The 18-time Grand Slam champion who Martina Navratilova picked as her greatest rival ever on a tennis court

Follow us on Google Discover

Martina Navratilova dominated tennis throughout the 1980s as she carved out a one-of-a-kind legacy on the WTA Tour.

The Czech-American star won a record 167 singles titles during her time on the WTA Tour as she performed against the very best in women’s tennis.

Navratilova won 18 Major singles titles between 1978 and 1990, and a further 41 in doubles and mixed doubles.

She won a record nine singles titles at Wimbledon, including a remarkable stretch of six consecutive titles between 1982 and 1987.

She would likely have won even more if it weren’t for her rivals enjoying success of their own at the sport’s biggest tournaments.

Germany’s Steffi Graf beat Navratilova in four Major finals, ending her run of dominance at SW19 with wins in 1988 and 1989.

It was her fellow American, however, that caused Navratilova the most problems, as she described their rivalry as the ‘greatest ever in the sport’ back in 2017.

Martina Navratilova said her rivalry with Chris Evert was the ‘greatest ever in the sport’

Appearing as a guest on the Undeniable show, Navratilova reflected on her legendary rivalry with Chris Evert.

“We played 80 times, that was a lot of tennis, 80 times,” she said.

“Most of those matches were in the finals, one of us was number one the other was number two, the greatest rivalry ever in the sport.”

Navratilova explained how her first defeat to Evert gave her the confidence to achieve Major success in women’s tennis.

“It was Chris [Evert] and Billie Jean King that were really my best friends, the first few years on the tour,” she said.

“I figured I was on my way because the very first time I played Chris in that tournament in Akron and the week before I played Evonne Goolagong and I lost to Evonne, 6-3, 6-4, and when I lost to Chris in Akron I lost 6-3, 7-6, close match.

“I actually had a set point, and I’m like if I can play that close the first time I play them I know I’ll get better.”

Navratilova had to wait three more years to secure her first win over Evert, as she came out on top in the Washington quarter-finals in 1975, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert’s Grand Slam final head-to-head record

Navratilova and Evert’s rivalry saw them clash in Major tournaments on a regular basis, competing in 14 Grand Slam finals against one another.

It was the Czech-American who enjoyed more success, winning ten finals, to Evert’s four.

Navratilova secured her first win in a Major final over Evert at Wimbledon 47 years ago, as she battled back from a set down to lift the title on Centre Court.

It was Evert who had prevailed in their first Slam final meeting three years earlier at the French Open, but Navratilova was not to be denied on the grass, as she fought hard to win her first Major title.

She continued to enjoy success against Evert in Grand Slam finals, holding a better record against her than any other opponent in the biggest matches of her career.

Martina Navratilova’s record against WTA legends in Slam finals

• Martina Navratilova 10-4 Chris Evert
• Martina Navratilova 2-4 Steffi Graf
• Martina Navratilova 1-2 Hana Mandlikova
• Martina Navratilova 2-0 Andrea Jaeger

Of the opponents she played in multiple Slam finals, Navratilova only enjoyed positive records against Evert and Andrea Jaeger, struggling against Graf and Hana Mandlikova.

Navratilova lost to Mandlikova in their final Major final meeting at the 1987 Australian Open, as she suffered another tough defeat against the Czech star.

Navratilova continued to compete on the WTA Tour until 2006, when she won the mixed doubles title at the US Open, months before her 50th birthday.

Clinching her 59th Grand Slam title, she finally retired from the sport as one of tennis’ greatest ever players.