Evert taking every ball on the rise with added witchcraft. It’s a stirring reminder of the way all-time greats can tweak and develop their games, even in the twilight of their careers. But it takes time, so one can say that Chris became a more complete, terrifying player at the very time when age was draining her of her previous strengths (killer instinct, metronomic invincibility). Well, she certainly kicked Martina’s ass a few weeks later in the Australian Open, playing this super-aggressive game, and she came close to taking Graf to a final set … Chris’s last classic run.
its been LOOOOOONG time since one of these has been posted. Evert tried some really brazen stuff here. A backhand drop from behind the baseline and she even charges the net off a second serve return!
I was fortunate enough to be at this EXO and it was played 20 mins from home . Which is next door in Oz!. I was with a non Evert fan 3 rows back and the match before was Lendl/ Noah. I swear she hit the ball so hard off the ground, as hard as Lendl but not as much spin. Even my non Evert friend was impressed. The Backhand is a work of art.
Tristan Ferguson … I have also seen Evert play (I was a kid during the last year of her career, 1989, at the US Open) but there is truth to the remark by Warwick Grange. Evert was always a hard hitter, even in the days of itty-bitty wooden racquets. She spanked the ball exactly where she desired and intended, to apply maximum stress to her opponents and open the court for a winner. She dictated. Even after the switch to the super-stiff graphite of the Wilson Pro Staff in 1984, Evert’s two-handed backhand was fearsome. She certainly could *not* hit with the same heft or muscle as Lendl (or any top male player) but she could crack the ball with the same velocity and an even greater precision than the guys. Anyone who doubts that even the most basic male tennis players are stronger, faster, more powerful than women should watch Navratilova’s contest with Jimmy Connors. He toyed with her and then destroyed her. That being said, a classic player like Evert could hit a backhand with greater skill than men, but not as hard.
Well this match served its purpose. Nothing but practice returning Martina's serve for the Aussie a few weeks hence. Evert was sharp as nails on return in that semifinal.
She switched to Dunlop in early 1987 and won wimbledon and the US open with it. It seems Martina did it because Steffi Graf was using it and Martina seemed to think she would be able to get the kind of power Steffi had with it. It was a bit of a problem for Martina as she was still under contract with Yonex and she ended up having to put the Yonex logo on her strings for a while. Martina stayed with the Dunlop racquet through most of 1988, and changed back to Yonex by the US Open in 1988.
Is there any record of ALL the public exhibition matches that Chris played specifically against Martina throughout her life? I’d like to have a look at those stats (and results). Shouldn’t be impossible to research, one would think.
Australian commentators used to call lobs 'tosses' all the time. I remember an Aussie final with Court and Goolagong in 1970 ish where I first heard about 'tosses'
Wxonomy of movement by evert she AO to beat Martina By fell Short ba he, noble Evwet🎉 she realizes Was waking a likelihood of beating Martinaunlikely she knew it Was Soon to Walk Away one her fines last rorneny wom. Over Seles And 🎉ead🎉dor An S was
Evert taking every ball on the rise with added witchcraft.
It’s a stirring reminder of the way all-time greats can tweak and develop their games, even in the twilight of their careers. But it takes time, so one can say that Chris became a more complete, terrifying player at the very time when age was draining her of her previous strengths (killer instinct, metronomic invincibility).
Well, she certainly kicked Martina’s ass a few weeks later in the Australian Open, playing this super-aggressive game, and she came close to taking Graf to a final set … Chris’s last classic run.
Love the clips between these two greatest rivals ever.
Me too!!🥰🥰🥰
Evert was razor sharp and boy you could see why she played well in australiAn open. she is crisp, no wasted movement
These two giants of the game was just amazing! The court level shots are unreal!
its been LOOOOOONG time since one of these has been posted. Evert tried some really brazen stuff here. A backhand drop from behind the baseline and she even charges the net off a second serve return!
I was fortunate enough to be at this EXO and it was played 20 mins from home . Which is next door in Oz!. I was with a non Evert fan 3 rows back and the match before was Lendl/ Noah. I swear she hit the ball so hard off the ground, as hard as Lendl but not as much spin. Even my non Evert friend was impressed. The Backhand is a work of art.
Warwick Grange As hard as Lendl? Lol, absolutely no way. Nice try though.
Tristan Ferguson … I have also seen Evert play (I was a kid during the last year of her career, 1989, at the US Open) but there is truth to the remark by Warwick Grange. Evert was always a hard hitter, even in the days of itty-bitty wooden racquets. She spanked the ball exactly where she desired and intended, to apply maximum stress to her opponents and open the court for a winner. She dictated.
Even after the switch to the super-stiff graphite of the Wilson Pro Staff in 1984, Evert’s two-handed backhand was fearsome. She certainly could *not* hit with the same heft or muscle as Lendl (or any top male player) but she could crack the ball with the same velocity and an even greater precision than the guys.
Anyone who doubts that even the most basic male tennis players are stronger, faster, more powerful than women should watch Navratilova’s contest with Jimmy Connors. He toyed with her and then destroyed her.
That being said, a classic player like Evert could hit a backhand with greater skill than men, but not as hard.
chris you make it look so easy. More videos please
Well this match served its purpose. Nothing but practice returning Martina's serve for the Aussie a few weeks hence. Evert was sharp as nails on return in that semifinal.
Keep these clips coming!!!
Martina using the Dunlop? Seemed like a bad choice
She switched to Dunlop in early 1987 and won wimbledon and the US open with it. It seems Martina did it because Steffi Graf was using it and Martina seemed to think she would be able to get the kind of power Steffi had with it. It was a bit of a problem for Martina as she was still under contract with Yonex and she ended up having to put the Yonex logo on her strings for a while. Martina stayed with the Dunlop racquet through most of 1988, and changed back to Yonex by the US Open in 1988.
Is there any record of ALL the public exhibition matches that Chris played specifically against Martina throughout her life? I’d like to have a look at those stats (and results). Shouldn’t be impossible to research, one would think.
like the commentators... very professional
Australian commentators used to call lobs 'tosses' all the time. I remember an Aussie final with Court and Goolagong in 1970 ish where I first heard about 'tosses'
Who ended up winning the match
Chris lost this and went on to beat Martina in the austrailian semis!
Why wasn't Mantina sweating? Odd.
Joe Momma You can't see she's sweating cos she's dressed in white
Because Chris was passing her all the time
Another “Our Chrissie makes all the good shots and Martina makes none” video, YAWN!
Girls? What's up with this commentating?
Wxonomy of movement by evert she AO to beat Martina
By fell
Short ba he, noble
Evwet🎉 she realizes
Was waking a likelihood of beating Martinaunlikely she knew it
Was
Soon to
Walk
Away one her fines last rorneny wom. Over
Seles
And 🎉ead🎉dor
An
S was
Fake exo play