Chris Evert stated that once she had fully recovered, she intended to support efforts to increase funding and public awareness for cancer research. She thought back to a challenging talk she had with her sister. Early symptoms were mostly disregarded by Evert Dubin because he believed they were a normal part of aging.
Since January, the 18-time Grand Slam winner has combined her tennis career with the taxing regimen of ovarian cancer treatment. If her sister hadn’t succumbed to the same illness, she never would have discovered it early.
Florida’s BOCA RATON — She was unable to save her sister despite all the medical developments that saved Chris Evert’s life. Jeanne Evert Dubin, 62, passed away from ovarian cancer in February 2020 after the disease had progressed to its most lethal stages.
Chris’s sister and she hurried through an airport terminal to catch a flight to Singapore for the women’s tennis finals when she first realized something wasn’t right. Chris noticed that Jeanne, a former professional player herself, was struggling to keep up and was exhaling heavily. Soon later, Jeanne received her diagnosis. She passed away two years later.
How come she?
Recently, in a room at the tennis institution that bears her last name, Evert stated. “I’m the more senior. I’m expected to speak first. I think that occasionally.
Evert’s anguish resulted in a crucial warning, which she is committed to sharing with the world in order to save other lives similar to her own.
Doctors informed Evert in the months following her sister’s passing that a blood sample obtained from her sister just before she passed away had just recently identified a dangerous variation of the BRCA1 gene, increasing her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Evert, 67, was tested within a few days and discovered that she, too, had the same genetic disorder.
She had a preventative hysterectomy in December, and subsequent lab tests revealed the tissue had malignant cells. As soon as she recovered, she would require another operation so that the doctors could determine whether she still had cancer and, if so, how far along it was.
Nothing more was found.
Evert was found to be in Stage 1, but doctors warned her that if she had not known about the requirement for genetic testing, she would have reached Stage 4 within four months, much like Jeanne.
Evert endured chemotherapy for six months following her operation; nausea and “cruddy” feeling, as she put it, kept her away from her favorite tennis courts, but only for five days at a time. After that, she returned to work, traveling with the United States Tennis Association Foundation, and spending three more weeks coaching young players before returning for her subsequent treatment and starting the cycle over again.
John Evert, who oversees the Evert Tennis Academy and is her younger brother, said she handled it with the same determination that made her an 18-time Grand Slam champion and an icon. “She accepted it and told others about it so they may learn from her experience. She continues to be a champion.
Evert will return to the U.S. Open, which she has previously won six times, to work the ESPN broadcast. After Wimbledon, it will be her second tournament since declaring in May that she is cancer-free and that there is a 90 to 95 percent likelihood that the disease will never recur. On Monday, the first night of the competition, she will also host the gala for the U.S.T.A. Foundation.
It is one of the most important fund-raising activities for the organization, and Evert has shown that she can be as champion off the court as she was on it by persevering through her treatments.
Evert has developed into one of the most successful leaders the organization has ever seen after offering to serve as chairman of the U.S.T.A. Foundation, the humanitarian arm of the U.S.T.A. that operates tennis and learning facilities for as many as 160,000 disadvantaged children annually. She oversaw the National Junior Tennis and Learning program’s expansion during her tenure, which began in 2019, and she assisted the foundation in raising $30 million in grants and donations, the majority of which are intended to support children from low-income families in realizing their potential.
Who could possibly refuse the affable Evert, whose 18 Grand Slam singles titles tie Martina Navratilova for third most in the Open era and whose 90% winning percentage is the highest in that period? Evert is an almost ideal candidate for the leadership position due to her background in athletics, competitive nature, and genuine warmth.
According to Dan Faber, CEO of the U.S.T.A. Foundation, “Since her involvement, she has raised the foundation to new levels.” She has significantly improved our cause, turning it into a “grand slam charity,” in her words.
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, many humanitarian groups found it difficult to raise funds, therefore Faber had an advantage over the sporting legend. He once arranged a video conference call with a wealthy donor, hoping for a donation of $250,000. The man was so thrilled to have Evert on the line that he included his wife in the chat, and by the time it was through, their cheque was for $1 million.
It wasn’t because she told them stories about playing Navratilova and Steffi Graf; rather, it was because of her enthusiasm for the cause. According to Faber, 2022 may be the organization’s most successful year ever for fundraising. Evert minimizes her efforts with the same inherent modesty that she exhibited as a tennis player who gained notoriety on open courts.
What’s so challenging about joining a Zoom, she questioned.
I had the time, look. My children had grown up. Yes, giving back makes me feel good, but working with children who lack access to resources and opportunities makes me feel much better. I can understand how vital these initiatives are when I travel and observe them in action.
Evert is aware of this firsthand. Jimmy Evert, who has been teaching tennis at Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s public courts for 49 years, made his children play tennis after school when she and her four siblings were little. She questioned her father about why he had them all participate years after Chris Evert had transformed it into a lucrative career. She claimed he said, “‘To keep you youngsters off the streets,'”
Was he under the impression that I was going to join some sort of gang or something?
Evert laughed as he stated. But as I grew older, I thought he became smarter. Kids should not be allowed to waste time, especially in this day and age. You need to keep them engaged constructively.
Along with teaching them tennis, Jimmy Evert and his wife Colette, a eucharistic minister, instilled a sense of compassion in their children, according to Chris. Colette worked with the Salvation Army, pushing the kids to sort through their clothes once a month for contributions, while Jimmy offered free tennis instruction to residents.
