44 Years After ‘Emotional’ Wimbledon Final Against Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova Recalls Overwhelming Moment Shared With Mother as Her Rival Watches On

The Czech-American tennis legend, Martina Navratilova went through a roller-coaster journey while she established her position as one of the greatest in the history of the sport. The Tennis Hall of Famer was stripped of her citizenship after she fled Czechoslovakia in 1975 due to communist rule in the country. Navratilova continued her competitive tennis while residing in the United States where she was later granted citizenship.

It further kept her away from her family including her mother who was back there in Czechoslovakia. However, after some efforts from the authorities, the 18 singles Grand Slam champion’s mother was finally allowed to visit her during the Wimbledon Championships final against Chris Evert. Speaking of that heartfelt moment, the former tennis ace recently revealed how she was overwhelmed with emotions with her mother cheering on from the stands.

Martina Navratilova reveals how she felt after Wimbledon triumph in 1979

During her illustrious journey on the women’s circuit, the Tennis Hall of Famer had a slew of remarkable victories in her bag. However, her 1979 Wimbledon Championships triumph against her fierce rival, Chris Evert, holds a special place in her heart. It was due to the reason that her mother was also there in the stands who looked ecstatic while cheering her after a long period.

However, it might not have been possible if the Duchess of Kent hadn’t intervened during the visa approval process. Speaking of it in the latest BBC Documentary, Navratilova said, “Duchess of Kent implored the Czech government to give her a visa to let her come.”

With her mother watching her from the stands, she outclassed Evert in two sets to clinch her Wimbledon singles title that cemented her as the dominant force in women’s tennis. Navratilova revealed that her mother’s support from the stands played a huge part in her incredible win.

She stated, “To this day, I don’t play how i played tennis because she was there I really wanted to win in front of her. It was just magic that I was able to share that with her”

READ MORE: Chris Evert’s Common Sense Was Considered ‘Betrayal’ to Women’s Tennis in a Notorious Bobby Riggs Controversy Back in 1973

Chris Evert also commented on that heartfelt moment

The popular documentary also featured the ‘Ice Maiden,’ detailing the incident that took place at the 1979 Wimbledon Championships. Chris Evert has labeled that heartfelt moment as something which is “greater than the game of tennis.”

Despite her defeat, Evert felt overwhelmed with emotions while she reminisced about that match. She said, “It makes me emotional because it, makes me emotional because you know now I understand what she went through.”

What do you think of that heartfelt moment of the 1979 Wimbledon Championships? Let us know in the comments section.

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