TOhe only saw five years when his father, Jimmy, he put a racket for the first time in his hand. He worked as a coach in the tennis circle inside the Holiday Park of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he also taught to play his five children. Everyone later became excellent players. But the crown shone on one: Chris Evert, which has become one of the undisputed queens of this sporting discipline.
Born on December 21, 1954, he moved to professionalism in 1972. It was number 1 in the world for 260 weeks and has a record of seven female singular titles at Roland Garros and 125 consecutive games won on earth beaten between 1973 and 1979. Its exceptional percentage of victories, which reached the peak of 90 percent, It remains the highest in the history of tennis, both male and female.
The 2025 season marks 50 years since Chris Everts successfully defended his first Grand Slam® title At Roland Garros, becoming the first number 1 in 1975 in the world of the newborn WTA ranking. But his influence went beyond the field goals: the US player also had A fundamental role in the development and promotion of female tennis and women’s sport in general.
Chris Evert and father and coach Jimmy Evert in Fort Lauderdale in 1971 (Lynn Pelham /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images /Getty Images)
What were his father’s best advice?
My father decided that five years was the right age to take me away from my friend’s home and lead me to a public tennis court to throw balls from a shopping cart, so I was really angry. “Racket back, turn to the side, take a step forward when you hit the ball.” I have always remembered those three fundamental things. Another thing that taught me was the two -handed reverse (which then became its characteristic blow, the one that influenced generations of players, editor’s note). For my father it was temporary compensation, because I was too small and weak to perform the reverse with one hand. But this later changed the way of playing tennis. Today over 80 percent of the first 100 professionals use the two -hand reverse.
How was women’s tennis in the 70s?
The culture of the time provided that the athletes were not well seen, because they were strong, and this was not contemplated, a woman could not be. When I arrived on the fields I was a teenager who tried to be feminine, I had cute clothes, tapes, the nail polish on the nails. I was not a Billie Jean King or a Martina Navratilova, with their great messages, but I think my contribution was to ensure that girls and women became real athletes, creating a completely new generation.
June 18, 1974: the American tennis player Chris Evert (Chris Lloyd) with the trophy in his hand after winning the women’s title at the Open of France in Paris (Keystone/Getty Images).
What differentiates tennis from other sports?
Tennis requires absolute concentration, the field is a place marked by a meeting between two people, or perhaps with one: themselves. 90 percent of my game was mental. It was my concentration that led me to conquer the titles. The first thing that made me mentally strong was to compete with my sister, that I didn’t like to beat. To do this I had to focus on the game of the ball instead of her. If this succeeded, on the other side of the field I saw only another player and I could block any distraction to focus on the victory of each single point.
Chris Evert (Courtesy Rolex)
Is there a difference between tennis played by women and that of men? Are women more competitive or do they have a different mental approach?
The difference lies in the physical structure, different for the two sexes. Of course, it was once more decisive because, for example, we handled wooden rackets, the balls were different, even the strings of the shoes and there was no targeted physical preparation as it happens today. Everything has changed: equipment, scientific sporting research, tactical progressions, field structures, weather climate, important presence of the media, great economic interests. However, after all, what really matters on the field are power, discipline, the ability to hold pressure, mobility and physical fitness. I don’t think women are more competitive or have a different mental approach.
Chris Evert during his press interview in the Rolex Suite during the finals of the 2017 WTA championship (Courtesy Rolex).
There are many aspects that can bring a player to success. It also depends on the single athlete. Some things can work for some and not so much for others. I liked to dedicate many hours to training in the field to be able to give their best on every occasion. I also loved winning. I think there have been many aspects that motivated me during my career, but this was certainly one of the fundamental ones. That feeling of victory is indescribable, one of the most beautiful you can try.
What are the most promising tennis players?
The young myrrh Andreeva, who is a demonstration of resilience and concentration, and the Philippine Alexandra Eala are two names to keep an eye on for the future, also for the next Roland Garros. But beyond the individual players, what I can say is that it is fantastic to see many young people from all over the world who are doing well.
(Stan Malinowski/Condé Nast Via Getty Images)
What are the values that guided her in her career?
Since I became a tennis player I have always sought excellence with the desire to go beyond my limits every time. And it is a constant commitment to improve itself technically but also humanly. This is why I also gladly accepted the role of Rolex testimonials that supports the protagonists in sport that face the most difficult challenges, where success is measured not only with the trophies but through the path to reach them, with victories and defeats. Their recent Reach for the Crown campaign also contributes to giving prestige and visibility to champions in different areas, including many tennis players.
What tennis taught her?
A game has a lot in common with life. If during a set there is a drop in rhythm, it is always possible to reverse the trend. In the difficult moments of life, if desired, you can do the same. Tennis teaches to be determined, to never give up.
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