“Quitting is not in my DNA” – Martina Navratilova says she is cancer-free

The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion was diagnosed with throat and breast cancers in January this year

Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 2019 Image Credit: Action Plus / Panoramic

March 21, 2023

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has said that she is cancer-free, in an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV that is set to air on Tuesday.

The nine-time Wimbledon singles champion, who is often considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, was diagnosed with throat and breast cancers in January this year. In the interview, she speaks about how growing up in the Communist regime in then Czechoslovakia made her tough.

“Quitting is not in my DNA.. As far as they know I’m cancer-free,” the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion told Morgan.

The 59 Grand Slam titles winner Martina Navratilova opens up on her devastating double cancer diagnosis.

"I was never an underachiever, but this is getting ridiculous."

Watch the global EXCLUSIVE from 8pm Tuesday on TalkTV.@piersmorgan | @Martina | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/YpfysVIdmt
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) March 20, 2023

The Czech-born American said she was afraid she may not survive till Christmas this year and even made a bucket list of things she wanted to.

“I was in a total panic for three days thinking I may not see next Christmas,” she said. “The bucket list came into my mind of all the things I wanted to do. And this may sound really shallow, but I was like, OK, ‘which kick-ass car do I really want to drive if I live like a year?’”

Just finished an amazing interview in Miami with tennis great ⁦⁦@Martina⁩ about her battle with throat AND breast cancer. Emotional, heart-rending, fierce, funny & astoundingly inspiring. You won’t want to miss this. Airs on ⁦@PiersUncensored⁩ on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/jhOq2cy9yD
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 19, 2023

66-year-old Navratilova also revealed that she and her wife, Julia Lemigova, were forced to postpone their plans to adopt a child due to her health condition.

This was Navratilova’s second battle with cancer, having been diagnosed and then overcome breast cancer in 2010.

Besides 18 Majors in singles, Navratilova also won 41 doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slams for a total of 59 Majors, and won 167 singles and 177 doubles titles overall.