BFF Martina Navratilova Rushes to Chris Evert’s Defence After Iga Swiatek Threatens Her French Open Record

Tennis legend Chris Evert is approaching a significant milestone – the 50th anniversary of her maiden Grand Slam victory at Roland Garros in 1974. This wasn’t just any win; it marked the beginning of a dominant year for the young Evert. Then-fresh off her Parisian triumph, she didn’t waste time celebrating. Evert quickly set her sights on Wimbledon, the next Grand Slam on the calendar. This early success hinted at the incredible career Evert would go on to have, solidifying her place as one of the greatest players of all time. However, her on-court rival and off-court admirer, Martina Navratilova, explained how Evert had the potential to earn more success at Roland Garros.

With the aim of discussing the ongoing French Open tournament, the Tennis Channel Live podcast arranged a panel of guests on June 8. Featuring Steve Weissman (sports commentator), Jon Wertheim (Journalist) Prakash Amritraj (retired tennis player), and former tennis pro Martina Navratilova, they looked back into tennis history, citing the top players of Roland Garros.

When the conversation drifted towards Chris Evert, the former World No. 1, Steve Weissman, the host of the podcast, began saying, “She missed three years from 1976 to 1978, playing as the World Team Tennis.” Martina Navratilova, the former Czech tennis pro intervened and said, “She would have earned more if she played which none of us played because the tournaments or World Team Tennis was bigger than playing the French Open or the Australian Open.”

Further adding to that, Navratilova said, “Times have changed now it’s all about the majors. Like then it was about the tour when blood on the US Open and then the WTA finals at the end of the year. So yeah, we it wasn’t that much about that but still when you want Roland Garros, you knew that was something special.”

As pointed out by her, during the time when the American player competed there, Roland Garros was an outlier among the majors. The court’s red clay, which presented a stark contrast to the grass courts, was yet to be accepted by the tennis world. However, the newbie at the time, a teenager named Chris Evert, with her two-handed back-hands approach, along with playing and winning consecutive titles, inadvertently started a revolution in the French Open.

With a record of 72-6 at the tournament, her achievement in tennis is only surpassed by Rafael Nadal later on, 112-4. But after winning two consecutive titles (1974, and 1975) she remained absent for the next three years. Allured by the World Team Tennis, which had greater significance than the traditional Grand Slams, Evert skipped ten of those Slam events (1975–80). But then she came back in the French Open tournament in 1979 again.

With her prowess on-court, within a period of the next seven years, she soon completed her seven grand slams at the French Open. Referring to this, Martina Navratilova, with whom Evert has played 80 matches, said that if she played more at Roland Garros, her Grand Slam count would have further increased.

Navratilova’s support for her on-court rival is not new. It even extends to her off-court battles as well. Especially during Evert’s  cancer battle, when Navratilova made sure to be by her side.

The time when Martina and Chris showed each other support during their cancer battles

Martina Navratilova’s battle with cancer wasn’t a solitary fight. A key source of strength came from her former rival, Chris Evert, who had faced her own battle with ovarian cancer two years prior. The tables had turned, with Evert now offering support to Navratilova.

When Chris Evert announced that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, it worried her fans regarding her health. However, the 18-time Grand Slam champion soon found comfort in her friend, Martina Navratilova. Navratilova, who herself battled with throat cancer, showed her support for the ESPN analyst as they together spent some time, having food and enjoying each other’s company last year. 

Later, Evert took to her Instagram and wrote, “We’re in this together! 💪🏼👊🙏 Thanks for the delicious food ⁦ @Martina❤️.” Their shared experience – the “emotional battle” of battling cancer – allowed them to connect on a deeper level. As both of them continue to support each other through the ups and downs of their lives, the tennis world will continue to witness their ever-evolving friendship!

Share this with a friend: