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After years of rivalry by playing 80 matches against each other on the court, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova never let go of their friendship. The two display their affection publicly and even back up their significant other whenever needed. They shared empathy for each other while battling cancer and stood as the pillar of emotional support. Evert was the one the fifty-nine Grand Slam titles winner turned to when she found out about her cancer. Their friendship only grew stronger from then. While the world is familiar with the grapples of Navratilova, her best friend suffered in silence till Navratilova recognized and lent her shoulder to lean on.

The best friends share some striking similarities and hence, think alike. Sally Jenkins, an award-winning sports writer, and author, recently elaborated on a moment from her interview with Navratilova.

The backgrounds that emotionally connected the legends

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In a conversation with Larry Wilmore on his Spotify podcast, ‘Black on the Air,’ Jenkins revealed how similar the two best friends are and that people often fail to realize the commonalities. The author of ‘The Right Call’ recalled the statements of Navratilova, and according to her, the tennis legend drew a comparison between her and Evert, explaining the similar issues they faced.

Jenkins recalled that Navratilova said, She was raised in this very sort of inhibited, compressed Catholic girl, you know, have to be perfect environment. And I was raised in communism, which was equally suffocating. And she said, so we both. You know, we both kind of came out of, of certain systems of tension.”

READ MORE: Days After Chris Evert?s Brutal Dig at $650,000,000,000 Possible Tennis Move, Martina Navratilova Stands by Her Long-Time Friend to Condemn Authorities

Interpreting the words of the 66-year-old, Jenkins said, “So they have sympathy for each other. That is interesting that way, you know, Chrissy had a lot more problems than people realized. She just hid them very, very well.”?Wilmore rightly said, “What was the ugly duckling? What was the beautiful swan? And yet they’re both had their trappings in it. So it’s interesting that they were foes and friends too.”?

Both the legends battled their own issues while being professional rivals and also best friends. One fought with her sexuality, and the other, her mental pressure. But Evert was the unsung woman because people only realized how Navratilova shattered the boundaries, and her best friend went unnoticed, but not by her. The Sportswriter shared how the nine times Wimbledon Championships singles title winner understood Evert and stood by her.

The lesser-known side of Chris Evert and the recognition of Martina Navratilova

Jenkins said, “Chrissie had a lot of compressed problems, right? I mean, talk about, you know, like, who was going to believe Chris Everett if she said I have a problem? You know, like, who was going to believe Chrissie Evert if she said I’m really depressed or I’m. You know, and I think that’s one reason why they became such good friends because, you know, I think that Martina was one of the few people.”

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Given her own troubles, Evert has always stood up for mental health issues and acknowledged hers when mental health was still taboo. She once told Eurosport that players have to be mindful of themselves and address the issues immediately. She encouraged WTA’s move of athletes to have their own Sports Psychologist as she agreed that being a top player is not easy.

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Being a top athlete herself, Evert said that they are either a winner or a loser to the world, and coping with it is not easy. On the other hand, Navratilova left her own country and settled in America for her career because of the views that did not align with her country half a century ago. But her courage did not go unnoticed.

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In June of this year, the former Czech resident was awarded the silver medal of the president of the Senate and was presented the honor by upper house chief Milos Vystrcil for outstanding achievement and the courage to be herself. The two best friends fought many battles by themselves and together. Behind the colorful life they are enjoying now, there are many untold stories and unrevealed combats they won.

WATCH THIS STORY:?‘A** Wipe’ – 66-year-old Martina Navratilova Gives It Back To A Venus Williams’ Hater After His Insensitive Comment Over Her Reaction To Camila Giorgi