Tennis legend Chris Evert has revealed that her ovarian cancer has returned, delivering the news to fans through social media this afternoon.
The 71-year-old American, who claimed three Wimbledon singles crowns during her illustrious career, posted a statement on X confirming the diagnosis following recent medical scans.
Evert, regarded as one of the sport's all-time greats, triumphed at the All England Club in 1974, 1976 and 1981, establishing herself as a dominant force on the grass courts of SW19.
The former world number one has been open about her ongoing health struggles since first being diagnosed with the disease.
Tennis legend Chris Evert has revealed that her ovarian cancer has returned
|GETTY
In her statement, Evert wrote: "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.
"I have already undergone surgery as the first step in my treatment and recovery, and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks."
The 18-time grand slam champion described the illness as "relentless" but vowed to remain "optimistic and determined" in her fight against the disease.
She expressed deep gratitude towards her medical team, family and friends, as well as those who have offered kindness and encouragement during this difficult period.
Chris Evert confirmed she will not attend Wimbledon this year
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Evert confirmed she will not be present at Wimbledon when the tournament begins next week, choosing instead to step away from her professional duties over the coming months to concentrate on her recovery.
The American retired from competitive tennis in 1989 but has remained a prominent figure in the sport as a pundit and commentator.
Her remarkable playing career saw her amass 18 grand slam singles titles, including seven French Open victories, six US Open triumphs and two Australian Open crowns alongside her three Wimbledon championships.
She also secured three doubles titles at major tournaments during her time on the professional circuit.
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova are close friends in tennis
| PAEvert's battle with ovarian cancer began in 2022, when the disease was discovered during a preventive hysterectomy she underwent after learning she carried the BRCA gene mutation.
Her sister Jeanne had previously died from the same illness. Despite initial optimism from doctors that the cancer was unlikely to return due to early detection, it recurred in 2023 before appearing to subside again last year.
Fellow tennis icon Martina Navratilova offered her support on Instagram, writing: "My friend Chrissie is a champion of champions and as such she will slay this monster again. We are all pulling for you."