Czech-American tennis icon Martina Navratilova recently celebrated her 69th birthday, and the tributes were led by a fitting voice: her greatest rival and closest friend, Chris Evert. Their story is one of tennis’s most remarkable, evolving from a fierce on-court battle for supremacy into a deep, supportive friendship that has lasted decades.
As Navratilova turned 69 on Oct. 18, Evert’s heartfelt message reminded the sports world of their unique and enduring bond.
What Makes the Evert-Navratilova Bond So Legendary?
With her extraordinary achievements across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, Navratilova built what is widely regarded as one of the most complete careers in tennis history. Beyond her 18 Grand Slam singles titles, the relentless attacker spent an astounding 332 weeks atop the WTA rankings. She also stands alone as the player with the most Grand Slam titles across all categories, 59, in the Open Era. Moreover, Navratilova also holds the record for the most singles titles (167) and doubles titles (177) in the Open Era.
Meanwhile, Evert established herself as one of the game’s most dominant forces, sharing the court with Navratilova in one of tennis’ greatest rivalries. The American matched her legendary counterpart with 18 Grand Slam titles and made history as the first player, male or female, to record 1,000 singles victories. Her astounding 1,309 career wins remain the second-highest in history, behind only Navratilova’s 1,442.
However, their fierce on-court rivalry never strained their off-court relationship, as the two maintained a remarkably close friendship. Over the years, they have often expressed mutual admiration and support, and that affection was once again on display for Navratilova’s birthday. Evert took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message for the Czech-American, accompanied by a picture of the two together.
“Happy Birthday to my former rival, current great friend Martina Navratilova. Wishing you lots of joy and love in your life going forward, because with a heart as big as yours, you deserve it,” she shared on Instagram.
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Their rivalry came alive in 80 epic battles on the tour, giving fans countless unforgettable moments. Despite the fierce competition, Navratilova held the upper hand, finishing their head-to-head with a 43-37 lead. She even sealed their last encounter in Chicago in 1988 with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win.
The friendship continues to this day. Speaking recently on Andy Roddick’s podcast, Navratilova revealed that she and Evert often text and call each other. Most intriguingly, she said they swap recommendations for shows on streaming platforms. Navratilova also shared that the two are working on a documentary chronicling their unique relationship and legendary rivalry.
