2023-12-09 11:07:38
American tennis legend Chris Evert, who won eighteen Grand Slam singles titles, has been diagnosed with a recurrence of her ovarian cancer and is undergoing treatment, she announced in a press release on Friday.
“While this is a diagnosis I never wanted to hear, I once again feel fortunate that it was caught in time,” Evert said in a statement released by her employer, the ESPN channel, also shared on X (formerly Twitter).
“Based on a positron emission tomography scan, I underwent another robotic surgery last week. Doctors found cancer cells in the same pelvic area. All the cells were removed and I started a new cycle of chemotherapy,” the text explains.
Evert, 68, said in January 2022 that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her younger sister, Jeanne Evert Dubin, died from the same illness in February 2020 at the age of 62.
“I encourage everyone to know their family history”
Evert said as a result she was stepping down from her work as a commentator for ESPN and would not be able to join her colleagues in Melbourne for the Australian Open next month. However, she clarified that she would be “ready for the rest of the Grand Slam tournaments this season”.
Evert was a dominant figure in women’s tennis in the 1970s and 1980s, winning 157 WTA singles titles and reaching at least the semifinals in 52 of the 56 Grand Slam tournaments she entered. Her two-handed backhand and precision from the baseline influenced generations of players.
Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova, which spanned from 1973 to 1988, including 14 Grand Slam finals, is one of the greatest in the history of sport. Since retiring, Evert has worked as a television commentator and has also been a mentor to talented young players.
The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native, who discovered through a genetic test that she was at risk for cancer, says early detection is key. “I encourage everyone to know their family history and take care of themselves,” stressed the American. “Early detection saves lives. This holiday season, be grateful that you are healthy.”
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