American tennis legend diagnosed with cancer for third time

Tennis icon Chris Evert revealed on Thursday that she is battling cancer for the third time. The American, a dominant force in the sport during the 1970s and 1980s with 18 Grand Slam titles, shared the news on Instagram, stating her ovarian cancer had returned.

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I want to give you all an update. My cancer is back. Although this is a diagnosis I never wished to hear, I feel fortunate once again that it was caught early.

"Although this is a diagnosis I never wished to hear, I feel fortunate once again that it was caught early," Evert wrote. She is scheduled to undergo chemotherapy, a treatment that will prevent her from participating in her planned expert analyst role for ESPN at Wimbledon.

Evert, 71, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2021, leading to the removal of a tumor and her uterus. She was declared cancer-free a year later, with doctors estimating only a ten percent chance of recurrence. However, the cancer returned in 2023 but was again successfully treated.

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Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I remain optimistic and determined in my continued fight.

Despite the challenging diagnosis, Evert remains optimistic. "Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I remain optimistic and determined in my continued fight," she stated. She expressed deep gratitude to her medical team, family, friends, and supporters. Longtime rival and friend Martina Navratilova offered encouragement on Instagram, calling Evert a "champion of champions" who will defeat the illness once more.

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My friend 'Chrissie' is a champion over all champions, and that is why she will beat this monster again.