Tennis legend Chris Evert says ‘relentless’ cancer returns for third time
Tennis legend Chris Evert said her “relentless” cancer has returned for a third time.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion, now 71, announced Thursday that her ovarian cancer has returned.
“This past weekend, after undergoing CT and PET scans, I learned that my ovarian cancer has returned,” Evert wrote on her social media pages.
Above video | Inspiring Stories, the Chris Evert story
Evert has been very open about her health journey, successfully beating the disease twice before in 2021 and 2023.
She’s vowing to fight the disease again, but said she will skip Wimbledon this year, where she has been working as a commentator for the past two decades.
“Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined in continuing to fight this battle. I am deeply grateful to my medical team, my friends, and everyone who has reached out with kindness and encouragement. I look forward to seeing everyone again soon,” Evert said.
Evert is one of the greatest tennis players in history, winning 18 Grand Slam singles titles, a record seven French Open championships, and finishing her career with 157 singles titles while helping popularize women’s tennis during the 1970s and 1980s.
Since retiring, she has built a successful career as a tennis analyst, founded the Evert Tennis Academy in Florida, and has become a leading advocate for cancer awareness.
Approximately 70% of ovarian cancer patients will experience a recurrence of the disease, according to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.