(Paris) Martina Navratilova announced on Monday that she has double cancer of the throat and breast against which she is preparing to “fight with everything” she has, according to the WTA website.

“This double blow is serious, but still reversible,” announces the 66-year-old former player, who had already overcome breast cancer that appeared in 2010.

“I hope for a favorable outcome. It will be difficult for a while, but I will fight with everything I have, ”says the former world number one with 59 Grand Slam titles (singles, doubles and mixed doubles combined), quoted by the WTA.

The American, born on October 18, 1956 in Prague, then capital of communist Czechoslovakia, carried out tests last November after discovering a lump in her throat.

On this occasion, the doctors also diagnosed her second breast cancer, both in stage 1.

“Martina noticed she had an enlarged lymph node in her neck, on the sidelines of the WTA Finals in Fort Worth [au Texas]. As it did not pass, she underwent a biopsy, the result of which revealed phase 1 throat cancer, ”explained the agent of the former player in a press release sent to AFP.

During this examination, “a suspicious form was detected in her breast which turned out to be cancer, completely independent of that of the throat”, specifies the agent.

Navratilova will begin treatment next week in New York, according to the WTA.

“The throat cancer is HPV-like and responds really well to treatment. […] These two cancers are caught early and often end well,” says Navratilova’s agent.

The ex-player has given up flying to Melbourne, where she was to commentate the Australian Open (January 16-29), but “she hopes to be able to intervene from time to time” via the internet , adds the agent.

Chris Evert, Navratilova’s great rival on the courts and who became her friend, revealed in January 2022 that she had ovarian cancer. In May, she was declared in remission.

Martina Navratilova has brought a new physical dimension to women’s tennis. Accompanied by great agility at the net, his game helped him win 18 Grand Slam singles titles. Her nine trophies at Wimbledon are to date the record, men and women combined (Serena Williams has won seven, Roger Federer, eight and Novak Djokovic has seven).

Off the courts, she has become an ardent defender of the LGBTQ+ cause. In 2014, she married her longtime partner Julia Lemigova and they live in Miami with their two daughters.