Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert shared one of the most historic rivalries in all of sport, let alone just tennis, yet their modern-day relationship is a lesson to all.
After all, they clearly get on very well despite the wars they waged as youngsters, and have come to respect and appreciate one another rather than detest their presence.
This year’s Roland Garros marked a real milestone for the two, as the former was invited to present Iga Swiatek with her trophy alone, but she refused.
That was, unless Evert could join her, which she did.
The two were all smiles bathed under Parisian sunshine, and now that laughter has translated onto a social media forum.
Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert share a joke
As two of the stars of the BBC programme ‘Gods of Tennis’, they are likely not all that familiar with the documentary, given its airing in Great Britain rather than America.
However, it was revealed just yesterday that at last there would be a US premiere of the show, with a promotional poster attached to the Tweet.
Navratilova took issue with it instantly though, as she replied: ‘Hope the show is better than this promo photo as they have Chris playing left-handed and me playing right-handed’.
Evert then responded, also finding the funny side: ‘Omg, that is not good… my serving pose looks like yours! yikes!’
This comes just after Evert reacted to Navratilova’s Hall of Fame speech with a heartwarming comment rather than a jovial one.
BBC’s ‘Gods of Tennis’ programme is actually very enjoyable
Having watched all of the episodes of the BBC’s Gods of Tennis, Navratilova can rest assured that the programme is certainly more than watchable.
Split into three episodes, the first focuses on two trailblazers both in and out of the sport, with Arthur Ashe emerging as one of few black icons in tennis during the 1970s, just when Billie Jean King was fighting on behalf of all women.
Once this revolutionary period had been covered, the second episode then turned its attention to the rivalry between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.
With the former the cool-headed Wimbledon champion, and the latter a young upstart pretender with a big mouth, it marked an interesting contrast to the very real and very fierce battle they shared together.
Focusing on their 1981 final in particular, where the American ended his rival’s 41-game winning streak in SW19, he offered a contemporary review of that period and his career.
And finally, the third episode goes over Evert and Navratilova’s rivalry.
One of the greatest in tennis history, and actually the most prolific of the Open Era, it is interesting to compare the full-blooded battles of the time with their modern-day interviews.
They explain how they came to understand one another despite their rivalry, and their friendship nowadays is indicative of this development.
It is definitely worth a watch, even if the promotional material was somewhat lacking…
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