Tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who first crossed paths in their teens, developed one of the most intense rivalries in sports history before they turned into close friends. Their journey began in 1973 and after 15 years of fierce competition, they surprisingly achieved a perfect balance, both clinching 18 Grand Slam victories. Evert, who is now 68, and Navratilova, aged 66, have been friends for five decades.
Last year, both of them had to deal with cancer, which made their friendship even stronger as they supported each other through this tough time. Their extraordinary story is now being captured in a documentary. EverWonder Studio and Meadowlark Media, are co-producing a full-length documentary that takes an in-depth look at the connection between these two tennis legends.
Tennis icons Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova met as teenagers, forged one of the greatest rivalries in sports and then became close friends.
After 50 years, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova understand each other like no one else can. When cancer came, they both knew where… pic.twitter.com/F7zpeBoSDj
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 2, 2023
Chris Evert expressed her excitement about the project, stating, “I’m thrilled that this project is moving forward…looking forward to sharing our story with global audiences… with anyone who appreciates an inspirational journey through rivalry and to mutual respect and friendship.”
Martina Navratilova also emphasized the importance of this collaboration, she said, “This film has been decades in the making, and EverWonder and Meadowlark are the right studios to finally take it from a concept to a reality…important to work with storytellers who will honor the true power of our lives…and tell our story in the right way.”
On a late spring day, Evert and Navratilova sat together in an elegant Miami hotel, both finally cancer-free at the end of long dual sieges.
They were finally ready to look over their shoulders and tell some stories. New stories but also some old ones that felt fresh again or… pic.twitter.com/EUv6h7FP8O
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 2, 2023
The documentary promises to shed new light on the Evert-Navratilova relationship, featuring never-before-seen footage. Their story highlights the importance of friendship in the face of life’s most challenging moments, stemming from what was once the fiercest rivalry in the history of tennis.
Evert and Navratilova’s historic tennis rivalry and dominance on the court
Their rivalry, spanned the decades of the 70s and 80s, pitting two of the greatest women tennis players of all time against each other in the history of tennis and sports overall in one of the most prolific rivalries of all time. They contested 80 matches including 60 finals, with Navratilova leading the head-to-head 43-37, including 36-24 in finals. It stands as the most prolific tennis rivalry in the Open Era.
In the initial 12 years of the WTA rankings, from November 1975 to August 1987, they collectively held the No. 1 ranking for a remarkable 592 out of 615 weeks. Navratilova claimed the top spot for 332 weeks, while Evert held it for 260 weeks. Their dominance over other players during this period was extraordinary.
During Grand Slams, the locker room is filled with competitors until just two people are left in the final. Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were almost invariably the last two.
Afterward, they would return to that small room of two observing each other with sidelong glances… pic.twitter.com/YDL6UB1R6b
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 2, 2023
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, each had 18 Grand Slam singles titles to their names. In addition to their singles success Evert won three Grand Slam doubles titles while Navratilova won a total of 31, excelling in the doubles department. Overall, Evert accumulated 157 singles titles and 32 doubles titles, while Martina Navratilova’s career featured 167 singles titles and a staggering 177 doubles titles.
Both had a distinct playing style, with Evert’s baseline mastery on clay courts and Navratilova’s serve-and-volley brilliance on grass, enriched women’s tennis during their time. Tennis pundits consider their epic clash in the 1985 French Open final one of the greatest women’s tennis matches ever!