Tennis Legend Chris Evert Faces Cancer Recurrence

Three-time Wimbledon champion Chris Evert, 71, will unfortunately miss attending this year’s Wimbledon series, after receiving news that her cancer has returned. She discovered the recurrence last weekend, after undergoing a series of CT and PET scans. This will be her third time facing cancer.

In 2020, Evert’s younger sister, former pro tennis player Jeanne Evert Dubin, passed away at age 62 after a battle with ovarian cancer. The cancer had already spread, before it was detected.

Evert was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021. Her sister’s cancer battle had pushed her to undergo genetic testing, and she discovered that she had the BRCA1 gene. Mutations in the BRCA1 gene are one of the leading causes of hereditary ovarian cancer. After the discovery, Evert chose to undergo a preventative hysterectomy, after discussion with her doctors.

The surgery revealed stage 1 ovarian cancer in her left fallopian tube. A follow-up surgery was required to remove any remaining cancer cells. She also underwent six chemotherapy sessions and completed her treatment in 2022. At the time, her doctors told her that she had over a 90% chance of a full recovery, since her cancer was caught early.

However, she suffered a recurrence in 2023, before ⁠going into remission in 2024, six months after.

Now, in 2026, Evert prepares to face another round of cancer treatment to manage her cancer recurrence. According to her social media, she has already undergone surgery, and will begin chemotherapy in the next few weeks. She has been open about sharing her cancer journey, and shared that she plans to take a step back from her work over the next few months for her health.

She remains positive and determined to fight the recurrence, and expressed her gratitude for everyone who has supported her journey so far.

Evert’s long-running rivalry and ​friendship with fellow player Martina Navratilova over the past 50 years is well-known. Beyond the professional arena, their bond deepened even further when Navratilova was also diagnosed with throat and breast cancer in 2023. The two shared their journey together, and found support in each other during difficult times.

In an interview with Reuters earlier this month, she shared the following about Evert: “I know how tough she is. She knows how tough I am... when push comes to shove, we were always okay. We came through ​it with flying colours.”

A full documentary detailing their rivalry, bond, and shared cancer journey will feature on Netflix's "Chris and Martina: The Final Set", releasing on June 26, 2026.