“How come I’m feeling the way I am? How come I’m not happy?” – When Chris Evert went through the toughest time in her life after divorcing John Lloyd
Former World No. 1 Chris Evert, a tennis legend, faced the toughest time of her life during her divorce from fellow tennis professional John Lloyd in 1987. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Evert revealed the emotional challenges she experienced during this period. Despite acknowledging that Lloyd was a great guy and husband, Evert had to confront her own feelings and grapple with the reasons behind their relationship issues.
Reflecting on the divorce, Evert explained, “I had to do a lot of soul-searching for about two years: What’s wrong with this relationship? How come I’m feeling the way I am? How come I’m not happy?” She also expressed the pain and regret if she hurt him during the process.
John Lloyd later admitted that marrying Chris Evert introduced him to a world beyond his league, and he found it challenging to cope with the attention she received. Referring to the fame Evert brought into their lives, Lloyd shared, “When you marry someone who’s as famous as that, you have to swallow your ego and leave it at the door, the front door.”
In another context, tennis star Maria Sharapova faced boos from the crowd during her fourth-round match at the 2007 French Open. Despite the hostile reception, Sharapova remained undaunted and went on to win the match against Patty Schnyder. In a post-match press conference, Sharapova expressed the difficulty of playing tennis and trying to please everyone simultaneously.
Schnyder, her opponent, defended Sharapova, stating, “I think we should appreciate the champion she is.”
Maria Sharapova, who won each of the four Grand Slams during her career, including the French Open twice, had a remarkable tennis journey despite occasional challenges like the 2007 French Open crowd reactions.
