Friend of 5 Decades, Martina Navratilova Shares Emotional Message to ‘Kid’ Chris Evert on Her Special Day

Martina Navratilova was 12 years old when she first read about Chris Evert in an issue of World Tennis Magazine. A few years later, she would meet her future rival for the first time during her first career tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1973. Navratilova greeted her, but Evert, too busy in a backgammon game, had little idea who this youngster was. Soon they would become fierce rivals on the court that would define the sport and years later went from fighting against each other to fighting for each other.

They played each other in the same year they first met at the Akron Tennis Open. It would be the first of 80 career matches between the two legends which included 60 finals. Fans of yesteryears would recall their sensational 1978 Wimbledon final, their three-set epic in the final of the 1981 Australian Open, or the 1985 French Open final, which Evert considers her favorite win over Navratilova.

While they became iconic rivals on the court, they turned out to be support pillars for each other as both players battled cancer at different points in their lives. Hence, as Evert turned 70, it was no surprise that Navratilova shared a heartfelt message for her friend and former rival.

Taking to X on Saturday, Navratilova wrote, “Happy 70th today to my friend, nemesis, partner and most of all an amazing, strong, resilient and compassionate woman, champion of champions! Lots of love, m. Here is looking at you, kid:) @ChrissieEvert.” The rivalry between Evert and Navratilova remained the talk of the tennis town in the 1970s and 1980s and was labeled as “The Rivalry of the Century” by sports writer Bud Collins. 

Having competed against each other from 1973-1988, they had numerous memorable encounters, but Evert notably revealed that she doesn’t remember their first meeting, but Navratilova recalled it vividly.

Last year speaking at a media conference at the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun, Navratilova said, “I remember better than Chris I think, because for her I was just some youngster walking by. But she did say hello. But she had no idea who I was.” They would go on to have a prolific rivalry, splitting  36 Grand Slam titles between them. During the same press conference, Evert mentioned the moment she realized they had something big on their hands.

“I think the moment we became really good friends was the moment we realized that something was bigger than ourselves individually,” Evert said. “I think you and I looked at each other after, like, 50 matches. We’re like, ‘Whoa, look at that crowd.'” Together they would set the standard for women’s tennis and their rivalry transcended the sport.

Meanwhile, tennis legend Billie Jean King also expressed love and admiration for Evert.

Sharing a picture of herself with Evert on X, King wrote, “On this day in 1954, a future tennis legend was born! Happy birthday to 18x Grand Slam singles champion, the first woman athlete to be @SInow ‘s sole recipient of the “Sportsperson of the Year” award, and our dear friend, @ChrissieEvert !” And these praises are quite justified. 

Evert proved her mettle on the tennis courts during her playing days. She did not just clinch the No. 1 spot but also amassed 18 Grand Slams in the singles category. Coming back to her bond with Navratilova, when Evert was diagnosed with Stage 1C ovarian cancer in January 2022, one of her first calls was to Navratilova.

When Chris Evert detailed how Martina Navratilova helped her amidst challenges

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert did not just share similarities professionally, but in personal lives as well. Both players battled cancer in their lives and like true fighters, defeated their illness depicting immense resilience. But as Evert battled her illness, she witnessed Navratilova, who went through similar challenges once, standing by her side and supporting her in every possible way.

As a cancer survivor herself, Navratilova had crucial insights into the process and was one of the most apt people to help Evert. 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 opened up about their close bond adding, “If I’m going to go through the trenches, there’s nobody I’d pick more than Martina.”

It’s not every day that rivals-turned-friends inspire such admiration, but Martina and Chris remind us all that respect and connection can flourish even in the most competitive arenas.