Chris Evert, one of the greatest tennis players in history, has shared devastating news with the world, her ovarian cancer has returned for a third time. The 71-year-old American, who first received her diagnosis back in December 2021, announced the news through a heartfelt Instagram post, describing the disease as "relentless" while vowing to remain optimistic.
Evert revealed she had undergone CT and PET scans before learning of the recurrence, and that surgery has already taken place as the first stage of her treatment. Chemotherapy is set to begin in the coming weeks. As a result, she will not be present at Wimbledon this summer, a tournament she won three times during her legendary playing career, and has stepped back from all professional commitments while she focuses on her recovery.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion retired from professional tennis in 1989 and has since become a beloved broadcaster, working regularly with ESPN and as a pundit for the BBC. ESPN's executive vice president of production, Mike McQuade, expressed the network's support, noting how much she will be missed at the fortnight's coverage.
Evert sits third among women's Grand Slam singles title holders in the Open era, behind only Serena Williams with 23 and Steffi Graf with 22, a remarkable legacy that underscores why her health battle resonates so deeply across the tennis community.
Long-time rival and close friend Martina Navratilova offered a stirring message of support, calling Evert a "champion of champions" and expressing confidence she would emerge cancer-free once more.
TennisDraw users have always counted Evert among the sport's most iconic figures, and the entire tennis community stands firmly behind her in this fight.
