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Former world number one tennis player and gay rights pioneer Martina Navratilova says she has been diagnosed with throat and breast cancer.
The Czech American is considered one of the greatest players of all time, having won a total of 59 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles.
“This double fault is serious, but still repairable,” the 66-year-old said in a statement to the WTA.
“I’m hoping for a favorable outcome. It will stink for a while, but I’ll fight with everything I’ve got.”
Czech-born Navratilova, who became a US citizen in 1981 and came out as gay soon after, was also diagnosed with and beat breast cancer in 2010.
Navratilova added that the cancer was stage 1 and the prognosis was good, and treatments would begin next week.
The cancer was discovered in early November during the WTA finals, when Navratilova noticed a swelling on her neck that would not go down.
“Martina noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck during the WTA Finals in Forth Worth,” Navratilova’s representative Mary Greenham said.
“When it didn’t go down, a biopsy was taken and the results came back as stage 1 throat cancer.
“At the same time that Martina was undergoing throat examinations, a suspicious lump was found in her breast, which was later diagnosed as cancer that was completely unrelated to throat cancer.
“Both of these cancers are early stage with excellent outcomes.”
Greenham said Navratilova, who now works as a television and radio tennis presenter, will not travel to Melbourne for the January 1629 Australian Open but hopes to participate in the broadcasts remotely.
“Martina will not be covering the Aussie Open in the Tennis Channel studio, but hopes to join in from time to time via Zoom,” Greenham said.
Tennis fans were quick to offer support on social media, including fellow tennis pioneer Billie Jean King.
“@Martina is as brave as she is strong,” King wrote on Twitter.
“He has fought this battle before and he is in our thoughts and prayers.”
Reuters
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