Former tennis star Monica Seles is to marry her 72-year-old partner, billionaire B. Thomas Golisano, it has been reported.

Thomas Golisano. Photo: Getty

Mr Golisano, a philanthropist and former National Hockey League team owner, announced the engagement during a visit to a school in Irondequoit, New York, according to local newspaper the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

The nine-time tennis Grand Slam champion has reportedly been dating the billionaire for several years. Golisano founded human resources company Paychex, and retired in 2004.

According to the paper, he has dedicated his time since to philanthropy through the Golisano Foundation. He has also been active in state politics and owned the Buffalo Sabres for several years.

More recently, it reported, Golisano has expressed interest in buying the Buffalo Bills.

Seles, 40, played professional tennis from 1989 to 2003. In 1990, at age 16, she became the youngest French Open champion ever. From 1990 to 1993, she won eight Grand Slam titles and was consistently ranked No. 1 in the world.

In 1993, she was stabbed in an on-court attack and didn’t play for two years.

Both Seles and Golisano now live in Florida.