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• Navratilova reveals she is cancer-free as BJK welcomes 'wonderful news' and Haas hails 'icon'

  Martina Navratilova has announced she is cancer-free, with Billie Jean King welcoming the "wonderful news".

  Doctors believe the 66-year-old tennis great has beaten cancer for a second time, after previously overcoming breast cancer in 2010.

  The Czech-American announced in January she had been diagnosed with throat and breast cancer, sparking an outpouring of well-wishes.

  She is one of the most decorated players of all time, having won 18 grand slam singles titles between 1978 and 1990, plus a staggering 41 doubles slams.

  Speaking to Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Navratilova said: "As far as they know, I'm cancer-free."

  According to The Sun, Navratilova will have further preventative radiation treatment on her breast.

  "Then I should be good to go," she said.

  King, her friend and former tennis rival, was thrilled to learn Navratilova's health has taken a turn for the better.

  She wrote on Twitter: "Such wonderful news from my dear friend, ⁦@Martina⁩. We are so happy for you!"

  Speaking to Stats Perform prior to Navratilova's announcement, former ATP world number two Tommy Haas spoke of his admiration for the legendary left-hander, and wished for a full recovery.

  "What she has done in women's tennis and her success, the way she also kind of showcased her athleticism, her focus, her dedication to the sport, the records that she's broken, the longevity of it too," Haas said, listing reasons to be an admirer.

  He described her as "an icon on the tour", and hoped she would survive this year's worrying cancer scare.

  "Obviously, when you read the news about anyone in the tennis world that has had some kind of impact, or a great career, it's always sad, and you send them a text message, and you wish them the best and a speedy recovery," said Haas, the Indian Wells Open tournament director.

  "You hope that they found these situations early, just like with Chris Evert [who recovered from ovarian cancer], and that they get through this and that they have the loved ones and friends around them and support them and get back to what they enjoy doing in life.

  "I think we all know, and realise that without health, you have nothing. It's nice to be a part of certain things that you're passionate about. And it's important, and it's great, but being healthy and doing the things that you want to do ultimately, is really what it comes down to."

• Draper out of Miami Open following retirement against Alcaraz at Indian Wells

  Jack Draper has pulled out of the Miami Open due to an abdominal injury that forced him to retire from his match against Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells.

  The Briton suffered a tear to his oblique muscle during his fourth round encounter with the Spaniard, forcing him to bring the match to a premature end in the second set.

  While Alcaraz went on to win the tournament and reclaim his position as world number one, Draper is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

  The 21-year-old has decided to withdraw from Miami, in order to focus on making a full recovery rather than risk aggravating the issue.

  The world number 43 struggled for fitness during the 2021 season, but played 22 events last year and reached the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open.

  Alcaraz won his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami last year by beating Casper Ruud in the final. 

  After being awarded a bye into the second round, he will face either Facundo Bagnis or a qualifier and could take on Andy Murray in round three as he eyes a Sunshine Double.

   

• How the world has changed since Rafael Nadal was last out of the top 10

  Rafael Nadal dropped out of the world's top 10 men's tennis rankings on Monday, the first time he has not been a presence there since his arrival on April 25, 2005.

  After struggling with a hip injury since the Australian Open, Nadal has been unable to play much in the early months of 2023, causing his ranking to drop to 13th.

  The 22-time grand slam winner has been an ever-present among the elite of the men's game for the best part of two decades.

  Having spent half of his life as a top-10 player, Nadal will be determined to get back there once his injury has healed and prove there is still plenty of life in him yet, though may also be a tad sad to realise that new world number one and compatriot Carlos Alcaraz wasn't even two years old in April 2005.

  In the interest of nostalgia, Stats Perform has taken a gander back at how the world looked then, and what has changed since.

  The Special One makes his mark

  Jose Mourinho made quite the impact when he became Chelsea manager at the start of the 2004-05 season, guiding the then Roman Abramovich-owned Blues to their first Premier League crown, and first English top-flight title since 1954-55.

  After coining his own moniker of the "Special One" at his first press conference, Mourinho set about living up to it, also adding the EFL Cup in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

  Two days after Nadal had entered the top 10 though, Chelsea hosted Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, drawing 0-0 at home, before losing 1-0 in the return leg at Anfield to suffer elimination at the hands of their Premier League rivals.

  Mourinho did not take kindly to Luis Garcia's goal being awarded, with goal-line technology not available back then, something the now 60-year-old brought up again as recently as last week.

  The Portuguese coach went on to have a storied career that is still going, having won the inaugural Europa Conference League with Roma last season.

  He remains as outspoken as ever though, aiming a dig at Roma's rivals Lazio after their elimination from Europe ahead of the Rome derby on Sunday, which Lazio won 1-0 before Biancocelesti defender Alessio Romagnoli revealed: "We were already very energised before this match, his quotes hyped us up even more."

  Tennant's Who-per

  It was also a different time in television, pre-dating the streaming services so many rely on today, not least tennis players on the road, such as Nadal.

  David Tennant was announced as the 10th doctor in Doctor Who, while the first UK series of The Apprentice came to a conclusion and adult-themed animated series Family Guy returned due to popular demand after initially being cancelled following its third season.

  Nearly 18 years later, Tennant has reprised his role in Doctor Who, The Apprentice is airing its 17th series in the UK and Family Guy is airing its 21st season in the United States.

  The more things change, the more they stay the same... but you can at least now stream all three shows on demand.

  Charles and Camilla get married

  In April 2005, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles tied the knot, getting married at a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall.

  It is fair to say quite a bit has happened in the British royal family since then, with Princes William and Harry both getting married to fairly different receptions.

  With the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September at the age of 96, King Charles III took the throne, and will have his coronation on May 6.

  After Alcaraz became the youngest player to end the year as world number one in December, King Charles III will officially become the oldest person to accede to the British throne.

  When Nokia ruled the world

  If there is one area that has advanced almost immeasurably in the last 18 years, it is phone technology.

  In 2005, it was still around two years before the dawn of the smartphone. Statistically, it is likely that even stars like Nadal had to make do with a Nokia 1110, the best-selling phone of the year.

  Flip-phones were also becoming popular, with the Motorola RAZR V3 and Samsung Z500 among them, and both companies have revived the design in recent times, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 one of the biggest selling phones of today.

  Who knows, perhaps Nadal's superfast reflexes and anticipation came from logging hours and hours of practice playing Snake.

  Let's see Alcaraz do that.