Former American tennis star, Martina Navratilova, has faced many challenging opponents in her career. The 65-year-old, had a tough rivalry with her friend and fellow American great, Chris Evert. However, what happened only a few years after her retirement was going to be her toughest battle. Back in 2010, Navratilova announced that she was battling with breast cancer.

Later, in an interview, she revealed how she felt while fighting the deadly disease.

Martina Navratilova on her battle with cancer

Back in 2019, Navratilova explained the feelings she had after getting the news of having breast cancer. She also termed it as her toughest opponent. “It was a total shock because I’ve been so healthy,’ said the 53-year-old star, who retired from competitive tennis only three years ago. It knocked me on my a**. I feel so in control of my life and my body, and then this comes, and it’s completely out of my hands,” Navratilova said.

She further added, “Throughout my decades-long tennis career, I have faced some really tough opponents across the net – Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and even the Williams sisters in doubles. What I never anticipated was that my toughest opponent would be off the court – cancer.”

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Despite $10 Million Loss, Iconic Champion Martina Navratilova Bravely Endured Public Hate Owing to a Crucial Life Decision: ‘Not Going to Deny My True Nature’

However, Navratilova was lucky that cancer didn’t spread much. She got over it after a tumor surgery and got radiation therapy to finally defeat the deadly disease.

Navratilova faces the ire of Rafael Nadal fans

Martina Navratilova works as a tennis broadcaster and commentator. One of the primary roles of her job is to point out the weakness and difficulties players are facing. While the professionals understand it pretty well, their fans take the criticism to the heart. Recently, Navratilova commented on Nadal’s nerves after he and Federer lost to Frances Tiafoe, and Jack Sock, in their Laver Cup opener.

This didn’t go well with Nadal fans who called her out on Twitter. Visibly frustrated by the regular social media hate she keeps receiving, Navratilova said that this was the reason why she doesn’t discuss tennis on Twitter.

Watch This Story: When Martina Navratilova detailed the harrowing experience of living through breast cancer

Fans need to understand that it’s the nature of a commentator’s job to pick out fine details and give their opinion on them. Also, it is not at all right to call out a commentator for merely doing her job.