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Chris Evert once shared her first impressions of arch-rival Martina Navratilova, and it's safe to say they weren't very pleasant.
Evert and Navratilova had one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history. They played against each other 80 times, with 60 of those matches being finals. Navratilova had the edge overall, winning 43 matches to Evert's 37. The Czech-born American also led 36-24 in the finals.
Evert admitted that when she first met Navratilova, she thought Navratilova was overweight and whiny. The 'Ice Maiden' also admitted that at that moment, she realized if her rival lost weight, they would be in big trouble.
Chris Evert's remarks were highlighted in ESPN's 2010 documentary 'Unmatched,' which delved into her rivalry with Martina Navratilova.
"I remember that she was fat," Evert said. "She was very emotional on the court, whining if she didn't feel she was playing well. But I remember thinking, if she loses weight, we're all in trouble."
As time passed, the dynamic of their relationship evolved. Evert and Navratilova have become close friends and are frequently seen supporting each other, especially during challenging times such as their battles with cancer.
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova won 18 Grand Slams each
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova both coincidentally won 18 Grand Slam singles titles each. Navratilova excelled on grass, while Evert's strongest surface was clay.
Evert clinched her first Major at the 1974 French Open by defeating Olga Morozova in the final. She continued to dominate at Roland-Garros, winning the title six more times in 1975, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985 and 1986.
The US Open was the second most successful Grand Slam for the American. She claimed the title six consecutive times from 1975 to 1978. Her title defense suffered a setback in 1979 when she was defeated by Tracy Austin in the final. However, Evert rebounded and lifted the trophy again in 1980 and 1982.
The 69-year-old won Wimbledon three times, in 1974, 1976 & 1981 and the Australian Open twice (1982 and 1984).
Meanwhile, Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon a whopping nine times (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990), making her the most successful player in the tournament's history. She is followed by Roger Federer, who has eight grasscourt Majors in his kitty.
Besides that, Navratilova has four US Open (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987), three Australian Open (1981, 1983, 1985) and two French Open trophies (1982, 1984) to her name.
