‘Had That Placid Look on..’- Chris Evert Details Amusing Story of How Her Father Helped Her Get the Title ‘Little Miss Poker Face’

Chris Evert is one of the pioneers of women’s tennis. The background to Chris Evert’s incredible tennis career is fascinating. In a recent interview, she revealed how her father taught her to play, and her success on the court allowed her to strike out on her own financially.

Evert grew up in a tennis-playing family; her father was a famous tennis player. Like her siblings, she began taking tennis lessons from him when she was quite young. She and other women tennis players, such as Martina Navratilova, showed the world their capabilities. They proved their worth with the kind of performances women, in general, can come up with. 

Father acting as a catalyst in every sense

In a recent podcast interview, the 67-year-old, spoke to Design Matters regarding her path-breaking career as a legendary sports figure. The host, Debbie Millman, asked about her dad and how he taught her to control her nerves and emotions during the match. 

“Chrissy, ‘You gotta stay calm. You gotta be cool out here.’ He goes because you don’t want to let your opponent see that you are upset because they will have that ‘aha’ moment,” said the former world No One.

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She further went on to share, “That little miss poker face because I would not let my opponent see if I was discouraged or if I was not. If I was mad or if I was unhappy with the way I was playing, I had that placid look on my face and I think that won me lot of points, lot of matches, and a lot of Grand Slam titles.”

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Chris Evert is one of the most successful tennis players in American history. The 18-time Grand Slam champion’s game was built not only on her on-court prowess, but also on her ability to dictate the tenor of the competition. She is someone who maintained professional composure throughout her entire career.

How tough life has been for the legendary Chris Evert?

Chris Evert gained notoriety at a young age and never looked back. She struggled with mental health and sought treatment from experts. Things kept getting even worse when her younger sister died of cancer in 2020. Sadly, two years later, she was diagnosed with Stage 1C of Ovarian cancer herself.

For now, luckily, the player is safe and sound. All in all, the player’s on-court legacy has served as motivation for the next generation of tennis as a whole.