Chris Evert versus Martina Navratilova

Six entries deep and no women. Shameful. Here’s my sad attempt at making amends, the greatest tennis  rivalry and no guys in sight. No Borg-McEnroe or Federer-Nadal, just the sublime poetry in motion of  Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova facing each other again and again across nets at Wimbledon, Paris, and Forest Hills. From 1973 to 1988 they played each other 80 times (advantage Navratilova, 43–37) as they lifted the women’s game to prominence on their skillful shoulders. Early on, Evert had Navratilova’s number, but with time the balance shifted. By the end, they had met in 14 Grand Slam finals, with Navratilova winning 10. Navratilova had a temper. Evert (”the Ice Princess”) was imperturbable. Evert thrived on clay. Navratilova flourished on grass. Navratilova was the master of serve and volley. Evert ruled the baseline. They were the perfect pairing of opposites.