the condition can be severely debilitating with muscles weakening throughout the body and it can ‘significantly affect’ Seles’ ability to play sports or keep active.

He explained: ‘With MG an immune response is mounted, much like the process when the body is fighting off an infection, and the signal to the muscle can be interrupted by a blockade of the neurotransmitter activity or damage to the muscle membrane. 

‘Depending on the severity of the autoimmune reaction or damage, that can result in varying degree of muscle weakness.’

The Tennis Hall of Famer admitted that she has had to take time to adjust to her ‘new normal’

Seles, who shot to fame when she won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open, first noticed the symptoms of MG 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,’ said Seles, who was stabbed during a match in 1993. 

‘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 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls MG 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 it can occur at any age, including childhood.

There is no cure for the condition.

Some of the symptoms can be relieved through a combination of medications, surgery, and other therapies. 

In some cases, surgical removal of the thymus gland (thymectomy) may be considered. 

The removal of the thymus gland – which is located in the upper part of the chest, behind the breastbone and between the lungs – can help lessen the symptoms of MG by reducing the production of harmful antibodies that disrupt communication between nerves and muscles.

Dr Johnny Parvani, an emergency medicine physician, told DailyMail.com that MG is very rare and in his 10 years of emergency medicine practice, he had only a few encounters

While it’s not a cure for everyone, a thymectomy can lead to symptom improvement and reduced reliance on medications.

Seles said that she had been completely unaware of the condition before she saw a doctor for her symptoms. 

‘When I got diagnosed, I was like, ‘What?’ Seles told the Associated Press. 

‘So this is where – I can’t emphasize enough – I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it.’ 

She was referred to a neurologist after noticing double vision and weakness in her arms. Seles revealed that even drying her hair had become a challenge. 

Dr Parvani said there isn’t much that an be done to prevent MG other than keeping your general health in check. 

Illness can trigger or worsen symptoms of MG.

Infections, in particular, are known to exacerbate MG, causing flare-ups or crises. 

While no specific virus or pathogen is definitively linked to MG, the body’s response to illness can disrupt the immune system and worsen the condition. 

Dr Parvani adds: ‘There isn’t much that can be done to avoid or exacerbate MG other than reducing risk of immune system overstimulation through infection prevention and avoidance of medications/triggers that may do the same. 

The retired star won her first Slam at the age of 16 in France, becoming the youngest to do so

The Hall of Famer won nine grand Slam titles throughout her career on the court

‘The exact triggers are still not well understood, but likely attributed to a combination of genetic and environmental or lifestyle factors.

‘It is my opinion also that the chronic exposure to novel chemicals through modern living can increase the stress burden on the body and trigger aberrant responses.’ 

The International Tennis Hall of Famer admitted that she has had to take time to adjust to her ‘new normal,’ learning to live life with her condition. 

‘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.’