Evert–Navratilova rivalry


and Martina Navratilova are retired American and American/Czechoslovak professional tennis players who engaged in an iconic rivalry for dominance in women's tennis in the 1970s and 1980s. It is considered to be one of the greatest in women's tennis history and sports in general.
In the 12 years from the introduction of the WTA rankings in November 1975 until August 1987, one of the two held the top spot in all but 23 weeks, switching multiple times between 1978 and 1985. In the first 615 weeks of the WTA rankings, they collectively held the No. 1 ranking for 592 weeks, Navratilova at 332 weeks and Evert at 260 weeks. In total, from 1973 to 1988 they played 80 matches, including 60 tournament finals.
Starting at the 1981 Australian Open, through the 1985 Wimbledon, they won a record 15 consecutive grand slam singles titles. From the 1982 Australian Open to the 1987 US Open, they won 21 of those 24 grand slam singles titles and at least one of them appeared in each of those 24 consecutive grand slam finals. The only other two players to win titles during that stretch were Hana Mandlikova and Steffi Graf.
They played 80 matches with Navratilova leading the head to head 43–37. Navratilova leading 36–24 in all finals. the two played against each other most on the faster court surfaces where Navratilova's offensive serve-and-volley style of play gave her the upper hand over Evert's counter-attacking baseline approach. Evert enjoyed her greatest success against Navratilova on hard courts and especially on clay courts. Navratilova led Evert 10–5 on grass; Evert led Navratilova 11–3 on clay courts; Navratilova led 9–7 on outdoor hard courts. Indoors, Navratilova won the majority of their matches, leading 21–14. Evert led their head-to-head in three-set match wins with 15–14, but Navratilova led 29–22 in straight sets wins. Navratilova was most dominant in encounters in Grand Slams, leading 14–8 overall and 10–4 in finals. Navratilova had the upper hand in their head-to-head over 9 seasons, whereas Evert led over the first 6 years of their rivalry.

Grand Slam matches

Head-to-head breakdown

, Fed Cup, and Grand Slam main draw results included.
Martina Navratilova leads the head-to-head 43–37. Walkovers are not counted as official wins or losses.
LegendEvertNavratilova
Grand Slam814
Virginia Slims Championships12
Toyota Championships21
Tour Events2626
Total3743

Singles

Evert–Navratilova: 80
No.YearTournamentSurfaceRoundWinnerScoreEvertNavratilova
1.1973Virginia Slims of AkronCarpetRound of 16Evert7–6, 6–310
2.1973Eckerd OpenClaySemifinalsEvert7–5, 6–320
3.1974Virginia Slims of CaliforniaCarpetRound of 32Evert6–7, 6–3, 6–130
4.1974Italian OpenClayFinalEvert6–3, 6–340
5.1975Virginia Slims of CaliforniaCarpetSemifinalsEvert6–4, 6–350
6.1975Virginia Slims of WashingtonCarpetQuarterfinalsNavratilova3–6, 6–4, 7–651
7.1975Virginia Slims of AkronCarpetQuarterfinalsEvert6–3, 6–161
8.1975Virginia Slims of ChicagoCarpetSemifinalsNavratilova6–4, 6–062
9.1975Virginia Slims of PhiladelphiaCarpetSemifinalsEvert7–6, 6–472
10.1975Virginia Slims ChampionshipsCarpetFinalEvert6–4, 6–282
11.1975Charleston OpenClayFinalEvert7–5, 6–492
12.1975Italian OpenClayFinalEvert6–1, 6–0102
13.1975Roland GarrosClayFinalEvert2–6, 6–2, 6–1112
14.1975US OpenClaySemifinalsEvert6–4, 6–4122
15.1975WTA AtlantaHard FinalEvert2–6, 6–2, 6–0132
16.1976L'Eggs World SeriesHardSemifinalsEvert6–0, 6–3142
17.1976Virginia Slims of HoustonCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–4143
18.1976WimbledonGrassSemifinalsEvert6–3, 4–6, 6–4153
19.1977Virginia Slims of WashingtonCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–3154
20.1977Virginia Slims of SeattleCarpetFinalEvert6–2, 6–4164
21.1977Virginia Slims of Los AngelesCarpetFinalEvert6–2, 2–6, 6–1174
22.1977Virginia Slims of PhiladelphiaCarpetFinalEvert6–4, 4–6, 6–3184
23.1977L'Eggs World SeriesHard FinalEvert6–3, 7–6194
24.1977Toyota ChampionshipsHardRound of 32Evert6–4, 6–1204
25.1978Eastbourne InternationalGrassFinalNavratilova6–4, 4–6, 9–7205
26.1978WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova2–6, 6–4, 7–5206
27.1978WTA AtlantaCarpetFinalEvert7–6, 0–6, 6–3216
28.1978Toyota ChampionshipsHardFinalEvert6–3, 6–3226
29.1978Lion's CupCarpetFinalEvert7–5, 6–2236
30.1979Virginia Slims of CaliforniaCarpetFinalNavratilova7–5, 7–5237
31.1979Virginia Slims of Los AngelesCarpetFinalEvert6–3, 6–4247
32.1979Virginia Slims of DallasCarpetFinalNavratilova6–4, 6–4248
33.1979Eastbourne InternationalGrassFinalEvert7–5, 5–7, 13–11258
34.1979WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova6–4, 6–4259
35.1979Virginia Slims of PhoenixHardFinalNavratilova6–1, 6–32510
36.1979Brighton InternationalCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–32511
37.1980Virginia Slims of ChicagoCarpetFinalNavratilova6–4, 6–42512
38.1980WimbledonGrassSemifinalsEvert4–6, 6–4, 6–22612
39.1980Brighton InternationalCarpetFinalEvert6–4, 5–7, 6–32712
40.1980Lion's CupCarpetSemifinalsNavratilova7–6, 6–22713
41.1981Amelia Island ChampionshipsClayFinalEvert6–0, 6–02813
42.1981US OpenHardSemifinalsNavratilova7–5, 4–6, 6–42814
43.1981Lion's CupCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–22815
44.1981Sydney InternationalGrassFinalEvert6–4, 2–6, 6–12915
45.1981Australian OpenGrassFinalNavratilova6–7, 6–4, 7–52916
46.1982WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova6–1, 3–6, 6–22917
47.1982Brighton InternationalCarpetFinalNavratilova6–1, 6–42918
48.1982Australian OpenGrassFinalEvert6–3, 2–6, 6–33018
49.1982Toyota ChampionshipsCarpetFinalNavratilova4–6, 6–1, 6–23019
50.1983Virginia Slims of DallasCarpetFinalNavratilova6–4, 6–03020
51.1983Virginia Slims ChampionshipsCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–03021
52.1983Virginia Slims of Los AngelesHardFinalNavratilova6–1, 6–33022
53.1983Canadian OpenHardFinalNavratilova6–4, 4–6, 6–13023
54.1983US OpenHardFinalNavratilova6–1, 6–33024
55.1983Lion's CupCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–23025
56.1984US Indoor ChampionshipsCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 7–63026
57.1984Virginia Slims ChampionshipsCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3, 7–5, 6–13027
58.1984Amelia Island ChampionshipsClayFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–03028
59.1984Roland GarrosClayFinalNavratilova6–3, 6–13029
60.1984WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova7–6, 6–23030
61.1984US OpenHardFinalNavratilova4–6, 6–4, 6–43031
62.1985Virginia Slims of FloridaHardFinalEvert6–2, 6–43131
63.1985 Miami OpenHardFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–43132
64.1985Virginia Slims of DallasCarpetFinalNavratilova6–3 6–43133
65.1985Roland GarrosClayFinalEvert6–3, 6–7, 7–53233
66.1985WimbledonGrassFinalNavratilova4–6, 6–3, 6–23234
67.1985Australian OpenGrassFinalNavratilova6–2, 4–6, 6–23235
68.1986Virginia Slims of DallasCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–13236
69.1986Roland GarrosClayFinalEvert2–6, 6–3, 6–33336
70.1986Virginia Slims of Los AngelesHardFinalNavratilova7–6, 6–33337
71.1987Virginia Slims of HoustonClayFinalEvert3–6, 6–1, 7–63437
72.1987Roland GarrosClaySemifinalsNavratilova6–2, 6–23438
73.1987WimbledonGrassSemifinalsNavratilova6–2, 5–7, 6–43439
74.1987Virginia Slims of Los AngelesHardSemifinalsEvert6–2, 6–13539
75.1987Stuttgart OpenCarpetFinalNavratilova7–5, 6–13540
76.1988Australian OpenHardSemifinalsEvert6–2, 7–53640
77.1988Virginia Slims of HoustonClayFinalEvert6–0, 6–43740
78.1988WimbledonGrassSemifinalsNavratilova6–1, 4–6, 7–53741
79.1988Stuttgart OpenCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–33742
80.1988Virginia Slims of ChicagoCarpetFinalNavratilova6–2, 6–23743

Grand Slam performance timeline comparison

For all players in their era see: Tennis performance timeline comparison

1971–1977

1985–1991

1992–2006

WTA rankings

Year-end ranking timeline

Player1972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199495–032004
Chris Evert3311112211222223310
Martina Navratilova934311331111122234538376

Evert retired in September 1989 after the US Open, at which time she was ranked world No. 4.