Cancer, a relentless opponent, has struck down not only everyday people but also tennis royalty. Legends like Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have faced this battle, with Carla Suárez Navarro fighting it while still on tour. Now, another champion joins their ranks: Andy Roddick. This isn’t a story about winners and losers on the court, but about the unyielding spirit that carries these champions through their toughest matches yet – the fight for their health.

Andy Roddick

The tennis sphere received a shocking reveal recently, where the 2003 US Open champion, Andy Roddick, shared how he developed cancer and is still in treatment. Roddick took to his ‘Served’ podcast, where he decided to share his journey with skin cancer. “I’ve dealt with various types of skin cancers since I stopped playing. Had a squamous cell tumor taken out of my lip. Probably like five or six years ago, haven’t ever talked about it.”

The treatment for his cancer is still in process as he went for a laser treatment, which is why his face looked worse for the wear. However, he reassured his followers that there were no complications. “Won’t go into the woe is my part of it because nothing is wrong, everything is good,” he said and decided not to dive into it further.

To help dissuade the occurrence of skin cancer in others, Roddick also shared a PSA. “But use sunscreen, put sunscreen on your kids, especially if they are tennis players. The problem won’t present itself when the kid is eight. But that problem might present when that kid is grown and is 38.”

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common kind of skin cancer. However, if treated on time, it is usually not life-threatening, as proper treatment can remove the risk of spread. The five-year survival rate of squamous cell carcinoma is almost 99% if treated on time.

Carla Suarez Navarro

Former world number 6 Carla Suarez Navarro developed cancer when she was on Tour in September 2020. She did not participate in tennis in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic shut the world. She was set to appear in the US Open but withdrew from the tournament to undergo treatment. The one-handed backhand star was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, after which she addressed the tennis world.

On a video shared on her ‘X’ page, she wrote, “It’s time for me to face a complicated reality. It’s time to accept it and try to move forward, trusting in my medical advice. Always facing adversity with positivity. Patience and self-belief guided me through my career. Not the easiest rival to deal with. I’ll truly need my best.”

She added in an accompanying video: “I’ll need to go through six months of chemotherapy. I’m fine, I’m calm at the moment, willing to face whatever comes.” The Spaniard underwent the surgery and returned to the sport in 2021 and retired after Spain was eliminated from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Martina Navratilova

The 18-time grand slam champion Martina Navratilova has had the misfortune to undergo three cancers in her career. Her first diagnosis came in 2010 when she revealed she was being treated for breast cancer. A routine mammogram in January 2010 found that she had ductal carcinoma in situ in her breast, which she was told about in February.

In March, she had the tumor surgically removed. She had more radiation therapy in May, which would assist her achieve complete remission. Unfortunately, she was not done. 13 years later, in 2023, Navratilova announced that she had to face cancer once again. However, this time, she would have a double whammy. 

She first discovered an enlarged lymph node in her neck during the 2022 WTA Finals. Further testing of the lump in her neck revealed she had stage 1 throat cancer. Her breast cancer was discovered around the same time, but the Czech-American player stood strong in the face of danger. “The double whammy is serious but still fixable,” she shared in her statement. “I’m hoping for a favorable outcome. It’s going to stink for a while, but I’ll fight with all have I got.” 

She would announce in March 2023 that, as far as doctors were aware, she was free of cancer but had to undergo further preventive radiation therapy, which would conclude in June. Her bout with cancer left her 15 pounds lighter and with a loss of sense of taste. Now, she can put the bad times behind her.

Chris Evert

Cancer came for Navratilova’s rival as well. Chris Evert, like her biggest rival, was diagnosed with cancer twice, but in a much shorter time frame. Her first diagnosis came in December 2021, revealed by her in January 2022. It was a daunting trial for Evert as she went through Ovarian cancer, the same kind that took the life of her younger sister, Jeanne Evert.

Chris got her initial diagnosis a year after her sister unfortunately succumbed. After she found out the variant of her sister’s cancer, BRCA-1, she was ready for a hysterectomy. Although she did not experience physical difficulties, malignant cells and tumors were discovered in her left fallopian tube. She had a hysterectomy conducted in December 2021 and then a double mastectomy in December 2022, which bore positive results.

Unfortunately, her happiness would be tackled quickly. In December 2023, Evert revealed her cancer had returned. Through a PET Scan, cancer cells were detected in a pelvic region, followed by robotic surgery, which was then followed by chemotherapy. She is now undergoing more preventive treatment but can breathe without worry.      

The four stars have had to fight through the heinous battle which has taken many loved ones from millions around the world. Thankfully, they emerge on top of the disease and can spread awareness to help catch the problems early.