Some rivalries make headlines. This one made tennis history — and Netflix’s new documentary Chris & Martina: The Final Set finally lets both women tell the full, unfiltered story behind it. From childhood loneliness to years of total silence, here’s what we learned.
A Friendship Built on Decades of Rivalry
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova spent years as fierce competitors before becoming genuine friends. Director Rebecca Gitlitz captures both legends opening up about the personal cost of their careers — and the surprising path that led them back to each other.
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova: Overview
| Revelation | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| Evert’s isolation | Peers resented her due to intense media attention |
| Navratilova’s freedom | Lack of sponsorship let her speak freely |
| Childhood pressure | Evert played mainly to impress her father |
| Hidden relationships | Navratilova’s sexuality was an open secret for years |
| The cold war | They didn’t speak for years during peak rivalry |
| Cancer connection | Both faced diagnoses around the same time |
The Loneliness Behind the Fame
Evert became a media sensation at just 16, but that spotlight bred resentment among older players. Meanwhile, her own competitive drive traced back to childhood — playing tennis largely to earn her father’s approval, with little room for friendships or a normal social life growing up.
Navratilova’s path looked different. Without major sponsorships, she had less to lose by speaking her mind, something Evert later admitted she genuinely admired.
The Years They Didn’t Speak
At the height of their rivalry, the pair stopped speaking entirely — for years. Encouraged by her then-girlfriend to treat Evert as a true enemy, Navratilova adopted a sharper competitive edge. The result was a real chill between them, one that extended into the locker room.
A Secret the Media Forced Into the Open
Navratilova’s sexuality was known within the tennis circuit long before a reporter publicly outed her. Even then, she was initially labeled “bisexual” rather than gay — a softer, more publicly palatable term commonly used in that era, as fellow icon Billie Jean King also confirms in the documentary. This reflects the broader struggles many athletes faced navigating public life within the evolving landscape of LGBT rights at the time.
From Rivals to Real Friends
A pivotal trip to Czechoslovakia in 1986 — Navratilova’s first return since defecting to the U.S. — deepened their bond in ways competition never could. Years later, both women faced cancer diagnoses around the same period, with Navratilova learning of her own illness shortly after comforting Evert through hers.
Perhaps the clearest sign of how far they’ve come: when asked if their friendship depends on their matched 18 Grand Slam titles each, both looked genuinely confused by the question.
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Final Thoughts
Chris & Martina: The Final Set isn’t just a sports documentary — it’s a raw look at two women shaped by fame, pressure, and decades of complicated history. Their story proves real rivalry can eventually become real respect.
FAQs
Q1: Is Chris & Martina: The Final Set available now?
Yes, the documentary is currently streaming on Netflix.
