Martina Navratilova confesses being ‘terrified’ by Chris Evert’s cancer diagnosis as duo discuss their journey from bitter rivals to best friends

Evert and Navratilova have both been diagnosed with cancer on multiple occasions. In fact, Evert is still undergoing treatment for a recurrence of ovarian cancer.The two spoke about their health troubles in a video for Ralph Lauren, with Evert noting how ironic it was that the two got cancer at the same time.

“Isn’t it ironic that with everything we’ve been through with our career, being rivals and friends, that we happened to get cancer at the same time?” the 69-year-old said. (0:36)

Navratilova said that she was “terrified” when Evert was diagnosed with cancer and also talked about how the two supported one another while battling their respective illnesses.
“When you were diagnosed it terrified me, and then I supported you, and then, a year later, I get it, and you supported me,” she said. (0:46)

Chris Evert spoke about the friendship that she shared with Navratilova, stating that Navratilova was only a phone call away. Evert also said that the two became very close towards the ends of their respective careers.

“I know that you’re only a phone call away. We have such a rich history of, again, competing and then…. especially towards the end of our career, we became very, very close because we realized that we weren’t only competitors, that we were people with feelings as well, and emotions. We got to know each other really well towards the end of our career. You’re one of my best friends and I know that I can always count on you,” Chris Evert said. (3:18)

Navratilova also spoke about Evert’s friendship towards her, claiming that Evert would always be available even if she called her as late as 3 a.m..
“We always had that, like I knew always that I could call you at three in the morning and say “Chris, I need you”, and you would ask “Where are you?” Navratilova said.

Towards the end of the video, Martina Navratilova said that tennis makes one’s life longer, while Evert said that the sport added ten years to both their lives. Evert jokingly said that the two would play till they are 90.

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova faced one another in 22 Grand Slam matches during their fierce rivalry. Fourteen of these meetings came in finals, with Navratilova winning 10.

The first Major final between the two came at the 1975 French Open, with Evert beating a then-teenage Navratilova 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. The Czech-American won their next four Grand Slam title clashes before Evert triumphed at the 1982 Australian Open final.The two greats of the game squared off in the final of all four Majors, with Evert never beating Navratilova in a Wimbledon or US Open final. However, she won their last Grand Slam title clash, at the 1986 French Open.Evert and Navratilova also teamed together in doubles, winning the French Open 1975 and Wimbledon 1976 titles.