‘She was exhausted’ – Proud friend Chris Evert once detailed Martina Navratilova’s epic victory in her fight against cancer
A sport with over a century of history, tennis has given rise to many rivalries on the court. However, among the biggest rivalries and friendships, the one that remains at the top is that of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. And was a constant source of support for each other during times of testing, especially when they suffered from cancer (at different times).
Going back in time, in August 2010, Chris Evert detailed one of Martina Navratilova’s most epic victories.
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Chris Evert hails unexpected win for Martina Navratilova
During her active years, Navratilova can be remembered as one of the fittest players on the tour. His obviously fit physique undoubtedly played a major role in his dominance over the game. However, moving forward in life, things didn’t seem to be going as well as they were in his youth. Exactly four years after her second retirement, on April 7, 2010, Navratilova shook the world with heartbreaking news. The tennis legend announced her breast cancer diagnosis via ABC’s Good Morning America.
Similar to everyone in tennis, a shocked Chris Evert said: “What? Apparently the healthiest, fittest woman in the world.
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Although the tennis world was hoping that Navratilova would be fine, that didn’t seem to be the case for the champion herself. Not letting illness overshadow her, she went on to win the inaugural Women’s Legend contest at the 2010 French Open. She teamed with Jana Novotna to win the title.
Impressed by the victory, Chris Evert, in a interviewspoke about her vision of Navratilova’s mind. “I was just there for her, but I think she has a lot going for her. She kept me updated. At the French Open [where Navratilova was doing Tennis Channel commentary] the first fight [of radiation] she felt nothing. By the second fight, she was exhausted. Then she came out again and won the [French Open veteran doubles] tournament. And his cancer is gone now,” she says.
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Standing like a wall against the disease, it was finally on September 30, 2010 that Navratilova declared herself cancer-free. And earlier this year, Evert underwent chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. In May 2022, she announced the end of her chemotherapy sessions.