Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have been amongst the most decorated players in tennis. They ruled the women’s game during the 80s and the 90s. While Navratilova has won 59 Grand Slam titles across formats, Chris Evert has clinched 21 major titles. Often ranked amongst the top two in women’s singles, they faced off against each other on several occasions.

Their first meeting against each other was in Akron in 1973. Chris Evert came out on top in that encounter, winning in straight sets 7-6, 6-3. Subsequently, Evert won the next four matches against her on-court rival to open a huge gap in their rivalry. However, Navratilova bounced back in style after overcoming the early setback. They have played an astonishing 80 times against each other, with Navratilova leading Evert 43-37.

Earlier this year, Chris Evert revealed that she’s battling Stage One ovarian cancer. Recently, Navratilova opened up on her long-time on-court rival’s battle with cancer.

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Martina Navratilova remains optimistic about Chris Evert’s battle against cancer

Recently, Navratilova appeared on the ‘Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen’. She reflected upon her illustrious tennis career. Subsequently, Andy Cohen asked Navratilova about her friend Chris Evert’s battle with cancer. She said, “She’s hanging in there as she’s a champion on and off the court and keeping fingers crossed. She had given me this necklace from my 60th birthday so I’m you know holding on to it. She’ll be all right, she’s tough as good as that.” 

In January this year, Chris Evert took to Twitter to update her fans regarding this unfortunate news. She is suffering from ovarian cancer which is in phase 1C, the last phase of stage one. Fortunately, it hasn’t spread anywhere else in her body. Evert’s family has had a history with this disease. Her sister, Jeanne Evert Dubin, passed away in February 2020 after being diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to be diagnosed at early stages and Chris Evert’s surgeon said that had it been diagnosed three months later, Evert would have been in the third or the fourth stage, with the disease spreading to more parts in her body.

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Thus timely detection and subsequent treatment prevented it to spread through her body. Evert is known to be a true fighter on and off the court and we hope that she overcomes this disease soon.