Martina Navratilova's cancers put adoption plans 'on hold,' wife says

“Real Housewives of Miami” star Julia Lemigova revealed that her wife tennis legend Martina Navratilova’s double cancer diagnosis put the pair’s adoption plans “on hold.”

On the second part of the hit Bravo reality show’s reunion Thursday, the 50-year-old said adoption has been put on the back burner while her wife undergoes treatment for stage 1 throat cancer and breast cancer.

“When you’re adopting a child, it has to be about the child,” Lemigova told host Andy Cohen.

“And right now it’s everything about Martina and for her getting (healthy). We’re putting it on hold.”

When asked how far along in the adoption process they were, Lemigova said they were pretty close.

“We were thinking any moment the agency would call and give us the happy news that we were going to have a baby,” she explained.

Navratilova of the United States stretches to make a back hand return during the Women's Singles Final match against Zina Garrison at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 7th July 1990. — Navratilova stretches to make a back hand return during the Women’s Singles Final match against Zina Garrison at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on July 7, 1990.

“Instead, we are fighting two cancers,” she went on, adding, “Like one is not enough. I’m just waiting for Martina to get better.”

The former Russian model said watching her wife, whom she wed in 2014, go through treatment was nothing short of “emotional.”

“Even the sad moments seem to be so not important,” Lemigova said after watching back moments from this season.

Navratilova of the United States kisses the Venus Rosewater Dish after defeating Zina Garrison in their Women's Singles Final match at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 7 July 1990 — Navratilova kisses the Venus Rosewater Dish after defeating Zina Garrison in their Women’s Singles Final match at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on July 7, 1990.

Navratilova announced her two cancer diagnoses in January, telling fans that both were discovered in the early stages.

“This double whammy is serious but still fixable, and I’m hoping for a favorable outcome,” the tennis Hall of Famer said in a statement to the Women’s Tennis Association. “It’s going to stink for a while, but I’ll fight with all I have got.”

The tennis ace previously had breast cancer in 2010 but was deemed cancer-free after a lumpectomy and six months of radiation.

Lemigova broke the news about the adoption being put on hold while on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.”

Navratilova and Lemigova celebrate their engagement during day 13 of the 2014 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 6, 2014 in New York City. — Navratilova and Lemigova celebrate their engagement during day 13 of the 2014 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 6, 2014, in New York City.

The Czech-born star was one of the more dominant players in the 1970s and 80s, claiming 18 Grand Slam singles titles.

She had a long-running rivalry with American Chris Evert, who recently announced she was cancer-free after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Nov. 2021.

Navratilova won 59 Grand Slam titles overall, including 31 in women’s doubles and 10 in mixed doubles.

She originally retired in 1994, after a record 167 singles titles and 331 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings, but returned to the court on several occasions in 2000.

Navratilova was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000 and has worked as a TV analyst in recent years.

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