Chris Evert, the 71-year-old American former tennis player and three-time Wimbledon champion, announced on June 25, 2026, that her ovarian cancer has returned for the third time [1, 2, 3]. She had first been diagnosed in December 2021 and suffered a recurrence in 2023 before being declared cancer-free in 2024 [1, 2, 3].
Evert has already undergone surgery to address the current recurrence and plans to begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks. She stated, "I will not be attending Wimbledon this year, and I will step back from my professional commitments over the next few months to focus on my health. Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined in continuing to fight this battle" [2].
Evert is one of the greatest tennis players of her era with 18 Grand Slam singles titles to her name. Only Serena Williams, with 23 titles, and Steffi Graf, with 22, hold more major singles trophies in the Open era [1, 2, 3]. She currently works as a tennis commentator and maintains a close friendship and rivalry with Martina Navratilova, a relationship that has been documented in the Netflix film "Chris and Martina: The Final Set," due for release on June 26, 2026 [2, 3]. The documentary highlights both their careers and their battles with cancer.
Wimbledon 2026 is scheduled from June 29 to July 12, and Evert confirmed she will miss the tournament to focus on treatment and recovery [2, 3]. Her return to public tennis events will be on hold as she begins chemotherapy.
The release of the Netflix documentary tomorrow offers an intimate look at Evert's journey alongside Navratilova's, marking a significant moment as she confronts cancer once again while preparing for treatment [2, 3].
