Tennis news 2026: Christ Evert reveals cancer return, Wimbledon absence

Tennis great Chris Evert will be absent from this year’s Wimbledon championships as she is undergoing treatment following a recurrence of ovarian cancer.

The 71-year-old American told fans she would be missing this year’s Championships, which get underway on Monday.

Advertisement

The three-time women’s singles champion at the All England Club revealed the news on social media, saying that “cancer is relentless”.

“I have always believed in being open and honest about my health journey,” Evert said.

“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. 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.

“Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined in continuing to fight this battle.

“I am deeply grateful to my medical team, my family, friends and everyone who has reached out with kindness and encouragement. I look forward to seeing everyone again soon.”

The 18-time grand slam singles champion, was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021. She suffered a recurrence in 2023 before saying she was cancer-free again in 2024.

Advertisement

The news comes a day before a documentary is released on Netflix charting her and Martina Navratilova’s experiences with cancer.

Click here to read article