Tennis great Chris Evert announced Thursday on social media that her ovarian cancer has returned and that she will be unable to cover the 2026 Wimbledon Championships for ESPN.

Wimbledon begins in London next week.

“I have already undergone surgery as the first step in my treatment and recovery, and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks,” Evert wrote in a post on X. “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, 71, initially was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2021, nearly two years after her sister Jeanne died from the disease. Evert also revealed that her cancer had returned in 2023 before beating it a second time.

She said she learned it returned after undergoing CT and PET scans this past weekend.

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

Mike McQuade, ESPN executive vice president, production offered the following statement:

“Our thoughts are with our ESPN tennis colleague Chris Evert as she deals with this personal health issue. We will certainly miss her at Wimbledon and wish her all the best. We look forward to having her back with us whenever she feels ready to return.”

Evert captured 18 career Grand Slam singles titles: two at the Australian Open, seven at the French Open, three at Wimbledon and six at the U.S. Open. She added three major doubles championships and helped the United States win the Fed Cup eight times.

After a pro career that ran from 1972-89, Evert was enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.

–Field Level Media