"Amazing" - Andy Roddick praises Martina Navratilova & Chris Evert for their involvement in cancer research & funding through WTA Foundation
Andy Roddick praised American tennis icons Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert for their involvement in cancer research and funding through the WTA Foundation. Both Navratilova and Evert, who have gone through cancer, discussed the importance of research during a visit to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Navratilova was diagnosed with stage 1 breast and throat cancer in January 2023. She was declared cancer-free in a few months due to quick diagnosis and treatment.
Meanwhile, Evert suffered from ovarian cancer, and after completing chemotherapy for her first diagnosis the cancer relapsed in 2023. She defeated the cancer for the second time this year.
The tennis icons were rivals on the court but their friendship has bloomed into something special years after their playing careers have halted. Recently, the pair visited MD Anderson Cancer Center to felicitate Dr. Rachel L. Dittmar for winning the American Cancer Society's fellowship funded by the WTA.
A video of the pair’s visit was shared on X, where they highlighted the significance of cancer research. Evert spoke about how losing her younger sister, Jeanne Evert Dubin, to ovarian cancer played a critical role in her cancer journey, as advancements in research during that time helped save her life.
2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick reposted the video.
"Amazing," he tweeted with a red heart emoji.
In a video for Ralph Lauren posted last week, Navratilova and Evert discussed their transition from rivals on the court to friends off it.
Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert discuss their cancer diagnosis and how they transitioned from rivals to friends
Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert touched upon their friendship and being diagnosed with cancer in a video posted by Ralph Lauren on YouTube on 25 September.
"Isn't it ironic that with everything we've been through with our career, being rivals and friends, that we happened to get cancer at the same time?" Chris Evert said. [00:36]
Navratilova expressed how frightening it was when Evert was diagnosed, but she stood by her side.
"When you were diagnosed it terrified me, and then I supported you, and then, a year later, I get it, and you supported me," Martina Navratilova said.
Evert expressed her deep connection with her longtime rival, emphasizing that their relationship had evolved beyond competition. She noted how they became especially close toward the end of their careers, recognizing each other as more than just competitors but as individuals with emotions.
Evert further called Martina Navratilova one of her best friends, stating that she could always count on her and that they shared a rich history.