"That's how generous of a friend Martina Navratilova is" - Chris Evert revisits American pressuring FFT to invite her for French Open 2024 ceremony
During a recent interview, Chris Evert recalled how Martina Navratilova pressured the French tennis federation into inviting her to the 2024 French Open ceremony. Initially, only Navratilova was supposed to be at the ceremony. But upon finding out about Evert's milestone year, she asked for the latter to join her.
At the 2024 French Open, Iga Swiatek defeated Jasmine Paolini to win her third consecutive title. The Pole was presented with the trophy by both Evert and Navratilova.
In an interview with Christiane Amanpour, Evert revisited how she ended up being an invitee at the ceremony on the 50th anniversary of her first French Open title.
"I have to be honest, I was not on the roster to present that trophy on this big 50th for me. Martina was on the roster and when she heard it was my 50th anniversary, she quickly went to the French federation and said, 'Chrissie has to present this with me, it's her day too.' So, that's how generous of a friend she was and we both got to present which was great," Chris Evert said (0:30).
In 1974, Evert won her first Grand Slam title - the French Open - by defeating Olga Morozova in the final. She went on to win a total of seven Roland Garros titles in her career, which is the record for the most French Open women's singles titles won.
Evert also felt that her and Navratilova's presence at this year's presentation ceremony glorified her 50th anniversary and their rivalry.
"So, it was kind of glorifying not only the fact that it was my 50th but also our rivalry over all those years," she added.
Chris Evert believes her rivalry against Martina Navratilova produced some big matches at the French Open
During the same interview with Christiane Amanpour, Evert mentioned that some of her most 'interesting' matches against Martina Navratilova came at the French Open.
"Somehow, some of our most interesting matches were at the French Open," Chris Evert said.
They faced off five times at Roland Garros and four of those were in the final. Their first encounter on the clay court Grand Slam was the 1975 final which Evert won 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. In 1984, Navratilova earned her revenge with a 6-3, 6-1 win in the final.
They faced off again in the final one year later, and Evert regained her lead with a 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-5 win. In 1986, Evert extended her lead with another championship match win 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Their last French Open encounter came in 1987 in the semifinal, and Navratilova won it comfortably 6-2, 6-2. Notably, Navratilova leads the overall head-to-head against Evert 43-37.