Tennis icon Chris Evert has announced that her ovarian cancer has returned for a third time. The 71-year-old former Wimbledon champion shared the news on Instagram, stating that she has undergone surgery as the first step in her treatment and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks.
Evert, who was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2021, expressed optimism about making a full recovery. She noted that ovarian cancer is "relentless" but affirmed her determination to continue fighting the disease. She also shared her gratitude for her medical team, family, friends, and those who have offered support and encouragement.
Due to her ongoing treatment, Evert will not be attending Wimbledon this year and will be stepping back from her professional commitments for the next few months to focus on her health. She stated that she looks forward to returning to her professional duties soon.
Evert, a three-time Wimbledon winner and an 18-time Grand Slam champion, has been a prominent television pundit since retiring from professional tennis in 1989. She is among the top players in the Open era, with only Serena Williams (23) and Steffi Graf (22) having won more major singles titles in women's tennis.