Chris Evert is one of tennis’s all-time greats and won a staggering number of titles during her illustrious career. The American superstar has won every major tournament an impressive number of times. However, off the court, Evert’s life was quite different. She got married three times; among those, former English tennis player John Lloyd was her first husband.
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The couple, Lloyd and Evert, got married in 1979. But, parted ways after being married for eight years. Chris Evert once revealed how she had to deal with things after her divorce with John Lloyd.
Chris Evert once spoke about her painful marriage with John Lloyd
The 18-time Grand Slam winner, Chris Evert, once revealed a rather painful fact about her marriage and the things that unfolded post her divorce from John Lloyd. ?I had never really gone through a lot of emotional crises,? said the 67-year-old.
She further revealed, ?I’ve never had anyone close to me die, for instance. And when you have a marriage that doesn’t work, there’s just so much stress. I knew I had to deal with it alone. Through pain, I think you grow.?
Lloyd was once feeling the pressure to live up to Evert’s standard as a tennis star because Evert was much more famous. And due to the lack of time spent together, the couple eventually had to part ways.
A love story between athletes with different career trajectories?
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1978 Wimbledon was the time when Evert and Lloyd first crossed paths. One year into their romance, they made the commitment to tie the knot the following year. Even though both were professionals from the same field, their visions and ambitions were completely different.
WATCH THE STORY: Chris Evert looks back at her astounding rivalry with Martina Navratilova and the negative impact of her 13-match losing streak
Lloyd struggled badly for the majority of his career, while Evert was and still is considered among the greatest female tennis players of all time. Talking about their records, Evert has won 18 Grand Slam singles titles. Lloyd, on the other hand, competed in only one Grand Slam final. Now, despite their separation, the ex-stars have constantly maintained a great deal of mutual respect.
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Apart from Lloyd, Evert also married Alpine skier Andy Mill and former professional golfer Greg Norman. However, all three marriages have ended in heartbreak for Evert. She now enjoys her personal life with her three children from her second marriage with Andy Mill.
Do you think Evert’s legendary professional career had an effect on her personal life?