Jan 2 (Reuters) – Former tennis world number one Martina Navratilova announced on Monday that she has suffered from dual cancer of the throat and breast.
The 66-year-old Czech-American has won a total of 59 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles.
“This double disease is serious, but it can be cured,” said the champion in a press release issued by the WTA, the Tennis Players Association.
“I’m hoping for a favorable outcome. It’s going to stink for a while, but I’ll fight with everything I have.”
Martina Navratilova specifies that her cancer, discovered in November, is stage 1 and has a good prognosis. She should start treatment next week.
Martina Navratilova, who obtained American citizenship in 1981 and now comments on tennis competitions on radio and television, already beat breast cancer in 2010.
She will not travel as planned to the Melbourne Open, which takes place from January 16 to 29, said her spokesperson, Mary Greenham. (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto and Tommy Lund in Gdansk; French version Jean Rosset, editing by Sophie Louet)
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