The Rivalry of the Century
The fairy-tale rivalry between Martina Navrátilová and Chris Evert will go down in history as the greatest-ever rivalry in womens tennis. How many players ever got to play each other 80 times? In the annals of sport, it is very rare to find a rivalry that matches this one.
The two first met in the first round of the 1973 Akron Open in Akron, Ohio. Chris, 18, was already a top 5 player and well-established on the tennis scene. Martina, 16, was in her first full-year on the short-lived USLTA Tour, and on her first visit to the United States. Evert won this first encounter 7-6(5-4) 6-3.
Over the years, the two would go on to meet each other 79 more times, culminating in their last meeting at the 1988 Virginia Slims of Chicago finals with Martina winning 6-2 6-2. They both had their highs and lows during this 16-year rivalry. At one time in the 70s, Chris had a 14-2 advantage over Martina. At another in the 80s, Martina
won 13 consecutive matches over Chris. It is difficult to pick one match that could stand out as their greatest match ever. But the three that stand out in my mind include the 1981 US Open semifinal, Martina winning 7-5 4-6 6-4; the 1985 French Open final, Chris winning 6-3 6-7(4-7) 7-5; and the 1987 Wimbledon semifinal, Martina winning 6-2 5-7 6-4.
But despite their frequent battles on the court, the two remained close friends throughout and still do to this day. They both competed on the Legends Tour, with Team Evert going against Team Navrátilová. Tennis has been greatly fortunate to have had these two fine sportswomen - and their spectacular rivalry. Thank you, Martina and Chris!
A Complete Record of the Navrátilová-Evert Rivalry
Year Place Winner Score
1973 Akron, Ohio, USA Evert 7-6 6-3
1973 St. Petersburg, Floria, USA Evert 7-5 6-3
1974 San Francisco, USA Evert 6-7 6-4 6-1
1974 Italian Open Evert 6-3 6-3
1975 San Francisco, USA Evert 6-4 6-3
1975 Washington, D.C., USA Navrátilová 3-6 6-4 7-6
1975 Akron, Ohio, USA Evert 6-3 6-1
1975 Chicago, USA Navrátilová 6-4 6-0
1975 Philadelphia, USA Evert 7-6 6-4
1975 Los Angeles, USA Evert 6-4 6-2
1975 Amelia Island, Floria, USA Evert 7-5 6-4
1975 Italian Open Evert 6-1 6-0
1975 French Open Evert 2-6 6-2 6-1
1975 U.S. Open Evert 6-4 6-4
1975 Atlanta, USA Evert 2-6 6-2 6-0
1975 Orlando, Florida, USA Evert w.o.
1976 Austin, Texas, USA Evert 6-0 6-3
1976 Houston, USA Navrátilová 6-3 6-4
1976 Wimbledon Evert 6-3 4-6 6-4
1977 Washington, D.C., USA Navrátilová 6-2 6-3
1977 Seattle, Washington, USA Evert 6-2 6-4
1977 Los Angeles, USA Evert 6-2 2-6 6-1
1977 Philadelphia, USA Evert 6-4 4-6 6-3
1977 Tucson, Arizona, USA Evert 6-3 7-6
1977 Colgate Series Championships Evert 6-4 6-1
1978 Eastbourne, UK Navrátilová 6-4 4-6 9-7
1978 Wimbledon Navrátilová 2-6 6-4 7-5
1978 Atlanta, USA Evert 7-6 0-6 6-3
1978 Palm Springs, California, USA Evert 6-3 6-3
1978 Tokyo, Japan Evert 7-5 6-2
1979 Oakland, California, USA Navrátilová 7-5 7-5
1979 Los Angeles, USA Evert 6-3 6-4
1979 Dallas, USA Navrátilová 6-4 6-4
1979 Eastbourne, UK Evert 7-5 5-7 13-11
1979 Wimbledon Navrátilová 6-4 6-4
1979 Phoenix, Arizona, USA Navrátilová 6-1 6-3
1979 Brighton, UK Navrátilová 6-3 6-3
1980 Chicago, USA Navrátilová 6-4 6-4
1980 Wimbledon Evert 4-6 6-4 6-2
1980 Brighton, UK Evert 6-4 5-7 6-3
1980 Tokyo, Japan Navrátilová 7-6 6-2
1981 Colgate Series Championships Navrátilová w.o.
1981 Amelia Island, Florida, USA Evert 6-0 6-0
1981 U.S. Open Navrátilová 7-5 4-6 6-4
1981 Tokyo, Japan Navrátilová 6-3 6-2
1981 Sydney, Australia Evert 6-4 2-6 6-1
1981 Australian Open Navrátilová 6-7 6-4 7-5
1982 Wimbledon Navrátilová 6-1 3-6 6-2
1982 Brighton, UK Navrátilová 6-1 6-4
1982 Australian Open Evert 6-3 2-6 6-3
1982 Toyota Championships Navrátilová 4-6 6-1 6-2
1983 Dallas, USA Navrátilová 6-4 6-0
1983 Virginia Slims Championships Navrátilová 6-2 6-0
1983 Los Angeles, USA Navrátilová 6-1 6-3
1983 Canadian Open Navrátilová 6-4 4-6 6-1
1983 U.S. Open Navrátilová 6-1 6-3
1983 Tokyo, Japan Navrátilová 6-2 6-2
1984 East Hanover, New Jersey, USA Navrátilová 6-2 7-6
1984 Virginia Slims Championships Navrátilová 6-3 7-5 6-1
1984 Amelia Island, Florida, USA Navrátilová 6-2 6-0
1984 French Open Navrátilová 6-3 6-1
1984 Wimbledon Navrátilová 7-6 6-2
1984 U.S. Open Navrátilová 4-6 6-4 6-4
1985 Key Biscayne, Florida, USA Evert 6-2 6-4
1985 Delray Beach, Florida, USA Navrátilová 6-2 6-4
1985 Dallas, USA Navrátilová 6-3 6-4
1985 French Open Evert 6-3 6-7 7-5
1985 Wimbledon Navrátilová 4-6 6-3 6-2
1985 Australian Open Navrátilová 6-2 4-6 6-2
1986 Dallas, USA Navrátilová 6-2 6-1
1986 French Open Evert 2-6 6-3 6-3
1986 Los Angeles, USA Navrátilová 7-6 6-3
1987 Houston, USA Evert 3-6 6-1 7-6
1987 French Open Navrátilová 6-2 6-2
1987 Wimbledon Navrátilová 6-2 5-7 6-4
1987 Los Angeles, USA Evert 6-2 6-1
1987 Filderstadt, FRG Navrátilová 7-5 6-1
1988 Australian Open Evert 6-2 7-5
1988 Houston, USA Evert 6-0 6-4
1988 Wimbledon Navrátilová 6-1 4-6 7-5
1988 Filderstadt, FRG Navrátilová 6-2 6-3
1988 Chicago, USA Navrátilová 6-2 6-2
Navrátilová leads 43-37
Surface breakdown:
Cement: Navrátilová 9-7
Clay: Evert 11-3
Grass: Navrátilová 10-5
Indoors: Navrátilová 21-14
Year-by-Year breakdown:
1973: Evert 2-0
1974: Evert 2-0
1975: Evert 9-2
1976: Evert 2-1
1977: Evert 5-1
1978: Evert 3-2
1979: Navrátilová 5-2
1980: Tied 2-2
1981: Navrátilová 3-2
1982: Navrátilová 3-1
1983: Navrátilová 6-0
1984: Navrátilová 6-0
1985: Navrátilová 4-2
1986: Navrátilová 2-1
1987: Navrátilová 3-2
1988: Navrátilová 3-2
Grand Slam breakdown
Australian Open: Tied 2-2
French Open: Evert 3-2
Wimbledon: Navrátilová 7-2
U.S. Open: Navrátilová 3-1