“Would Chris be Chris if it hadn’t been for Martina?” Jeanie Buss credits Martina Navratilova for the success of Chris Evert
Jeanie Buss credits Martina Navratilova for the success of Chris Everts
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Martina, Chris, and Buss
Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss gave credit to Martina Navratilova for the success of Chris Evert. During her appearance on the Advantage Connors podcast, which is hosted by the renowned Jimmy Connors and his son Brett, Buss discussed various subjects, including a period in which multiple exceptional players emerged simultaneously.
Buss highlighted the era in which Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were at the peak of their careers, competing fiercely against each other in 14 Grand Slam finals. Buss suggested that Evert’s success and reputation may not have been possible without the presence of Navratilova, who consistently challenged and pushed Evert to elevate her game. However, Buss’s remark implies that the intense rivalry between Evert and Navratilova was instrumental in shaping both players’ careers.
However, Evert may not have achieved the same level of success, and her achievements may not have been viewed in the same light by the tennis world. This is a testament to the importance of competition and how it can bring out the best in individuals, even in highly competitive and individualistic sports like tennis.
Speaking in the podcast, Buss said “When you think of Chris and Martina, like why did they have to play each other in every final and they wanted to beat each other so bad? Would Chris be Chris if it hadn’t been for Martina? We all have to respect the opponent that brings out the best in us.”
Martina Navratilova and Chris Everts form the best rivalry on court
The rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova is widely regarded as one of the greatest in the history of tennis. However, the duo faced each other a total of 80 times, with 60 of those matches being in finals. Navratilova holds a slight edge in their head-to-head record, winning 43 matches compared to Evert’s 37. Their rivalry was characterized by a shift in dominance between the two players over time.
During the 1970s, Evert held the upper hand, winning 25 out of the first 36 matches between the two players from 1973 to 1979. However, Navratilova emerged as the dominant player in the rivalry in the 1980s, winning 32 out of the next 44 matches they played. Despite the intense competition and contrasting styles of play, Evert and Navratilova developed a mutual respect for each other, and their rivalry pushed both players to become better athletes.
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Santhosh Tenneti
(308 Articles Published)