How Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova shaped tennis and each other
Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert forged women's tennis' defining rivalry across 80 matches, then rebuilt their bond off court — and now fight cancer together. Their Netflix documentary, Chris & Martina: The Final Set, charts how competition shaped both careers while mutual support has deepened their 50-year friendship.
When Chris & Martina: The Final Set arrived on Netflix on June 26, 2026, it landed amid wrenching news: Chris Evert disclosed another ovarian cancer recurrence, forcing her to skip Wimbledon broadcasting duties. What began as a retrospective about tennis icons became something rawer — a portrait of two women who shaped each other on court and in life.
Key Takeaways
- Evert and Navratilova played 80 times, each winning 18 Grand Slam singles titles; Navratilova leads their head-to-head 43–37.
- Their rivalry cooled their early friendship — including a doubles split — before reconciliation in retirement.
- Both faced cancer diagnoses within months of each other; Evert's disease has returned again as of June 2026.
- Director Rebecca Gitlitz's film captures treatment footage critics call honest and deeply human.
How did Evert and Navratilova push each other to greatness?
They first met in Akron, Ohio, in 1973, when Evert was 18 and Navratilova was 16. Evert won, but spotted a future force. "Holy cow, when this young girl gets into better shape, she is going to be a force to be reckoned with," she recalled on NPR's Fresh Air.
In their first 20 meetings, Evert won 16 times, according to The Athletic. As Navratilova improved — especially after defecting to the U.S. in 1975 — she pulled ahead. Basketball star Nancy Lieberman reportedly urged Navratilova to train harder and embrace hostility toward Evert. Navratilova went icy; it worked. She won 13 straight matches at one stretch.
Evert could not blend friendship and competition as easily. She ended their doubles partnership, telling Navratilova it was affecting her singles game. Evert later worked harder to catch Navratilova, winning the 1985 French Open final after losing 15 of their previous 16 matches.
Why did their rivalry fracture — then heal?
The friendship cooled as stakes rose. Navratilova, alone after leaving Czechoslovakia, felt pushed away when Evert broke off doubles. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw notes the film traces early warmth, icy estrangement, and eventual reconciliation as "international treasures."
Retirement changed everything. Over five decades, trust replaced scoreboard tension. "We have such a level of trust that we know whatever we say to each other, it stays there," Navratilova told NPR. "There is no ulterior motive, no playing games."
How has cancer reshaped their bond?
Evert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021; Navratilova with throat and breast cancer in 2022. The Athletic reports filming pivoted when Evert's cancer returned in winter 2023, spreading to her abdomen. Gitlitz captured hospital scenes both women agreed to share — including Evert learning tumors had returned just as her hair grew back.
They supported each other practically: Navratilova baked bread and sent soup; Evert gave jewelry. On June 25, 2026, Evert announced another recurrence, surgery, and upcoming chemotherapy. She will step back from Wimbledon and other commitments. Navratilova, now cancer-free, has publicly backed her friend to fight again.
Their story resonates beyond tennis — much like breakthrough moments covered in Future Tech & AI Wonders — because it proves even fierce rivals can become lifelines. As Evert joked to NPR: "If I want someone to be in the trenches with me, it's Martina."