The tennis world has always buzzed with the legendary rivalry between Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. Their battles on the court were the stuff of legend, each match a fierce contest of skill and willpower. For years, the WTA circuit was dominated by the rhythm of their heartbeats, each match pushing them to their limits. Their rivalry wasn’t just about winning; it was about elevating the game. But what happens when such intense rivalries evolve into deep friendships? For Navratilova and Evert, the bond that developed off the court is just as remarkable as their clashes on it.

Saturday marked a great day for tennis as Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj entered the most prestigious club in tennis, the Tennis Hall of Fame. The event marked the presence of many guests from all across the world but Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova stole the spotlight of the show. Taking to her Twitter on Sunday, Navratilova shared a selfie that she took at Newport with a special message for her rival turned bestie, Chris Evert.

Posting a picture on Twitter, Navratilova wrote, “And the only selfie I took while there:)” But what followed was a sweet message for Evert as she wrote, “@ChrissieEvert⁩ – looking fine:)” This comes after the former American pro braved out of her battle with cancer. In 2022, Evert publicly detailed her first cancer diagnosis to raise awareness about ovarian cancer.

While Evert recovered from her illness, she was diagnosed with cancer again last year after a precautionary CT scan in December revealed a cancerous mass. Ms. Evert went through the entire process a second time and defeated the illness again. But Navratilova’s appreciation for her friend did not stop there.

In yet another tweet, she congratulated Evert for a remarkable achievement. “⁦And congrats to Chrissie for having a building named after her at the Hall Of Fame in Newport- the Chris Evert Learning Center- about time she had a big thing named after her!!! @ChrissieEvert – well done and well deserved!”

The Canfield House building at the International Tennis Hall of Fame was officially renamed this week to pay tribute to the 18-time Grand Slam winner. This is not the first time when Navratilova has expressed her support for Evert in her battle with cancer.

In an earlier interview, Navratilova, who played almost 60 finals against Evert, opened up about her cancer journey. A survivor of the illness herself, the 67-year-old revealed the contrasting traits that Evert depicted. Navratilova claimed that while she remained private about her treatment, Evert was “an open book.” “You were much more public about your treatment and everything else.” Their friendship, meanwhile, can also be decoded from the assistance that Navratilova extended to Evert.

Martina Navratilova’s extensive help to Chris Evert is heartwarming!

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have seen each other at their best as well as worst, not just professionally, but in their personal lives as well. And Evert has witnessed her fierce rival growing into one of her closest friends over the years. 

Navratilova is herself a cancer survivor. This made her gain some insights into the process and Evert could not ask anyone better for help. Expressing the same, Evert admitted, “She has been such a support for me. Coming over to my house, cooking me soup, cooking me pasta, really taking care of me, calling me, making sure I’m OK.” Continuing further, she acknowledged their close bond. “If I’m going to go through the trenches, there’s nobody I’d pick more than Martina.”

This helps and the latest remarks of Navratilova are surely a confidence booster for Chris Evert. Their bond depicts that while many on-court rivalries take an ugly form off of it as well, the rivalry between Evert and Navratilova stands out.