On Day 2 of the 2020 US Open, Carla Suárez Navarro, formerly ranked No. 6 in the world, announced that she has been diagnosed with early-stage Hodgkin Lymphoma. The 31-year-old Spanish player tweeted on August 24 that she was withdrawing from the tournament “due to health reasons.” This followed her announcement in January that 2020 would be her last year on the tour.
Today’s statement revealed that she will be undergoing six months of chemotherapy to treat the “small, curable lymphoma.” The seven-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist has been popular on tour since 2008, loved for her big game—which belied her 5-foot-4 stature—and big smile.
Despite her diagnosis, the player’s positive attitude prevails in the tweets she has sent from a hospital bed. “Patience and self-belief guided me through my career,” Suárez Navarro said in a video posted to Twitter. “Not the easiest rival to deal with. I’ll need my truly best.”
