Evert–Navratilova rivalry


The Evert–Navratilova rivalry was a tennis rivalry in the 1970s and 1980s between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, widely regarded as two of the greatest tennis players of all time. It is considered to be one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history and sports in general. The pair contested 80 matches between 1973 and 1988, with Navratilova leading the overall head-to-head 43–37 and 36–24 in finals. It is the most prolific tennis rivalry of the Open Era.
In the 12 years following the introduction of the WTA rankings in November 1975 until August 1987, one of the two held [List of Women's Tennis Association|WTA number 1 ranked singles players|the world No. 1 position] in all but 23 weeks. More specifically, in the first 615 weeks of the WTA rankings they collectively held the No. 1 ranking for 592 weeks, Navratilova at 332 weeks and Evert at 260 weeks. Such was their dominance over other players, that for the period 1977–1987 when the two rivals were first ranked world No. 1 and No. 2, only three times did any other player beat them both back-to-back in the same tournament. From the 1981 Australian Open to the [1985 The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|1985 Wimbledon Championships], the duo won a record 15 consecutive major singles titles.
Evert and Navratilova encountered each other most often on the faster court surfaces, where Navratilova's offensive serve-and-volley style of play gave her the upper hand over Evert's counter-attacking baseline approach. Evert enjoyed more success in the rivalry on hard courts and especially on clay courts. Navratilova led Evert 10–5 on grass, 9–7 on outdoor hard courts, and 21–14 on indoor courts, but Evert led 11–3 on clay courts. Evert led their head-to-head in three-set match wins 15–14, but Navratilova led 29–22 in straight-set encounters. Navratilova was most dominant in encounters in majors, leading 14–8 overall and 10–4 in finals. Evert led their head-to-head for each of the first six years of their rivalry, whereas Navratilova had the upper hand for each year in the rest of their rivalry.
Following their retirements, they became close friends.

Grand Slam matches

  • Final matches indicated in bold.
Tournament19751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988
French OpenENEEN
WimbledonENNENNNNN
US OpenENNN
Australian OpenNENE

Famous matches

1978 Wimbledon final

Navratilova won their 26th match in the final of the 1978 Wimbledon Championships. Evert won the first set, and was cruising in the second, until Navratilova rallied back and won the match in three sets. The third set was a classic combination of a see-saw battle and a contrast in styles between the two players. Navratilova won 12 of the last 13 points for the title, winning the third set 7–5. It is considered to be one of the best finals in Wimbledon history.

1981 Australian Open final

In their 45th encounter, Evert and Navratilova played a three-set epic in the final of the 1981 Australian Open. In his book, tennis historian Steve Flink ranks it as one of their two most significant matches, alongside the 1985 French Open final. Navratilova won the match despite dropping the opening set, winning the final set 7–5. Evert considered the match to be one of her toughest losses. The tournament was played on grass.

1982 Australian Open final

In a rematch of the previous year's final, Evert beat Navratilova in three sets at the 1982 Australian Open. It was a straightforward match, with Evert claiming the first set 6–3, Navratilova the second set 6–2, and Evert finally winning with a third set score of 6–3. With her win, Evert achieved the career Grand Slam. Like the previous year's final, the match was played on grass.

1984 US Open final

In their 61st encounter, Navratilova won in three sets at the [1984 US Open (tennis)|US Open – Women's singles|1984 US Open] final. Navratilova was on a 54-match winning streak coming into the match, one shy of Evert's then-Open Era record 55-match streak; she would eventually extend the record to 74 matches won in a row, a record that still stands. Navratilova dropped the first set, yet rallied to win the next two to win the US Open. It is considered to be one of the best matches in US Open history. Evert later said that "It was the most devastated I've ever felt over a tennis match."

1985 French Open final

In their 65th and perhaps greatest encounter, Evert and Navratilova played a three-set epic in the final of the 1985 French Open. It was a rematch of the previous year's final at the 1984 French Open, which Navratilova won in straight sets. Evert won to reclaim the No. 1 ranking from Navratilova. Evert won the first set 6–3, before Navratilova rallied from down 2–4, 0–40 in the second set to force a third. In the deciding set, Evert let a 5–3 lead slip away, before eventually winning the third set 7–5. It is considered to be one of the greatest major finals in history. Evert considers it her favorite win over Navratilova, as she was the underdog and Navratilova had recently strung together many wins over Evert. It is one of the two matches that tennis historian Steve Flink considers the most significant in their rivalry, alongside the 1981 Australian Open final. Frank Deford described the match as the "finest match of their long rivalry".

Head-to-head breakdown

  • All matches: Navratilova 43–37
  • All finals: Navratilova 36–24
  • Grand Slam matches: Navratilova 14–8
  • Grand Slam finals: Navratilova 10–4
  • Grand Slam semifinals: Tied 4–4
  • WTA Tour Championships finals: Navratilova 2–1
  • Other finals: Navratilova 24–19
  • Three-set matches: Evert 15–14
  • Straight-set matches: Navratilova 29–22

Results on each surface

List of all matches

WTA, Fed Cup, and Grand Slam main draw results included.
Martina Navratilova leads the head-to-head 43–37. Walkovers are not counted as official wins or losses.
LegendEvertNavratilova
Grand Slam814
Virginia Slims Championships12
Toyota Championships21
Tour Events2626
Total3743

Singles: 80

Evert 37 – Navratilova 43
No.YearTournamentSurfaceRoundWinnerScoreEvertNavratilova
1.1973Virginia Slims of AkronCarpetRound of 16Evert7–6, 6–310
2.1973Eckerd OpenClaySemifinalsEvert7–5, 6–320
3.1974Virginia Slims of CaliforniaCarpetRound of 32Evert6–7, 6–3, 6–130
4.1974Italian OpenClayFinalEvert6–3, 6–340
5.1975Virginia Slims of CaliforniaCarpetSemifinalsEvert6–4, 6–350
6.1975Virginia Slims of WashingtonCarpetQuarterfinalsNavratilova3–6, 6–4, 7–651
7.1975Virginia Slims of AkronCarpetQuarterfinalsEvert6–3, 6–161
8.1975Virginia Slims of ChicagoCarpetSemifinalsNavratilova6–4, 6–062
9.1975Virginia Slims of PhiladelphiaCarpetSemifinalsEvert7–6, 6–472
10.1975Virginia Slims ChampionshipsCarpetFinalEvert6–4, 6–282
11.1975Charleston OpenClayFinalEvert7–5, 6–492
12.1975Italian OpenClayFinalEvert6–1, 6–0102
13.1975Roland GarrosClayFinalEvert2–6, 6–2, 6–1112
14.1975US OpenClaySemifinalsEvert6–4, 6–4122
15.1975WTA AtlantaHard FinalEvert2–6, 6–2, 6–0132
16.1976L'Eggs World SeriesHardSemifinalsEvert6–0, 6–3142
17.1976Virginia Slims of HoustonCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–4143
18.1976WimbledonGrassSemifinalsEvert6–3, 4–6, 6–4153
19.1977Virginia Slims of WashingtonCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–3154
20.1977Virginia Slims of SeattleCarpetFinalEvert6–2, 6–4164
21.1977Virginia Slims of Los AngelesCarpetFinalEvert6–2, 2–6, 6–1174
22.1977Virginia Slims of PhiladelphiaCarpetFinalEvert6–4, 4–6, 6–3184
23.1977L'Eggs World SeriesHard FinalEvert6–3, 7–6194
24.1977Toyota ChampionshipsHardRound of 32Evert6–4, 6–1204
25.1978Eastbourne InternationalGrassFinalNavratilova6–4, 4–6, 9–7205
26.1978WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova2–6, 6–4, 7–5206
27.1978WTA AtlantaCarpetFinalEvert7–6, 0–6, 6–3216
28.1978Toyota ChampionshipsHardFinalEvert6–3, 6–3226
29.1978Lion's CupCarpetFinalEvert7–5, 6–2236
30.1979Virginia Slims of CaliforniaCarpetFinalNavratilova7–5, 7–5237
31.1979Virginia Slims of Los AngelesCarpetFinalEvert6–3, 6–4247
32.1979Virginia Slims of DallasCarpetFinalNavratilova6–4, 6–4248
33.1979Eastbourne InternationalGrassFinalEvert7–5, 5–7, 13–11258
34.1979WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova6–4, 6–4259
35.1979Virginia Slims of PhoenixHardFinalNavratilova6–1, 6–32510
36.1979Brighton InternationalCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–32511
37.1980Virginia Slims of ChicagoCarpetFinalNavratilova6–4, 6–42512
38.1980WimbledonGrassSemifinalsEvert4–6, 6–4, 6–22612
39.1980Brighton InternationalCarpetFinalEvert6–4, 5–7, 6–32712
40.1980Lion's CupCarpetSemifinalsNavratilova7–6, 6–22713
41.1981Amelia Island ChampionshipsClayFinalEvert6–0, 6–02813
42.1981US OpenHardSemifinalsNavratilova7–5, 4–6, 6–42814
43.1981Lion's CupCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–22815
44.1981Sydney InternationalGrassFinalEvert6–4, 2–6, 6–12915
45.1981Australian OpenGrassFinalNavratilova6–7, 6–4, 7–52916
46.1982WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova6–1, 3–6, 6–22917
47.1982Brighton InternationalCarpetFinalNavratilova6–1, 6–42918
48.1982Australian OpenGrassFinalEvert6–3, 2–6, 6–33018
49.1982Toyota ChampionshipsCarpetFinalNavratilova4–6, 6–1, 6–23019
50.1983Virginia Slims of DallasCarpetFinalNavratilova6–4, 6–03020
51.1983Virginia Slims ChampionshipsCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–03021
52.1983Virginia Slims of Los AngelesHardFinalNavratilova6–1, 6–33022
53.1983Canadian OpenHardFinalNavratilova6–4, 4–6, 6–13023
54.1983US OpenHardFinalNavratilova6–1, 6–33024
55.1983Lion's CupCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–23025
56.1984US Indoor ChampionshipsCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 7–63026
57.1984Virginia Slims ChampionshipsCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 7–5, 6–13027
58.1984Amelia Island ChampionshipsClayFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–03028
59.1984Roland GarrosClayFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–13029
60.1984WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova7–6, 6–23030
61.1984US OpenHardFinalNavratilova4–6, 6–4, 6–43031
62.1985Virginia Slims of FloridaHardFinalEvert6–2, 6–43131
63.1985Miami OpenHardFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–43132
64.1985Virginia Slims of DallasCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–43133
65.1985Roland GarrosClayFinalEvert6–3, 6–7, 7–53233
66.1985WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova4–6, 6–3, 6–23234
67.1985Australian OpenGrassFinalNavratilova6–2, 4–6, 6–23235
68.1986Virginia Slims of DallasCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–13236
69.1986Roland GarrosClayFinalEvert2–6, 6–3, 6–33336
70.1986Virginia Slims of Los AngelesHardFinalNavratilova7–6, 6–33337
71.1987Virginia Slims of HoustonClayFinalEvert3–6, 6–1, 7–63437
72.1987Roland GarrosClaySemifinalsNavratilova6–2, 6–23438
73.1987WimbledonGrassSemifinalsNavratilova6–2, 5–7, 6–43439
74.1987Virginia Slims of Los AngelesHardSemifinalsEvert6–2, 6–13539
75.1987Stuttgart OpenCarpetFinalNavratilova7–5, 6–13540
76.1988Australian OpenHardSemifinalsEvert6–2, 7–53640
77.1988Virginia Slims of HoustonClayFinalEvert6–0, 6–43740
78.1988WimbledonGrassSemifinalsNavratilova6–1, 4–6, 7–53741
79.1988Stuttgart OpenCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–33742
80.1988Virginia Slims of ChicagoCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–23743

Grand Slam performance timeline comparison

For all players in their era see: Tennis performance timeline comparison (women)

1971–1977

WTA rankings

Year-end ranking timeline

Player1972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199495–032004
Chris Evert3311112211222223310
Martina Navratilova934311331111122234538376