Billie Jean King once shared insights into the locker room dynamics of her biggest rivals, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. She noted that the duo had very different personalities before a match, with each approaching the competition in their own unique way.
King, Evert, and Navratilova always maintained a strong bond despite their fierce on-court rivalry. Although King belonged to an earlier generation of tennis compared to Evert and Navratilova, their shared respect and friendship never let that difference stand in the way of their relationship.
Naturally, the trio has often spoken fondly of each other, and King did the same in a 2008 interview with Vanity Fair. She described Chris Evert as someone who preferred a calm atmosphere before matches, while she and Martina Navratilova were more inclined to socialize. She also reflected on her thoughts about Bjorn Borg during the conversation.
"Chrissie is low razzle. That means she needs her cubicle—'Leave me alone, I need solitude, I need it quiet.' Bjorn Borg was like that, too. Someone like Martina, or me—net players, usually—we can chat, we’re, like, ready to go. Martina can play cards before a match, she can chat, she can socialize. I was a lot older than Chrissie," the 12-time Grand Slam champion said.