Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were much more than tennis rivals. The two played in some of the greatest matches during their illustrious careers. Although fierce competitors on the tennis court, Navratilova and Evert were close friends off the court. Additionally, they were an integral part of the United States’ successful Fed Cup teams.
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The two legends are quite active on social media, sharing and reacting to the news about current affairs and the world of sports. On several occasions, they have also used this platform to engage in hilarious banters with each other. One such incident occurred in 2014.
Chris Evert on Martina Navratilova dumping her
Before the start of the 2015 season, Navratilova joined Polish star Agnieszka Radwanska’s coaching staff. Reacting hilariously to it, Evert said, “@Martina @nytimes MARTINA!!!!!! U dumped me for AGA!!! ( Twitter picture) haha, I don’t know how to take that!!!”
@Martina @nytimes MARTINA!!!!!! U dumped me for AGA!!!( Twitter picture) haha, I don't know how to take that!!!😩😫😢😢😳😳
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) December 29, 2014
Before Navratilova joined her coaching staff, Radwanska had an inconsistent run in the 2014 season. While she won the Canadian Open and reached the finals in Indian Wells that year, she had early exits in Grand Slam events, barring the Australian Open, where she reached the semifinals.
Navratilova’s partnership with the Polish star didn’t last long. In April 2015, the two parted ways after Radwanska struggled in the early part of the 2015 season.
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Evert and Navratilova’s reaction to their first match
Evert’s rivalry with Navratilova began in 1973 when they faced each other in the round-of-16 in Akron. During an interview, Navratilova reacted to the match, saying, “I just wanted you (Evert) to notice me.” While Evert was a seasoned player then, Navratilova had just begun her career.
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On the other hand, Evert reacted, saying, “You were a butterball.” Subsequently, Navratilova replied, “I put on twenty pounds in my first two weeks in America. I ate nonstop.”
Evert went on to win that match comfortably in straight sets 7-6, 6-3. While Evert dominated the early meeting between the two, Navratilova came back strongly to win some big matches against Evert. The two have played in 80 matches between them, with Navratilova winning on 43 occasions.