‘Didn’t Really Get Along’- Chris Evert’s Genuine Revelation About Her Friendship With a ‘Bad Tempered’ John McEnroe

Chris Evert and John McEnroe are two of the most famous tennis players of all time. They are also two of the best players the game has ever seen. While McEnroe was known for his aggressive play on the tennis court, Evert was more reserved in her expression of emotion during matches.

Nevertheless, this didn’t stop them from becoming friends. Earlier, in one of her interviews, Chris Evert revealed how she and McEnroe didn’t get along initially. She also spoke a lot about their bonding back then and a lot of things in regard to their late blossomed friendship.

Chris Evert on her friendship with McEnroe

On August 22, 2022, Chris Evert was in a conversation with Debbie Millman on a podcast called ‘Design Matters’. In this particular podcast, she threw light on her career, her personal life, her dad, and a lot more. 

During the conversation, the host asked her about the kind of bonding that existed between Evert and John McEnroe. In return, Chris Evert came up with an answer stating that “He and I didn’t really get along. We were playing on the tour because he thought I because I did because I said the right things that I was fake. I thought that he had a bad temper. 

Further, she went on add, “So, we didn’t get along that well but when we started working with each other, First NBC and now ESPN and now we are close. You know now we kind of laugh….and I have stronger opinions, so he likes that too.“

READ MORE: ‘It Didn’t Sustain Itself’ – Martina Navratilova Once Proudly Reminisced How Her Rivalry With Chris Evert Surpassed the Likes of John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and Boris Becker

Chris Evert and John McEnroe were unmatched on the professional tennis circuit throughout the 1980s and 1990s. While Evert went on to win 18 Grand Slam singles, John McEnroe was able to clinch seven major singles titles. 

John McEnroe and Chris Evert – Two contrasting characters

John McEnroe is a New Yorker who is creative, aggressive, and left-handed. The hallmarks of John McEnroe are service and flamboyance. Chris Evert, on the other hand, was a stroke master who plays with her right hand and had displayed an almost eternal level of steadiness during her play days. In her first 49 Grand Slams, she advanced to the semifinals a total of 48 times.

So, what do they have in common? They were both victorious in the 1980 US Open and the 1981 Wimbledon Championship. John and Chrissie have been pioneers in the development of the American game for a number of years now. Without them, Tennis would not be the same sport as it is today. And yes, they are excellent commentators who aren’t afraid of being honest.

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