Chris Evert says ovarian cancer has returned again
The 18-time Grand Slam champion said she has had surgery and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
2 min read
Chris Evert said her ovarian cancer has returned for a third time, prompting the tennis great to step back from Wimbledon coverage and other work while she receives treatment. The announcement brings renewed attention to a disease that has affected Evert and her family repeatedly.
Evert, 71, wrote Thursday on Instagram that doctors found the recurrence after CT and PET scans over the weekend, according to NBC News. She said she has already had surgery as the first stage of treatment and recovery, and expects to start chemotherapy in the coming weeks.
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion said she would pause her ESPN duties for Wimbledon and other professional commitments to focus on her health, NBC News reported.
A third bout with ovarian cancer
Evert has faced ovarian cancer twice before, with diagnoses in 2021 and 2023, according to NBC News. She recovered after both earlier diagnoses.
Her sister, Jeanne Evert Dubin, died of ovarian cancer in 2020, NBC News reported. Evert has spoken publicly in the past about her own cancer experience and the family history surrounding it.
In her Instagram post, Evert described the disease as “relentless” while saying she remained optimistic. She also thanked her medical team, relatives, friends and people who had sent support, adding that she hoped to see people again soon.
Tributes and timing
Evert’s update came one day before Netflix was set to release “Chris & Martina: The Final Set,” a documentary about Evert and Martina Navratilova, according to NBC News. The film follows their tennis careers and their experiences with cancer.
Navratilova responded to Evert’s post on Instagram, calling her friend “a champion of champions” and saying she believed Evert would beat the disease again. Navratilova wrote that people were pulling for Evert and hoped she would be cancer-free again.
Navratilova was diagnosed with throat cancer and breast cancer in 2023 and was later declared cancer-free, NBC News reported.
A Hall of Fame career
Evert is one of the defining players in women’s tennis history. NBC News reported that she won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, reached No. 1 in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings and entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.
She retired from professional tennis in September 1989, according to NBC News. In recent years, she has remained prominent in the sport through broadcasting and public appearances, including ESPN’s coverage of major tournaments.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.