The Evert–Navratilova rivalry was a tennis rivalry in the 1970s and 1980s between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, widely regarded as two of the greatest female tennis players of all time. It is considered to be one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history and sports in general.[1][2][3][4][5] The pair contested 80 matches between 1973 and 1988 (60 of which were finals), with Navratilova leading the overall head-to-head 43–37 and 36–24 in finals. It is the most prolific tennis rivalry of the Open Era.
In the 12 years from the introduction of the WTA rankings in November 1975 until August 1987, one of the two held the top spot in all but 23 weeks. More specifically, in the first 615 weeks of the WTA rankings they collectively held the No. 1 ranking for 592 weeks, Navratilova at 332 weeks and Evert at 260 weeks.[1][6][7] Such was their dominance over other players, that for the period 1977–1987 when the two rivals were first ranked world No. 1 and No. 2 (and generally the top two players for the entire ten-year period), only three times did any other player beat them both back-to-back in the same tournament: Evonne Goolagong Cawley at the 1978 Virginia Slims of Boston, Tracy Austin at the 1979 US Open, and Hana Mandlíková at the 1985 US Open.[8] From the 1981 Australian Open to the 1985 Wimbledon Championships, the duo won a record 15 consecutive major singles titles. From the 1981 Wimbledon Championships to the 1988 Australian Open, they won 22 of 27 major singles titles, and at least one of them appeared in each of those 27 finals. (The five defeats in those 27 finals were Navratilova losing to Austin at the 1981 US Open, to Mandlíková at the 1985 US Open and 1987 Australian Open, and to Steffi Graf at the 1987 French Open; Evert lost to Graf in the 1988 Australian Open final.)
Evert and Navratilova encountered each other most often on the faster court surfaces (grass and indoors), where Navratilova's offensive serve-and-volley style of play gave her the upper hand over Evert's counter-attacking baseline approach. Evert enjoyed more success in the rivalry on hard courts and especially on clay courts. Navratilova led Evert 10–5 on grass, 9–7 on outdoor hard courts, and 21–14 on indoor courts, but Evert led 11–3 on clay courts. Evert led their head-to-head in three-set match wins 15–14, but Navratilova led 29–22 in straight-set encounters. Navratilova was most dominant in encounters in majors, leading 14–8 overall and 10–4 in finals. Evert led their head-to-head for each of the first six years of their rivalry (1973–78), whereas Navratilova had the upper hand for each year in the rest of their rivalry (1979, 1981–88).
Following their retirements, they became close friends.[9]
1978 Wimbledon final
Navratilova won their 26th match in the final of the 1978 Wimbledon Championships. Evert had won the first set, and was cruising in the second, until Navratilova rallied back and won the match in three-sets. The third set was a classic combination of a see-saw battle and a contrast in styles between the two players.[10] Navratilova won 12 of the last 13 points for the title, winning the third set 7–5. It is considered to be one of the best women's finals in Wimbledon history.[11]
1981 Australian Open final
In their 45th match, Evert and Navratilova played a three-set epic at the final of the 1981 Australian Open. In his book, tennis historian Steve Flink ranks it as one of their two most significant matches, alongside the 1985 French Open final.[12] Navratilova won the match despite dropping the opening set, winning the final set 7–5. Evert considered the match to be one of her toughest losses.[13] The tournament was played on grass.
1982 Australian Open final
In a rematch of the previous year's final, Evert beat Navratilova in three sets at the 1982 Australian Open. It was a straightforward match, with Evert claiming the first set 6–3, Navratilova the second set 6–2, and Evert finally winning with a third set score of 6–3. With her win, Evert achieved the Career Grand Slam.[14] Like the previous year's final, the match was played on grass instead of hardcourt.
1984 US Open final
In their 61st match, Navratilova won in three-sets at the 1984 US Open final. Navratilova was on a 54-match winning streak coming into the match, one shy of Evert's then Open Era record 55-match winning streak, she would eventually extend the record to 74 matches won in a row, a record that still stands.[15] Navratilova dropped the first set, yet rallied to win the next two to win the US Open. It is considered to be one of their best matches,[16] and one of the best matches in US Open history.[17] Evert is quoted as saying about the impact of that loss that "It was the most devastated I've ever felt over a tennis match."[17]
1985 French Open final
In their 65th match, Evert and Navratilova played a three-set epic at the final of the 1985 French Open. It was a rematch of the previous year's final at the 1984 French Open. With the win, Evert reclaimed the No.1 ranking from Navratilova. Evert won the first set 6–3, before Navratilova rallied from down 2–4, 0–40 in the second set to force a third. In the deciding set, Evert let a 5–3 lead slip away, before eventually winning the third set 7–5. It is considered to be one of the greatest women's Grand Slam finals in history.[18][19] Evert considers it her favorite win over Navratilova, as she was the underdog and Navratilova had recently strung together a great number of wins against Evert.[20] It is one of the two matches that tennis historian Steve Flink considers the most significant in their rivalry, alongside the 1981 Australian Open final.[12] Frank Deford described the match as the "finest match of their long rivalry".[21]
