Tennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert, aged 71, announced Thursday via an Instagram post that her ovarian cancer has returned. This marks her third diagnosis with the disease.
“I have always believed in being open and honest about my health journey. This past weekend, after undergoing CT and PET scans, I learned that my ovarian cancer has returned,” Evert announced. “I have already undergone surgery as the first step in my treatment and recovery, and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks. Because of this, I will not be attending Wimbledon this year, and I will step back from my professional commitments over the next few months to focus on my health. Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined in continuing to fight this battle.”
She went on to thank her friends, family and medical staff for support.
Evert previously told fans and supporters that she recently had surgery in a June 23 update. “Unexpectedly, a recent, routine CT scan was abnormal, suggesting the ovarian cancer may be back. Surgery is recommended for further treatment,” she said.
The exploratory surgery served as the initial intervention following the scans. Chemotherapy is scheduled to begin in the weeks after the announcement
In addition to stepping back from ESPN’s tennis coverage at Wimbledon, Evert is stepping back from additional commitments in order to undergo treatment and recover. This includes activities related to the Netflix documentary Chris and Martina: The Final Set, which features her longtime friendship and rivalry with Martina Navratilova and was scheduled for release in the coming weeks.
“Our thoughts are with our ESPN tennis colleague Chris Evert as she deals with this health issue. We will certainly miss her at Wimbledon and wish her all the best. We look forward to having her back with us whenever she feels ready to return,” ESPN vice president of production Mike McQuade
said in a statement.
Evert was first diagnosed in early 2022 with Stage 1C ovarian cancer. The diagnosis occurred after she underwent a preventive hysterectomy in late 2021, prompted by a BRCA1 gene mutation identified following genetic testing. Her sister, Jeanne, had died from ovarian cancer in 2020 and carried the same mutation.
Evert underwent additional surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy after the 2022 diagnosis and was later declared cancer-free, with medical assessments indicating a high likelihood of no recurrence at that time.
A recurrence was announced in December 2023, again at Stage I without evidence of spread. Evert underwent further treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy, and was reported cancer-free by mid-2024.
The current recurrence represents the third instance. Evert has maintained a public profile focused on her tennis career, which includes 18 Grand Slam singles titles, and her work as a broadcaster and advocate for cancer awareness, including the value of genetic testing and early detection.
