Tennis great Chris Evert said Thursday that her ovarian cancer has returned and that she has already undergone surgery following the recurrence.
“I have always believed in being open and honest about my health journey,” Evert wrote in a social media post. “This past weekend, after undergoing CT and PET scans, I learned that my ovarian cancer has returned.”
Evert did not share details about the specific procedure, but described it as “the first step” in her new course of treatment. She said chemotherapy is expected to follow in the coming weeks.
The recurrence means Evert will not attend Wimbledon this year, where she has often worked as a broadcast commentator. The Wimbledon Championships are set to begin in London next week. Evert also said she will be stepping away from other professional obligations over the next several months as she focuses on her health.
“Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined in continuing to fight this battle,” Evert said.
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Evert, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, is widely regarded as one of tennis’ all-time greats. After the Women’s Tennis Association introduced its rankings in 1975, she spent 260 weeks ranked first in women’s singles.
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The WTA, the leading body for women’s professional tennis worldwide, has described Evert’s career as “the stuff of legend” and credits her backhand technique with helping to “revolutionize” the sport.
Evert was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2021. In January 2023, she announced that she was cancer free, but later disclosed that the disease had returned in December of that year.
Roughly 70% of people diagnosed with ovarian cancer will have the disease return, according to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.
