Martina Navratilova shared one of tennis’ fiercest and most captivating rivalries of all time, with the two having finished their careers with 37 Grand Slam titles between them.
The pair contested 80 matches between 1973 and 1988, 60 of which were finals, emphasising their dominance across the decade and beyond.
It remains the most prolific tennis rivalry of the Open Era.
Given the remarkably competitive nature of their respective careers, many would be forgiven for thinking that any animosity might have spilt over beyond their retirement.
However, Martina Navratilova has since emerged to set the record straight.
Martina Navratilova reveals what she and Chris Evert message each other
In fact, speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, she even revealed the tame nature of what they still text each other today.
She began by admitting: “We call here and there, we text. Usually we are sending each other tips on what shows to watch on Netflix!”
However, Navratilova then delved into the deeper elements of their relationship: “But we connected and now we are doing a documentary which will hopefully be out early next year on our relationship and rivalry.
“But it had all of those aspects. The respect, the like, the hate, the rivalry. But most of all respect that never went away and empathy. I think we were very empathetic to the other.
“So many times when you see our handshake you do not know who won the match because we are smiling. Actually, I think I smiled more than Chris did when I lost, compared to when she lost!
“But when I won my first Wimbledon, you wouldn’t know. Chris was so sweet, it was so overwhelming. She was happy for me even though she lost.
Photo by Monte Fresco/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
“And in the end, if I had to lose to anybody, I would rather lose to Chris than anybody else.
“We had our ups and downs, and the press was trying to pit us against each other big time, as they do with women, but we learnt how to handle that and right now we have nothing but love for each other.”
Despite their fine relationship, Evert recently overlooked Navratilova when picking her greatest female tennis player of all time.
When Martina Navratilova won her first Wimbledon title against Chris Evert in 1978
Heading into the 1978 Wimbledon championships, these two women were, of course, the top two seeds.
And, when Chris Evert raced into a 6-2 lead, it seemed like the number one seed was on track to claim yet another Grand Slam title.
However, the Czech-born superstar would exhibit the indomitable spirit she would later show regularly throughout her legendary career, fighting back in the second set despite falling behind before winning 12 of the last 13 points to turn the third set in her favour to claim the title.
It marked her first singles major title, and her first at Wimbledon.
Navratilova went on to win 19 Grand Slam titles in singles, and a record-breaking nine at the All-England Club.
However, it all started with this victory over Evert. Forever, their legacies remain intertwined.