Chris Evert, legendary tennis number 1 of the 70s and 80s announced that he had ovarian cancer, but at the first stage, without metastases and curable according to statistics at ninety percent. She has undergone surgery and will now have to go through a six-week course of chemotherapy. His sister Jeanne, a former tennis player too, was killed by the same type of cancer in 2020, but had discovered it at an advanced stage. «I have lived a fascinating life – explained Chrissie, now 67 – Now I have some challenges ahead of me, but I have the comfort of the specialists that the tumor should not recur. Like all those who have always been in control of their life, I’m a bit nervous because I don’t know what effects chemotherapy will have, this time I have to rely on something bigger ».
The American champion, great rival of Martina Navratilova, winner of 18 Slams, 157 tournaments, five editions of the Internazionali d’Italia and number 1 for 260 weeks, recalled her sister’s experience, saying that “when I started chemotherapy it was Jeanne’s strength to inspire me ”, and revealing that it was the latest developments in scientific studies that highlighted that a gene owned by the Evert family, BRCA1, is responsible for some types of neoplasms. Primary stage ovarian cancer is very difficult to diagnose, and it was the warning of this genetic danger that prompted Evert to undergo a preventive hysterectomy in early December, which then revealed the new pathology, so she is back under the knife. on December 13. “I wanted to share my diagnosis of early stage ovarian cancer and the story behind helping others,” Evert explained. I feel very lucky that it was discovered early and I expect positive results from my chemo plan. You will sometimes see me appear from home during Espn’s coverage of the Aussie Open. ‘