Chris Evert Says Ovarian Cancer Has Returned

Chris Evert announced Thursday that her ovarian cancer has returned. The 71-year-old learned of the recurrence after CT and PET scans conducted over the past weekend. She has already undergone surgery as the first step in treatment and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks.

Evert said she will not attend Wimbledon this year and will step back from professional commitments for the next few months to focus on her health. Evert was scheduled to commentate at the tournament for ESPN. Mike McQuade, the network's executive vice president of production, said the organization's thoughts are with Evert and that it will miss her at Wimbledon.

Evert was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2021. She won Wimbledon three times and collected 18 Grand Slam singles titles before retiring from professional tennis in 1989. Only Serena Williams and Steffi Graf have won more major singles titles in the women's game during the Open era.

"My friend Chrissie is a champion of champions and as such she will slay this monster again," Martina Navratilova said.