"We warmed up for the final together... then Chris Evert wiped the court with me" - Martina Navratilova fondly recalls French Open battle vs American

Martina Navratilova fondly reminisced about her battle with Chris Evert during the 1975 French Open. The two tennis legends competed against each other 80 times throughout their careers.

Both Navratilova and Evert are widely recognized as two of the greatest female tennis players in history. They each held the World No.1 ranking and their legendary rivalry is considered as one of the most iconic in tennis. Together, Navratilova and Evert amassed 36 singles Grand Slam titles, with 23 of their match-ups taking place at major tournaments.

Recently Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova spoke with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. Navratilova talked about her fondest memories with Evert, and also spoke about both of them attending the 2024 French Open to present trophies to Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini.

Navartilova said that her and Evert attending this year's French Open was symbolic of both of them winning their battle against their own cancer diagnosis.

“Oh my goodness! There’s so many. There’s a few but let me just say for me it was more about not about the 50th and 40th year anniversary although it was that, but it was that we were still both there after our epic battles with cancer. So it was more symbolic on that front for me rather than the anniversary,” Navratilova said [1:35].

Martina Navratilova also recalled the 1975 French Open, where she lost the singles title to Chris Evert 6-2, 2-6, 1-6 in the final. She then talked about how both of them then had teamed up for the doubles event and emerged victorious against Julie Anthony and Olga Morozova 6–3, 6–2 in the final.

Navratilova talked about the bond she shares with Evert and recalled how they practiced together before their final match at the 1975 French Open.

“But the matches, I mean I lost to Chris in 75 in the finals and then we played doubles together and we warmed up for the final together because they were the only people left there and we were such good friends we were like, ‘Okay, we'll just warm up for the final together and then she of course wiped the court with me.” she added.

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Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert faced each other five times at the French Open

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert at the 2024 French Open [Source: Getty]

Of the 80 times that Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert faced each other on the tour throughout their careers, they faced each other five times at the French Open, with four encounters taking place in the final and one in the semifinals.

Their first encounter at Roland Garros was in the 1975 final, where Evert defeated Navratilova 2-6, 2-6, 1-6 to successfully defend her title. This victory was Evert's second French Open singles title and her third Grand Slam singles title overall.

In the final of the 1984 French Open, Navratilova redeemed herself by defeating Evert 6–3, 6–1 to claim the title. This win secured Navratilova's second French Open singles title and ninth Grand Slam singles title overall.

Evert and Navratilova met again in the finals of the 1985 and 1986 French Open, with the former emerging victorious on both occasions.

Their last meeting at the French Open was in 1987, where Martina Navratilova defeated Chris Evert 6-2, 6-2. Navratilova then went on to finish as the runner-up after losing the final 4-6, 6-4, 6-8 to Steffi Graf.