It is worth noting that they battled against each other in 80 matches and for more than 15 years as rivals on the tennis court, with Chris Evert being a great rival to Navratilova. Martina Navratilova talked about the one thing Serena lacked in her career, looking back in 2021.
Navratilova expressed, “And there’s nothing you can do regarding that. You know, and she didn’t really, she wasn’t fortunate enough to have a Chris. However, her closest competitor would be Justine Henin, and naturally, her sister Venus. In a podcast interview in 2021, the 18-time Grand Slam winner Navratilova discussed how Serena only had Justine Henin and Venus Williams as her genuine rivals on the tennis court.”
“But that was the extent of it. Thus, Venus and Justine were the only ones. Moreover, she never managed to defeat her in the Open a couple of years ago. Additionally, she faced injuries and became pregnant. However, that relationship eventually ended. Azarenka seemed to be following a similar path. There were numerous contenders. Subsequently, she took on Victoria Azarenka’s name and mentioned,”
Via Getty.
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 07: Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams of the United States and Chris Evert pose after the women’s singles final match on Day fourteen of the 2014 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 7, 2014 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Williams defeated Wozniacki in two sets by a score of 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Sharapova had a record head-to-head of 18-2 against her opponents. She was dominant against all of them, but she had rivalries with players like Serena Williams and Justine Henin, who were also liked by Maria Sharapova. She won 18 matches and lost 12 against Venus, her sister. Serena had a head-to-head record of 8-6 against the Belgian tennis player; she only came close to her level when she went toe to toe with Henin.
If not the greatest, tennis rivalries are the greatest in tennis.
Navratilova versus Evert rivalry
Evert completely dominated while Navratilova struggled to win against the American tennis player. Throughout a 15-year period, Navratilova competed against Evert in 80 matches, as previously stated.
Watch This Story: Martina Navratilova brings an unexpected turn in her farewell homage to Serena Williams at the 2022 US Open.
Despite facing her main competitor, Evert, Navratilova held a head-to-head record of 43-37 before Evert retired from tennis in 1989. As Evert struggled to overcome the former Czech-American player, Navratilova emerged as a formidable presence starting from 1980. In order to improve her fitness, she modified her diet and training regimen, fueling her determination to succeed. Nonetheless,
It is worth mentioning that both Navratilova and Evert won the same number of Grand Slam singles titles, i.E. 18. They were really close friends off the tennis court, despite their rivalry.
Do you believe Navratilova and Evert had the most significant rivalry in tennis? Share your thoughts in the comments.