Tennis legend Chris Evert has announced her ovarian cancer has returned.

The 18-time grand slam champion released a statement in which she said she had started another round of chemotherapy.

The 68-year-old American was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December 2021 after undergoing a preventative hysterectomy.

She was given the all-clear in January this year and was told there was a 90% chance the cancer would not return.

But in a statement released through ESPN, for whom she works as a pundit, Evert said: “I wanted to give all of you an update. My cancer is back.

“While this is a diagnosis I never wanted to hear, I once again feel fortunate that it was caught early.

“Based on a PET CT scan, I underwent another robotic surgery this past week. Doctors found cancer cells in the same pelvic region.

“All cells were removed, and I have begun another round of chemotherapy.”

Evert said she would not be working at the Australian Open while she continues treatment.

However, she said she would be “ready for the rest of the grand slam season”.

“I encourage everyone to know your family history and advocate for yourself,” she added.

“Early detection saves lives. Be thankful for your health this holiday season.”

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Evert’s sister, Jeanne Evert Dubin, died from ovarian cancer in 2020 at the age of 62.

Testing later revealed Evert had a pathogenic variant of the BRCA1 gene and following discussions with her doctor, she had a hysterectomy in early December – at which point the cancer was discovered.

She shared in a first-person piece for ESPN earlier this year that a “genetic road map” had helped her detect her cancer early.

Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles titles during her career, reached number one in the WTA rankings, and was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1995.

Alongside her greatest rival, Martina Navratilova, she dominated women’s tennis for much of the 1970s and 1980s.

Though the pair were great rivals on the pitch, Navratilova previously credited Evert with supporting her when she was diagnosed with throat and breast cancer in 2022.

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