Evert-Navratilova rivalry

The Evert-Navratilova rivalry spanned 15 years from 1973 to 1988, during which the two tennis legends engaged in exactly 80 intense matches. They faced off in the finals of major Grand Slam tournaments an incredible 22 times. This sheer volume of high-stakes encounters makes theirs one of the greatest and most enduring matchups in sports history.

The rivalry was so fiercely competitive because it pitted Chris Evert's cool, baseline-oriented, defensively perfect style against Martina Navratilova's aggressive, heavily conditioned serve-and-volley game. Evert relied on unshakable mental toughness and two-handed backhands, while Navratilova used supreme athleticism to constantly attack the net. Their clashes were a physical embodiment of completely opposite tennis philosophies.

Martina Navratilova ultimately held the head-to-head advantage, winning 43 of their 80 matches, largely due to her dominance on fast grass courts. However, Evert held her own on slower clay courts, leading on that specific surface. Their record was incredibly close throughout the late 1970s before Navratilova pulled slightly ahead in the mid-1980s.

Despite being bitter on-court rivals who dominated women's professional tennis, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova actually teamed up to play doubles together on several occasions. They represented the United States together in events like the Federation Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup). Their rivalry was famously respectful, and they developed a deep lifelong friendship off the court.