Evert's Cancer Returns
Tennis Icon Chris Evert Reveals Ovarian Cancer's Return, Plans Chemotherapy and Misses Wimbledon
Key Points
Evert was slated to be in London for the release of the Netflix documentary Chris & Martina: The Final Set, but stayed in Florida to undergo exploratory surgery instead, delaying any Wimbledon attendance-related appearances.
Martina Navratilova, a fellow tennis great, publicly offered support and encouragement following Evert's latest health update.
Evert's sister Jeanne died of ovarian cancer, a detail that underscores the familial toll of the disease in her life.
Doctors had told, given her BRCA-related history and early detection, that ovarian cancer would very likely not return, yet it did recur in 2023 after an earlier fight.
Chris Evert, 71, announced on June 25 that her ovarian cancer has returned for the third time. The tennis legend said she already underwent surgery and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks, forcing her to miss the 2026 Wimbledon Championships Associated Press.
"Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined," Evert wrote on social media. The 18-time Grand Slam champion has battled the disease since 2021 and was declared cancer-free as recently as July 2024 ESPN.
A Third Recurrence Defies Doctors' Early Optimism
Evert's cancer journey began in late 2021 when her sister Jeanne's BRCA1 gene mutation was reclassified as disease-causing. Evert tested positive for the same mutation. A preventive hysterectomy that December revealed Stage 1C ovarian cancer in her fallopian tube CBS News.
After six rounds of chemo, doctors told her in May 2022 that her recurrence risk was "very low" — well under 10% given the early stage. Cancer returned anyway in December 2023. She beat it again by July 2024. Now, a routine CT scan on around June 21 flagged new abnormalities, and exploratory surgery on June 23 confirmed the third recurrence Field Level Media.
Sister's Death Shadows a Decade of Family Loss
Jeanne Evert Dubin died of ovarian cancer on February 20, 2020, at age 62. Her cancer was caught at Stage IV — too late to treat effectively. Chris's own diagnosis came only because researchers reclassified a genetic marker in Jeanne's DNA, alerting the family to a shared BRCA1 mutation PBS NewsHour.
Women with a BRCA1 mutation carry a 44% lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer, according to Moffitt Cancer Center. For all ovarian cancer patients, the general recurrence rate sits near 70%. Evert's case highlights how even early detection cannot guarantee a permanent cure.
Navratilova Rallies, ESPN Loses Its Premier Voice
Martina Navratilova, Evert's longtime rival and close friend, responded quickly. "My friend Chrissie is a champion of champions and as such she will slay this monster again," Navratilova said. The two had just appeared together at the Tribeca Festival premiere of the Netflix documentary Chris & Martina: The Final Set on June 10 Sports Illustrated.
ESPN executive vice president Mike McQuade said the network would "certainly miss her at Wimbledon" and wished her well. Evert has been a fixture at the tournament for over 50 years, both as a three-time singles champion and as a broadcaster. The 2026 Wimbledon Championships run from June 29 to July 12 Field Level Media.
Evert's Openness Spurs Wider Push for Ovarian Cancer Screening
Evert's repeated public disclosures have driven what advocates call an "Evert Effect" — a surge of women seeking genetic testing after each of her announcements SurvivorNet. About 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. each year, yet no standard screening test exists beyond genetic testing and periodic scans.
Medical experts warn that each recurrence can be harder to treat, as cancer cells may build resistance to standard chemotherapy Forbes. Genetic counselors argue that BRCA carriers who beat cancer should be considered to have "No Evidence of Disease" — not cured — and need lifelong monitoring. Evert's story makes that case more clearly than any clinical study could.
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