From Tennis Majors · · 1m 40s
Navratilova and Evert's final match
Martina Navratilova beat Chris Evert 6-2, 6-2 in their 80th and final match.
In brief
Martina Navratilova beat Chris Evert 6-2, 6-2 in their 80th and final match. Martina Navratilova defeated Chris Evert in the 1988 Chicago Virginia Slims final, ending their 80-match rivalry. Originally reported by Tennis Majors.
The day
November 13, 1988 marked the final encounter between Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
The match
Navratilova defeated Evert 6-2, 6-2 in the Chicago Virginia Slims final.
The rivalry
Their rivalry spanned 80 matches, with Navratilova leading 43-37.
The context
The two had faced each other in 14 Grand Slam finals and were teammates in the American Fed Cup.
Navratilova's record
Navratilova held the world No 1 ranking for 332 weeks and won 17 Grand Slam singles titles.
Evert's record
Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and was world No 1 for seven seasons.
The match dynamics
Navratilova played a fast court game while Evert struggled with her defensive style.
Evert's quote
Evert said, 'Her serve is a real weapon, and I don't have a weapon on this court'.
“Her serve is a real weapon, and I don't have a weapon on this court”
Navratilova's quote
Navratilova noted, 'I was down only two break points the whole match'.
“I was down only two break points the whole match”
The aftermath
Evert retired from professional tennis in 1989, Navratilova retired in 1994.
The legacy
Their rivalry ended with Navratilova winning 43-37 and becoming the oldest Grand Slam champion.
The friendship
Evert called Navratilova 'one of my closest friends' despite their rivalry.
The final note
This match marked the end of their 80-match rivalry, the last time they played.
The takeaway
Martina Navratilova defeated Chris Evert in the 1988 Chicago Virginia Slims final, ending their 80-match rivalry.
