82 matches, one friendship, zero chill — tennis' greatest rivalry served raw.
The first time Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova stepped onto a tennis court together, the world scarcely noticed. Only a few hundred spectators saw the pert 18-year-old beat the scrappy 16-year-old Czech in 1973. “I remember that she was fat,” Evert recalled. “She was very emotional on the court, whining if she didn't feel she was playing well. But I remember thinking, if she loses weight, we’re all in trouble.” Said Navratilova, “My goal was for her to remember my name.” Eighty matches later – amid the extraordinary growth of women’s tennis – Evert not only remembered, but became a tried and true friend and confidante, remarkable considering the two appeared to be polar opposites in upbringing, life styles and personal relationships. Through a series of personal conversations, this documentary will tell the story of one of the greatest one-on-one sports rivalries and capture these two extraordinary athletes’ views on tennis and an ever-changing world.
Writing
Evert's brutal honesty about Navratilova's weight — yikes but iconic.
Direction
Lets two legends talk, not perform. Rare intimacy.
Production
Archival footage that captures 70s-80s tennis energy perfectly.
Director
Lisa Lax
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This 2010 ESPN doc predated the current women's sports renaissance by a decade, making its quiet treatment of queer identity in Navratilova's story feel almost retroactively radical.
Directors Lax and Stern Winters spent three years earning trust — Evert notoriously controlled her image, and her unguarded moments here were a career first.
US
