Chris Evert after her last Wimbledon, 1989

Tennis player Chris Evert and her husband (at the time) Andy Mill, talk to Dick Enberg about this being possibly her last Wimbledon tournament after she lost the semi-final to Steffi Graf.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• tennis
• chris
• evert
• andy
• mill
• dick
• enberg
• steffi
• graf
• wimbledon

[jubbadupa]

@kevin12061989 Your the one that is ridiculous, there was far more depth and skill in the late 60's and in the 70's, then there was in any era of tennis, yes the game is more physical because the girls are much bigger and stronger. And the raquets make it a bashing contest, not a tennis match. Chris Evert didn't play 20 touraments a year for 20 years, she played 18 years on tour, and played the most touraments a year from 74 -76, from 20 to 22 years old, and only play over 20 tourmaments in 74.

[westfaner]

She was one of kind, and the great Virgina Wade has said , she'll be remembered with more fondness than probably anybody. A real statement of truth, and a great compliment to Chris.

[kljMN2]

I was 12 years old when Chrissie retired and it was very sad to see her retire.

[katmac75]

@sandrovic1970 I know everyone always says Martina was invincible on grass but they forget the AO, where her record was patchy. I remember the 87 semi, Chris was No2 seed + Martina 1 so they ought to have met in the final, Martina just edged it. The 88 semi was worse tho, when Chris had saved 3 match points and everyone on Centre court including Martina thought she'd leveled to Deuce but it was called out,!Only time Chris never shook umpires hand.If only they'd had Hawk Eye then,it was in!

[sandrovic1970]

Outside Wimbledon, Evert had a 5-5 head-to-head against Navratilova on grass!!! That is completely amazing. Brought up on clay, in her very first Grand Slam, as a 16-year-old unseeded player, she reached the semis, falling only to eventual winner expert BJ King. That was in 1971 and as late as 1987 she was the one who pushed Navratilova most at SW19, taking her to three sets (unlike Graf who lost in two). At AO in 1982 Evert thrashed Nav on grass - playing with a wooden racket against graphite!

[katmac75]

@RaleighNC306 I agree Chris actually had some really good spells, I think for the 1st time in her career she was thinking about other things and Steffi won the big points mentally, it was so sad to see her go out on a double fault, but at least it was Centre Court against the World No1.

[katmac75]

@evertchris But Evert won the 1st 6, it was only as Steffi got stronger and moved up the rankings as Chris was winding down that she beat her. Graff was stronger in the end, but it wasn't always the case.

[katmac75]

@anebt It must have been SO intimidating to see her across the net anchored to that baseline knowing, she would grind you down, I'd love to know how many forced/unforced errors she induced just with her steely resolve. Her accuracy was unbelievable.

[katmac75]

@Lynz261 She actually took 5 GS titles on grass, she took 2 AOs, when it was still grass. She also took other grass court titles like Eastbourne, but I know you mean 3 Wimbledon's. Most players would be happy with 5 Slams in a career but to do it on your 'weak surface' is testament to how good she was. Her baseline accuracy has never been emulated, it was deadly+she was the master of the lob and stop volley.

[katmac75]

@Lynz261 The 1st 6 times (I think) Chris played Steffi she beat her, Steffi just got too strong and Chris was in her twilight then as her mind was on having a family and she's an all or nothing lady, she was never gonna give 50%, so she rightly retired while still in the top 4 or 5, still reaching semis+finals. She went on to have 3 boys that she's deoted too it was sad her marriages failed but she is a 100% devoted mum/mom.

[katmac75]

@Lynz261 Its true she never went out in the 1st round of any tournament and still holds the record for wins on clay. She won the AO + W'don on grass when everyone said she wasn't a grass specialist. 5 GS titles on your worst surface not bad. Martina picked her tournament more or their head to head could have been very different. The Williams sisters will never come close to emulating her. She has grace and tenacity.

[katmac75]

@sandrovic1970 Well said. Nobody else has ever played 18 consecutive Wimbledons, only once failing to reach the last 4 as you say due to illness. She never beat Martina in a final here but that's cos when she was winning it Martina was already out or not playing. Their head to head would've been very different if Martina had played more on clay, or if they'd met in the French more often. Chris still won 3 times+2 Oz Opens which is amazing for someone people say is not a grass court player.