Tennis legend Martina Navratilova faces repeat cancer diagnosis with fighting spirit

'I'll fight it with all I've got.' 

Former tennis player Martina Navratilova at the 2022 WTA finals in November, just days before her cancer diagnosis. Image: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Martina Navratilova, the former world number one tennis player, has been diagnosed with stage 1 throat and breast cancer, more than a decade after surviving breast cancer in 2010.

Martina Navratilova, a Czech-American, is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, having won 59 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

But, for the second time, she will need to shift her winning mentality away from the court and towards her health. Navratilova recently announced that she has throat and breast cancer, after having overcome breast cancer in 2010.

In a statement to the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), Navratilova shared, "This double whammy is serious, but still fixable."

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Navratilova underwent testing after discovering an enlarged lymph node in her neck during the WTA Finals in Fort Worth in November which refused to settle down. Doctors discovered it was Stage 1 throat cancer.

According to News, Navratilova's representative Mary Greenham shared that, "At the same time as Martina was undergoing the tests for the throat, a suspicious form was found in her breast, which was subsequently diagnosed as cancer, completely unrelated to the throat cancer."

Adding, however, that, "Both of these cancers are in their early stages with great outcomes." They have been diagnosed as human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the more treatable cancers.

As a result, Navratilova is optimistic, sharing that “I’m hoping for a favourable outcome.  It’s going to stink for a while, but I’ll fight with all have I got.”

In the statement to WTA, Navratilova shared that Navratilova's treatments will begin next week in New York City. As a result, Navratilova will not be travelling to Melbourne to cover the upcoming Australian Open as a radio and television presenter for Tennis Channel.

Originally published as Tennis legend Martina Navratilova faces repeat cancer diagnosis with fighting spirit