‘I Could Be Dead in a Year..’- ‘Scared’ Martina Navratilova Painfully Narrates Testing Times and an Angry Phone Call to Chris Evert Before Cancer Diagnosis
During their peak, both Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova thought they would be each other’s biggest rivals. However, they turned out to be the best of friends off-court. What they did not expect was that they would face cancer at the same time. While Navratilova prayed for Evert’s quick recovery after her diagnosis, she was not gearing up for her own battle. So, when the news broke, Evert became the person she knew she needed at that moment.
The two players had seen each other trying their best to overcome each other on the court. That’s why they understood what it would take to face their biggest rival yet.
In January 2022, doctors diagnosed Evert with 1C Ovarian cancer. Scared but with her best friend Martina Navratilova’s unwavering support and faith, Evert faced the challenging journey. Navratilova, always wearing rings given by Evert on her 60th birthday, had faced a cancer diagnosis in 2010, making this news unexpected and unwelcome. Navratilova found out about her own diagnosis in December 2022 and immediately reached out to Evert, who received a message asking her to call back urgently.
Evert, upon seeing Navratilova’s missed calls and urgent message, sensed that something was not good. Navratilova, losing hope after facing her biggest fear once again, pondered the worst consequences. “I’m thinking, ‘I could be dead in a year,'” she said. She even considered which car she would drive in the last year of her life, contemplating between a Bentley and a Ferrari.
Waiting for the final verdict on her health, Navratilova received both good and gut-wrenching news when Evert called her back.
A twisted fate brought two best friends together. Navratilova learned she had stage 1 curable cancer in her throat but also had cancer in her breast. Evert dictated Navratilova’s emotions, sensing that she was more mad than anything else. Navratilova, who had always chased Evert’s records and titles, found herself unexpectedly chasing something she never hoped for.
They giggled at the bizarre coincidence, saying, “Jesus. I guess we’re taking this to a whole new level.” Evert added, “Because it was just so ironic.” However, the lighthearted moment quickly shifted when Navratilova faced reality again and confessed to Evert, “I’m scared.”
Navratilova, known for her tough stance, opened up about her feelings to Evert. Fortunately, Navratilova battled both cancers and now shares her ever-thriving friendship with her rival, Chris Evert.
