Chris Evert d. Gabriela Sabatini - 1986 French Open 4R

When Chris faced Gabriela Sabatini in the 4R of the 1986 French Open, she changed strategy from previous rounds. Rather than grind away from the backcourt against those looping Sabatini strokes, Chris chose to end points earlier by being the aggressor at the net in this highly entertaining match. Victories over Bassett, Mandlikova & Navratilova in the matches that followed brought not only her final grand slam title run at age 31, but her record 7th French Open crown.

[@karrtt1234]

I would love to see the 4R of the 85 French.. when Chris took out Graf 6-2,6-3... I have watched highlights of this match on youtube previous to this posting. You do such a wonderful job of bringing great matches to us, we are all thankful !

[@stevenmac9158]

The final 2 sets were vintage Chrissie! She hit the lines with full velocity while tactically mixing it up with side-to-side angles, perfect lobs and soft drops shots and had Sabatini running all over the court to the point of exhaustion. Chrissie's backhand has always been her most reliable shot with both power and pinpoint accuracy, but when she hits her forehand as she does here so aggressively and with such authority and accuracy, Chrissie was nearly unbeatable. That's how she beat Martina in the finals a few days later.

[@thequinnster72]

Seeing this match, the next one with Bassett, the SF against Mandlikova, and the final... I don't think I ever saw Chris play more aggressively. She actually takes a service return and comes in and knocks off a first volley. I can't say I've ever seen her do that before.

[@kloatlanta]

That serve was so short she had to

[@markwhitman9029]

Its as though Chrissie knew this was her last chance at Grand Slams and took them back to back! So happy for her

[@RandallvanOosten-ln5wf]

By watching her early (e.g 1970 French) matches and this one, one can see how Chris transitioned into the modern game with a larger composite racquet. Her placement remained precise with added power and speed. She also could play a more aggressive game.

[@eastfiftyseven]

Super level of play ! Wow !!

[@jonathankieranwriter]

When Evert went into fitness overdrive during the 1983 offseason, switched to graphite, and finally began to adjust to the new graphite stick in late 1984, her superb all-court game (which she had in fact always possessed) was thereafter showcased splendidly. A total pleasure to behold. Her drives from the backcourt, which had always been metronomic bombs, had even more heat on them, and her command of the short court became truly fearsome. Her solid, consistent, but otherwise sedate serve certainly improved to a degree, but the extra off-court training and graphite turned up the dial most on her racquet-head speed, without sacrificing any of the power she had always displayed, but enabling her to execute drives more swiftly off the strings, leading to faster winners than she had been able to hit before, cleaving the court, especially off her forehand. She was able to take even more time away from her often-hapless contenders. It’s a shame she did not win at least one or two of the truly close encounters she had in her later career against Navratilova. She seemed in control in the Wimbledon 1985 final, then took her foot just a bit off the gas, fatally. She squared the match in the 1985 Australian final (which determined the Year End No. 1) and then played unusually flat in the third set. And she certainly had her chances in the Wimby semis against Martina in 87 and 88. One or maybe even two more Wimbledon titles were certainly within her reach, given the strength of her play, and ability to once again beat and/or give Navratilova fits in any given match. I was always somewhat amazed that she didn’t finish with 19. Then again, as much as she denies that it was a mistake, I have to wonder if, deep-down in her Ice Maiden heart, she sometimes wants to kick herself for skipping several French Opens at the height of her clay dominance, and grass Aussie Opens, just to play Billie Jean King’s silly Team Tennis. She would have scored at least 4-5 more majors. Final major tallies count. Just ask Serena and Margaret Court and Martina and Steffi and Monica. Meh. Hindsight is always 20/20. It’s still an absolute thrill to watch Evert exert her indomitable will and execute such powerful, laser-like groundies intended to boss her opponent around the court, pressure their replies, and beat them into submission at will. And the extra treat is watching her display stunning strategies: touch; changes of spin when needed; unequaled drop shots and lobs; crowding the short court to end points with crisp volleys or drop volleys or her very underrated overheard. Pure ferocious elegance. Tennis’s first wildly successful aggressive baseliner ... with an all-court game she could summon when required. One hell of a legendary, uniquely brilliant all-time career. She’s still amazing.

[@stevenmac9158]

She was leading Margaret Court 5-3 in the 3rd set in her 1st French final-and 1st Grand Slam final-in 1973. So that's 4 more French titles Evert could have won, 11 total and 22 GS titles. She made the finals of every Australian Open she played, including her 1st Australian in 1973. Chrissie said the WTT $$ was better than the French Open and that was the main reason she chose that over playing the French.

[@markwhitman9029]

What a brilliant descriptive piece on Chrissie and spot on. She could easily have won 5 more slams had she not played team tennis and been the all time leader. Despite all this and giving you're description of her shot making prowess consideration she is probably the Number 2 GOAT just slightly behind Martina Navratilova

[@johniii8147]

@@markwhitman9029 Yeah she could have at least easily won 3 more french opens. But back then it wasn't such a big deal and little price money. She made the right business decision with WTT.

[@kljMN2]

I'd love to see that Evert/Graf match too!

[@johnblacklovesmar]

Thanks for posting these matches regularly. Nice accompaniment to cereal in the morning.

[@jonathangianguzzo1043]

16 years old and absolutely gorgeous. Still is today at 47...

[@DomenicoG1953]

But Chris, 65, is even more gorgeous.

[@markwhitman9029]

All you straight guys to me she looks like a handsome dude and didn't she come out? Don't you see this and I am in support of her

[@Nanciverse]

@@markwhitman9029 She is gay and was androgynously gorgeous at this age (16), I agree with you that she came across as quite butch/obviously gay and it surprised me that so many men couldn't (or didn't want to) see it. Funny that all the time she was a pro player she had all these male fans in love with her when she was a closeted lesbian.

[@markwhitman9029]

@@Nanciverse did she ever come out? I never knew.Her style reminded me of Jimmy Arias! Not too belabor the. subject but I always thought Steffi closet too despite marriage to Andre

[@Nanciverse]

@@markwhitman9029 Well, interesting note about Steffi when she started dating her first boyfriend (a racecar driver) sometime in the 80s her father Peter Graf said to an LA Times journalist that it was a fake boyfriend he paid money to in order to stop people saying Steffi was a lesbian. There were some rumours that she had a brief fling with Gaby during their time as doubles partners as well as also a longer-term 'thing' with another player Renee Stubbs but I don't know if these are true or just stories. Gaby has never yet officially came out on the record but she is in what is called a 'glass closet' (much like the likes of Jodie Foster). Since around 2009 she no longer lies by denying her homosexuality in interviews or setting up fake PR boyfriend stories for the press and the agreement with media seems to be that she won't hide/lie as long as they no longer bring up the subject in interviews or ask her directly. Argentinism press now often report about her and her partner Lujan and articles even refer to her being gay with no denials or backlash from Gaby. I think she is happy and relieved not to have to actively lie anymore, but still too private to make a point of coming out in an interview.

[@95KIPPIE]

Chris didn't play the FO a few years in the mid 70's due to team tennis. Had she played and won, her GS count would certainly had gone over 20. What might have been?

[@jubbadupa]

Chris was resting her knee for 3 weeks and got a wednesday start to this tournament. She was suffering for a tear and swelling in the plateau tendon. After the French she played only 3 more tournaments Wimbledon, LA, and the US Open and was off for 6 months. Typical Evert fashion.... she never talked about the knee troubles.

[@sheezamann2724]

95KIPPIE---RIGHT.....i have wondered that too.....she never really played the australian that much either.......usually wimbeldon and the US....were the ones she played......so....WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN??.....and did you notice...that martina beat her 10 times in gs finals.........that is over 1/2 martinas titles...makes you wonder a little???

[@senorgato70]

The thing is. Had she played the FO and AO in the 70’s more often she could have definitely won close to 6 more Slams. However that could also have meant that she would have retired much earlier like when she and John were contemplating a family in the early 80’s. So she may have missed out on winning the slams in her second decade on tour

[@lkfrostad]

That’s not all, she didn’t play in 7 Australian opens either!!!

[@lkfrostad]

senorgato70 completely agree, I’m thinking 26 slams. She didn’t play 3 French and 7 aid opens

[@stellastuder1238]

Gaby Sabatini era muy joven ..lo mejor del tenis argentino. ..

[@msims1250]

I absolutely love Gabriella’s backhand.

[@seanjenkins331]

Commentators now a days call Maria Sharapova one of the toughest competitors ever because she's fights so hard and is bold and aggressive on big points. I argue Chris Evert IS the toughest competitor ever because she never beats herself and puts so much pressure on her opponents to be GREAT on the big points while she's always so solid

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

M. S. got votes because of the grunts and grimace... Just compare double faults: CE or MS. Under pressure MS can not be counted upon.

[@youngpetisa3082]

Che talento Gabriela, aveva solo 16 anni, che colpi!!!!

[@6u4p0AR]

Muchas gracias por la subida !

[@osdafranco29]

GABY PURE TALENT....love you GABY😘😘😘😘

[@BTURNER1961]

This is yet another match that shows Evert's greatest aptitude throughout her career, was not her patience or her ice cold nerves as purported. No. Evert was really the greatest problem-solver in the sport. Whether in a single match, like here, or in a rivalry spanning many like Richey, Navratilova or Austin, she had an incredible knack, for figuring out, with clinical precision, just how reverse the trajectory of a losing scenario by finding and exposing hidden weakness with phenomenal tenacity and discipline. Even when it did not completely change fortunes, it managed to change a losing dynamic to a competitive one. You could knock Evert down, but you never imagined she'd stay there.

[@lenwelch2195]

Great observation , well put. I think Chris was the greatest wood racket player among the woman . That wood racket was an extension of her body . I played until I was 22 with a wood racket and boy you had to have great technique for the ball to go any where. Sweet spot was just that - a spot. Chris had incredible feel , always knowing where her racket face was in relation to the ball . Her body stayed on top of the ball in her drives . She hit off her back feet only when severely rushed for time ( during her 1983 losses to Martina ) ( Chris lost all of her 1984 matches against Martina but last two times - Wimbledon and Open : were close matches . At US Indoor in Jan 84 Chris started playing with graphite racket and made the second set close 7-6 loss - her losing efforts in 84 one could witness her marked improvement - especially compared to her 1983 matches against Martina .

[@guicon2007]

Dont you have the whole match? I d love to see first set...thanks!

[@vosharap]

Great match from this clay-court expert

[@lenwelch2195]

Chris was at her strongest here in 86 French for the last three matches - Sabatini , Hana , Martina .

[@jonathankieranwriter]

Len Welch ... Last four, actually: Sabatini was R16, the big-hitting Bassett was QF, Hana in SF, and Navrat in F. One bad-ass draw. But I agree: she was on fire that year, mentally, physically, and strategically against dangerous opponents who had given her many, many troubles in the past. The last two sets of her final against Martina preserve the most bossy, savvy ball I ever saw her play against MN ... well, probably tied with her spanking of Martina in the Oz semis1988, and Houston Slims of 1988 (6-2 7-5 and 6-0 6-4 respectively). I’d still pay good money for a video of her 1987 Los Angeles semifinal demolition of Navratilova 6-2 6-1-rumored to be her most devastating, dominating smack-down of her rival, ever. Who’s got that tape?! Fess up! 😄

[@lenwelch2195]

I wouldn’t say Carling was a big hitter threat

[@melande1966]

Chris 's got a very smart play, she's a legend

[@seanjenkins331]

I am a BIG fan of both Sabatini and Mandlikova. They had such gorgeous strokes and sort of ushered in the age of the extreme western grip on both forehands and backhands. They're balls jumped higher and they generated so much spin

[@BLACKTREAT]

WOW! Chris Evert was moving and playing so well, that she could definately compete and win on the current WTA tour. AM I CRAZY TO THINK THIS?

[@_waaavey]

Yes

[@danguee1]

The woman's tour now is SO shockingly weak - they seem to take turns crumbling against each other - that someone of Chrissie's calibre would clean up. HOWEVER - that might not necessarily be Chrissie - she was brought up on wooden racquets, really poor strings, variable surfaces etc and, although she ended up playing extremely well with graphite, her game never stopped being built around the old technology. Her movement and accuracy of shot is superior to pretty much everyone in the modern game. By the way, I speak as a county level player who has played at that level all my adult life. David Rogers below can barely get the ball over the net and doesn't know what he's talking about. It's interesting that you can see that good players can appreciate how good Chrissie/Steffie/Martina/Justine etc are - it's those armchair 'experts' who can't......

[@tonyalder]

No she could play any era

[@yussepig6629]

Chris would quickly adapt and destroy these modern muppets who have no thought process.

[@markwhitman9029]

@@yussepig6629 I never will understand why commentators say today's players are fitter. Many of the girls look fat from waist down and large heavy legs. Don't get me started on Serena. If she didn't merely slug the ball and had to use a variety of shots her slam titles would be 10 or under

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

wonderful on both sides of the net

[@Paglia444]

Chris was an amazing athlete. Look how exhausted Gabby is.

[@patrizioorru772]

Sadly Gabriela Sabatini didn't start working on her fitness until several years later

[@jondavwal13]

The closest thing to Evert's game in today's tennis is Djokovic. Counter-puncher for the most part but with the power when they need it, able to absorb pace and redirect. Both had/have awesome backhands and great forehands as well. Both hit flat off of both sides. If you want to know how Evert would do today, look at Djokovic.

[@stellastuder1238]

jugaba al mismo nivel que las mas experimentadas tenía sólo 16 años. ..

[@joeyconvery2055]

I love Virginia Wade. Great match between Chris and Gabriela.

[@lenwelch2195]

I miss Wades astute comments . Her observation that players get a lead in a game 40-0 up but never win the games . Chris will do the right thing in shot selection whether she feels confident or not . When Chris makes up her mind about how to thwart her opponents game plan she commits 100 percent of herself .

[@leolight5369]

The crowd was really into it !

[@kljMN2]

Chrissie is amazing. She has the most French Open singles titles, man or woman. Plus, she has the most US Open singles titles of the women (and perhaps men too... not sure.).

[@sheezamann2724]

kljMN2----you probably know this...but not anymore.......women,...yes, i believe....but male/female...no...nadal with 10 and federer with 6 us opens.....

[@jdmgrh]

Wow Gaby played

[@ChrisAmericaUSA]

Chris Evert....the greatest female clay court player ever!

[@YolandaSaldivar4eva]

Henin and Serena would annihilate her.

[@sheezamann2724]

Aaron Mychal Ruiz----not in her time...they wouldn't....physical fitness was NOT the craze back then....AND...TODAY people think differently on how to win...then they did back then....so...you could say...in todays world...chris would get wiped off the court........but sincerely....it would be the other way around in 1975......

[@JamesFrew1]

Aaron Mychal Ruiz neither Henin or Serena could beat Evert on clay with the rackets she used.

[@jondavwal13]

@@YolandaSaldivar4eva Nonsense. Henin was not even in the same class. Serena with a wooden racket not so sure or the first graphite's either.

[@lenwelch2195]

Aaron Mychal Ruiz you know nothing about tennis. Henin absolutely not. Serena would possibly if played wth 1986 graphite but Chris would exploit Serena’s court sense

[@guicon2007]

Siempre me llamó la atención que Gaby en Roland Garros miraba al piso en todo momento, no levantaba el menton, la vista al frente...era una señal que en escenarios tan grandes y con tanta responsabilidad se sentía intimidada y por eso no logró descollar de acuerdo a su inmenso potencial?......

[@stevengujsky24]

Gaby had a period in the late 80s and early 90s where she was more aggressive and she was a better player for it. She never fulfilled the enormous potential she had. The FO should have been her playground.

[@johniii8147]

Gabby was not yet prepared for queen of clay

[@antinotis]

Chris played aggressively because she knew she could win the FO while Wimbledon and US open was now beyond her. Great play from her. Gaby here with her aggressive play reminds me more of Graf, and she really played well and could have won. I am not sure why she faded away after 1991.

[@SDSFG45]

watch Evert's groundstrokes, and you understand why she won nearly 20 grand slams....simple approach...simple swings from both sides....nice long follow-thru on both sides, to ensure depth and power...and her feet were CONSTANTLY moving..almost as if she was levitating. You wont see another one like her, because the order of the day now, are these huge swngs with all kinds of wasted motion. Federer is as close to a throw-back, as there is in today's game. And he's nearly done, right?

[@lenwelch2195]

Sabatini strokes took so much out of her and she had a lousy serve - if she had developed a serve w/o that backscratch motion , stopping the racket acceleration at the shoulder blades her serve would’ve won her several slam wins . Amazing because this is a rookie mistake , her coaches were all South American who had that service motion where they are using their arm primarily to serve and not using the whole body and legs . Chris’s service motion was actually better - her serve while not powerful was hit low and didn’t bounce up , making it harder to attack , only Navratilova could attack her second serve .

[@7Lukibi99Tore7]

@ JordanjamesX. In order for Sabatini to have won more than just one major singles title in her career, she would have not only have needed to develop an offensive serve but also she would have needed to develop a much better net game and improve her physical conditioning and learn to hit through the ball to generate more offense on her groundstrokes by taking some of the topspin off of her groundstrokes. Sabatini waited until way too late in her career to develop a chip-and-charge to the net off an opponent's short ball tactic. She never improved her physical fitness to a level equivalent to Navratilova's level of fitness although Sabatini showed better fitness in her five set match against Seles at Madison Square Garden than Sabatini did earlier in her career.

[@patrizioorru772]

You are correct. I have read that her first coaches did not want to push her at the beginning of her career so she ended up working on her fitness only when she was about 18-19

[@markwhitman72]

Chris Evert was the greatest on clay and best baseliner ever in the history of the game on the women's side. One could argue the men too but with the likes of Nadal and Federer perhaps not. She just RARELY missed and I don't care what one says about Serena, Chris is more impressive.

[@7Lukibi99Tore7]

+Mark Whitman. We will sadly never know which player, Chris Evert or Helen Wills Moody was the greatest female baseline tennis player of all-time because they played in 2 different eras. In addition we sadly will never know what Monica Seles' pro tennis career could have been because of that lunatic Gunter Parche's deplorable attack on Seles at the 1993 Hamburg, Germany tennis tournament.

[@kevinjohnson8945]

How did Serena even come into the conversation? Graf would have been a more accurate comparison especially since they played together often.

[@sheezamann2724]

7Lukibi99Tore7---you do know that back when helen wills moody played there were only 8 or 16 competitors...not like today ...there are what 64..now.........so...YES...IT IS DIFFICULT TO COMPARE....

[@markwhitman9029]

@@7Lukibi99Tore7 yes I agree. I know all about Wills and connelly even and they like Evert also brilliant!

[@youngpetisa3082]

Vamos Gabriela!!!!

[@JordanjamesX]

Evert kept on attacking Sabatini's backhand and pushing her wide. If only Gabriela had a decent serve she would have won more than just one slam.

[@FLE22P]

Love Ginny Wade.....

[@markwhitman9029]

On grass Ginny damned good

[@yussepig6629]

Chris spanked Graf in the previous round. Interesting how Gaby pushed her much more, but I think Chris needed this challenge to move up a gear.

[@zeddeka]

You're getting mixed up. This match is 1986. Graf lost to Mandlikova in the quarter finals. In 1985, Evert beat Graf in the 4th round, beat Phelps in the quarter final, then Sabatini in the semis.

[@rattata30]

Sabatini was like every Central and south America country...just a dream of future could ofs

[@jamespeyton7312]

could haves

[@jdmgrh]

Gaby Awesome even bak then. Same old weak serve and just ran out of steam as always. Evert made her run too much

[@LiamForeman]

I really thought Gaby was going to be the next big thing, even over Steffi, BUT THAT SERVE.... The absolute weakest part of her game. She had solid groundstrokes, wonderful touch, great volleys, BUT THAT SERVE... She never improved it. Mind boggling.

[@seanjenkins331]

Carla Suarez Navarro's game seems to be carbon copied after Sabatini

[@monicabosetti1741]

Gaby was better than the Spaniard...please!

[@alexsdb9712]

True. Carla's game may have been somewhat patterned and influenced by Gabriela's game. Just like how every player, every era tends to have influences in their game that make up their game and style.

[@grantgoffin4774]

Even though she lost this shows what huge potential Sabatini showed at only 15/16. What a flop she wound up being in the end. One of the biggest underachievers and career dissapointments ever in tennis. A mere 1 slam, Graf's pigeon except for a period of 2 years Graf was playing rubbish (which is how overhyped Seles had that great run too), worst slam semi final record in tennis history (3-15), career choker, never fixed that serve.

[@Summon256]

...Graf probably could if she's been at her best and in her 20's...but the likes of Evert and Navratilova would struggle...especially Navratilova!...

[@k.ravishankar5063]

Elche sabatini

[@vincenthannah6556]

It is remarkable to me that Gabby never made even the semfinals in a tournament tailor made for her heavy topspin shots.

[@thequinnster72]

Gabby did make the semis of the French in both '87 and '88.

[@FlabbyTitmuss]

Errr...Sabatini made the semis in Paris five times. '85,'87,'88,'91,'92.