‘I Wasn’t the Best Athlete’- Chris Evert Reveals How Hunger Alone Can Achieve Dreams

Chris Evert is amongst one of the most inspirational tennis players. She brought value to the association whose foundation Billie Jean King laid. Further, the 18 times Grand Slam champion alongside Martina Navratilova gave tennis one of its best rivalries.

Therefore, regardless of who rules the next generations, her name will always come up when talking about legends. But what perception of her does she want people to have?

What Chris Evert wants

Evert stepped on the tennis court as a teenager in the year 1972 and not much after that dominated the entire game. She claimed the ranking of World no.1 within three years of her debut. Thus proving her prowess and making herself a role model for many young bloods.

However, when asked about what kind of impact she wants to leave on people keeping true to her humble self. She in a 1995 interview said, “I hope it’s that I helped the notion that it’s OK for a woman to be athletic. To be tough, to be competitive.”

“It has always been OK for men to be those things, but it’s not until the last 20 years or so that it’s been OK for a woman to be those things.” She added.

Thereafter, Evert spoke about the traits she wishes to see in the coming generation, “I’d like to say to little girls all over the world, ‘Pursue your dream. I wasn’t the best athlete. I wasn’t the fastest or the quickest. But I wanted it badly enough to make it happen.” 

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The seven times French Open champion retired from professional tennis in the year 1989. She said goodbye to the sport with 157 singles and 32 doubles trophies under her name.

Chris Evert’s biggest rival

Evert would have achieved a lot more if she played in a different period than Navratilova. The Czech-American, after losing 16 out of the initial 20 matches, flipped the entire dynamics between them. Evert who had asserted dominance in all the surfaces of tennis had to take a back seat on grass and hard courts based tournaments.

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Navratilova owing to her monstrous strength and aggressive plus offensive playing style made it impossible for others to win. By the end of Evert’s career, she not only settled the head-to-head record by also took a lead of 43-37. Though the nine times Wimbledon champion couldn’t match Evert’s skills on the red dirt and still trails behind by 3-11.