LONDON — Tennis player Chris Evert announced on June 25, 2026, that her ovarian cancer has returned. She stated she has already undergone surgery and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks.

Evert, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, also stated she will not attend Wimbledon this year. She plans to step back from her professional commitments for the next few months to focus on her health. Evert shared her health status, stating, "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."

The tennis player described her current treatment plan. "I have already undergone surgery as the first step in my treatment and recovery, and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks," Evert said. She further explained the impact on her professional life, stating, "Because of this, 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."

Evert was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2021. Her cancer returned in December 2023. She carries the BRCA gene mutation, and her sister Jeanne died of ovarian cancer. In 2022, Evert underwent a preventive hysterectomy.

Martina Navratilova posted a message of support for Evert on Instagram. "My friend Chrissie is a champion of champions and as such she will slay this monster again," Navratilova wrote. She added, "We are all pulling for you, and know you will come out on the other side cancer free again- lots of love, M." Stan Wawrinka and Donna Vekic also sent encouragement to Evert, who is 71 years old and retired as a player in 1989. Evert has worked as a broadcast commentator for Wimbledon in recent years.

Why It Matters

Chris Evert's announcement marks a recurrence of her ovarian cancer, necessitating a temporary withdrawal from public life, including her broadcasting role at Wimbledon. Her journey with the disease began with a diagnosis in December 2021, followed by a second recurrence in December 2023, and she has publicly shared her medical decisions, including a preventive hysterectomy in 2022 and her current surgery and chemotherapy plan. Evert is an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion with three Wimbledon singles titles, two Australian Open singles titles, seven French Open singles titles, and six US Open singles titles.