For over half a century, simply Martina & Chris. Martina is Martina Navratilovaalthough it is not necessary to specify when there is a tennis court, moreover a grass one, nearby. Chrissie is Chris Evertthe other half of the tennis legend. It was the greatest rivalry in women’s tennishas become one of the most beautiful friendships in world sport, and will soon also give us a long-awaited documentary: “Why do it now? Because we have become old!”.
While Martina places the jacket on her shoulder, “he takes care of me” explains Chrissie, they remember, joke, become serious and profound in telling a friendship full of complicity, analogies, differences and difficult moments: “It’s ironic, there are so many things that unite us – Evert says –: we were great rivals, for many years one on one side and one on the other side of the net. We both won 18 Slams, we set many records, even home… every time I moved house Martina did the same, first in Colorado, then in Florida. And so many things in common even after retiring… we even battled cancer at the same time!”. “How lucky, huh… “, Navratilova jokes.
“We take care of each other – added Chrissie –, lei she has always been a great support for me. When I was sick she would come to my house, cook soup and pasta because she knows I’m not a great cook; she was always there, she would call me continuously and make sure I was okay. On the pitch, during our careers, we often had to overcome difficulties, we won, we lost, we had to go through the trenches and if today I had to go through them again I would choose to always do it with Martina by my side”.
“We played against each other so many times – adds Navratilova – and it’s funny to think that we always left the court with opposite feelings: once I was happy and once she was happy, always opposite feelings, except when we played in the Fed Cup or doubles”.
