Chris Evert may have been a dominant force on the tennis courts, boasting 18 Grand Slam titles, but her life off the court was not easy. Behind the accolades and victories lies a story of resilience, bravery, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Chris Evert has fought not one, but two battles with cancer, and her journey to recovery is a poignant tale that intertwines with the selfless sacrifice of her sister, Jeanne Evert.

Chris Evert engaged in a conversation with the famous clothing brand Ralph Lauren and deliberated on several topics including her cancer challenges. She recalled her young sister during the conversation and shared how her demise made it possible for Chris Evert to know about her illness and not repeat the same misfortune for the family. 

Speaking in the interview, the 69-year-old said, “My sister Jeanne died from Ovarian cancer.” The younger Evert, a tennis player herself passed away in 2020, having turned pro when she was just 15. Continuing further, Evert shared the aftermath of Jeanne’s demise. “After she died her blood test came back two years later. They told me her blood is showing that she has the BRCA gene.”

A BRCA gene mutation indicates that a person has a likelihood of developing breast cancer in their lifetime, along with a chance of ovarian cancer. All blood-related family members of such patients are also at high risk of the illness and the situation was no different for Chris Evert.

“I right away went and got a BRCA blood test and I was positive.” In 2022, Evert publicly detailed her first cancer diagnosis to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. She further shared her grief, “It’s terrible that without her death I would not be living right now.” While Evert recovered from her illness, she was diagnosed with cancer again last year.

A little more than a year after her first cancer treatment started, a precautionary CT scan in December revealed a cancerous mass. Ms. Evert went through the entire process a second time and defeated the illness again. But for the retired WTA pro, there was one more person who helped her during her illness. 

When Chris Evert revealed the special help she received from her long-time rival

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have been rivals on the tennis courts for a long time. Between 1973 and 1988 Evert and Navratilova played around 80 matches against each other with 60 of them being tournament finals. But as Evert battled cancer, she witnessed her long-time rival extending the most crucial help to her. 

Navratilova is herself a cancer survivor. This made her gain some insights into the process and Evert could not ask anyone better for help. Expressing the same, Evert admitted, “She has been such a support for me. Coming over to my house, cooking me soup, cooking me pasta, really taking care of me, calling me, making sure I’m OK.” Continuing further, she acknowledged their close bond. “If I’m going to go through the trenches, there’s nobody I’d pick more than Martina.”

While the illness has definitely created troubles for the former pro, her recovery is a testament to her determination and example for many. Besides, her sister’s sacrifice which came as a blessing in disguise for her, truly saved Evert and her family from a possible major heartbreak.