RismadarVoice Reporters
June 25, 2026
Tennis legend, Chris Evert has disclosed that her ovarian cancer has returned for the third time. Evert, 71, said she learned of the recurrence over the weekend following CT and PET scans.
“I have already undergone surgery as the first step in my treatment and recovery, and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks,” she said in an Instagram post on Thursday.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion said she would be stepping away from her ESPN Wimbledon coverage and other professional commitments to focus on her health.
This marks the third time Evert has battled ovarian cancer, having previously been diagnosed in 2021 and 2023 and successfully overcoming the disease on both occasions. Her sister, Jeanne Evert Dubin, died of ovarian cancer in 2020.
In her latest post, Evert described the disease as “relentless” but said she intends to remain hopeful.
“I am deeply grateful to my medical team, my family, friends, and everyone who has reached out with kindness and encouragement,” she wrote. “I look forward to seeing everyone again soon.”
Her announcement comes a day ahead of the release of the Netflix documentary “Chris & Martina: The Final Set,” which chronicles the careers of Evert and fellow tennis great Martina Navratilova, along with their respective fights against cancer.
Evert claimed 18 Grand Slam singles titles over her career, held the world No. 1 ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995. She retired from professional tennis in September 1989.
Navratilova, who was herself diagnosed with throat and breast cancer in 2023 before later being declared cancer-free, added: “We are all pulling for you, and know you will come out on the other side cancer-free again lots of love, m.”
Reacting to the news, Navratilova paid tribute to her longtime friend and rival on Instagram, writing: “My friend Chrissie is a champion of champions and as such she will slay this monster again.”
