“I wasn’t a King or Navratilova” – Evert claims her impact was “making it ok for young girls to be athletes”

Chris Evert, the 18-time Grand Slam champion, turned 70 on Saturday (December 21). On the occasion, she recalled her arrival to the world of professional tennis in the year 1972.

Evert made a name for herself along with Martina Navratilova, her fiercest rival, after Billie Jean King’s efforts changed the landscape of women’s tennis. Moreover, not only did she champion tournaments across the globe, but also emerged as a style icon, meanwhile Navratilova fought against the gender norms of the world.

Read also

November 13, 1988: The day Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert played for the 80th and final time

Tennis Majors

Thus, looking back at it all, Evert claimed in a chat with the WTA that her biggest contribution to tennis was about making fellow women athletes comfortable with their femininity.

“The culture at that time was that women athletes were frowned upon,” the former world No 1 said. “They were strong. That was everything the culture dictated that a woman wasn’t. I came along, a teenager who was trying to be feminine.

“I wasn’t a Billie Jean King or Martina Navratilova with these big messages, but after I showed up it was ok. ‘Oh, those are beautiful tennis dresses and those are pretty ribbons. She wears nail polish.’ I think that was my impact, making it ok for young girls and women to be athletes, bringing along a whole new generation.”

You might also like this

October 9, 1989: The day Chris Evert played her last professional match

tennis majors

October 19, 1980: The day Chris Evert won her 100th Tour title

tennis majors

Evert on Djokovic’s possible 25th major: “I would think he would leave the game”

tennis majors