When the dust settles on a decades-long rivalry, what’s left is often a complicated legacy! But not in the case of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. They might be the two greatest rivals in tennis history, but when you trade their racquets with a cup of coffee, a unique story of friendship unfolds. The Tennis Hall of Fame will also remain a witness to that, as both attended the induction of Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj and stole some precious moments for themselves amid the celebrations!

On Saturday, Peas and Amritraj created history for India and became the first two men from Asia to enter the most prestigious club in tennis, the Tennis Hall of Fame. Naturally, the ceremony was as big as the achievement itself, with the presence of many honorable guests, including Andre Agassi, Kim Clijsters, Stan Smith, and Tracy Austin. However, what stole the show was the reunion of Evert and Navratilova, along with Austin, who were all seen in a picture together!

The former American World No. 1, Tracy Austin, took to her Instagram and posted it, captioning, “Good times with good friends in Newport, Rhode Island! What a weekend! @chrissieevert @martinanavratilova @tennishallofame #inductionweekend #tennis #laughs #stories #history #friends 🎾⚓️🛳🌱.”

While we loved to see the pictures, it was also a testament to the enduring friendship that Evert and Navratilova have shared over the years. But such was not the case when they initially hit the balls on the tennis courts in 1973. Instead, they were fierce rivals who contested against each other in 80 matches! Although Navratilova had a 43-37 overall head-to-head lead over Chris Evert, either way, the tennis world craved to watch them play together.

However, their prolific journey in tennis gifted them a friendship to hold on to for life. “I think the moment we became really good friends was the moment we realized that something was bigger than ourselves individually,” Evert once said about Navratilova, both of whom are inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame. Besides, as both had to undergo the perilous path of cancer (Martina-throat cancer, Chris-ovarian cancer), they uplifted each other to get through the tough times and spend as much time together as they could.

Their history, from the courts of tennis to outside of it, has been nothing short of spectacular, and we all get excited when we see a few glimpses of their reunion from time to time. Besides, whenever Evert shares the depth of their beautiful friendship, it also takes us back to the old times when it all began!

Evert speaks on the “legacy” of her friendship with Navratilova

On the occasion of WTA’s 50th anniversary last year, the Tennis Channel paid a special tribute to Evert and Navratilova owing to their unparalleled contribution to tennis. In that clip, the 69-year-old former player, Evert shared how their arch rivalry on-court later turned into an unbreakable bond. The former World No. 1 started by saying,

“There was a real camaraderie. There when you’re in your late 20s or early 30s. I think you realize you’ve become secure enough with yourself. That you realize it’s not affecting your individual legacy.” She further continued and added, “If anything, it’s adding to it and it’s a legacy in itself. Once I had gotten to that point, we formed a great friendship. And even to this day, we’re even closer than we were when we were competing.”

Both Evert and Navratilova have frequently revealed how grateful they are to be part of a rivalry that not only attracted fans to the sport but also created an amazing connection between the duo. And as they continue to gift us with their frequent doses of meetups, we will definitely keep wanting more!