Tennis

Martina Navratilova diagnosed with early stage throat and breast cancers

Multiple Grand Slam winner will not travel to Australian Open where she was intending to be pundit

Former Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova pictured in November 2022. Photograph: CJ Gunther/EPA
Former Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova pictured in November 2022. Photograph: CJ Gunther/EPA
Mon Jan 02 2023 - 15:11

Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with throat and breast cancers.

The former world number one previously underwent treatment for early stage breast cancer in 2010.

Navratilova, 66, said: “This double whammy is serious but still fixable, and I’m hoping for a favourable outcome. It’s going to stink for a while but I will fight with all I have got.”

Navratilova, winner of 59 grand slam singles and doubles titles, will not travel to this month’s Australian Open, where she was intending to work as a TV pundit, but a statement from her representative described the prognosis as “good”.

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“Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with stage one throat cancer,” read the statement. “The prognosis is good and Martina will start her treatment this month.

“The cancer type is HPV and this particular type responds really well to treatment. Martina noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck during the WTA finals in Fort Worth. When it didn’t go down, a biopsy was performed, the results came back as stage one throat cancer.

“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.

“Both these cancers are in their early stages with great outcomes. Martina won’t be covering the Australian Open for Tennis Channel from their studio but hopes to be able to join in from time to time by Zoom.”