Martina Navratilova v Chris Evert Lloyd - Australian Open 1982 Final | AO Classics

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[@Plushteddybear69]

No unnecessary screaming or drama, just beautiful tennis played by amazing women. Both are absolute class

[@nunolaranjo2786]

It never stops to amaze me the incredible shots Evert was able to produce with a big, heavy small-headed racket.

[@iwantafennec9577]

Wow, what amazing, crisp video quality to this clip. Thank you for posting! Wish Chrissie would have played more matches with this unrelenting all-court aggressiveness. Also its interesting that she is playing with a wood racquet to Martina’s graphite. Chris drived the ball harder than Martina and this match is evidence of that. Super stuff!

[@shihlin1]

WOW---this is HD quality from 1982. Incredible !!

[@leolight5369]

@timothy chung It looks HD anyway

[@th8257]

Australia, as with most of Europe, used the PAL TV system back then. It produced noticeably higher quality pictures than the American NTSC system. You can see it in the original BBC footage of Wimbledon from the 70s and 80s too. Significantly higher picture quality than the American networks. It's one of the reasons that Wimbledon changed from a white ball to a yellow ball - the American networks requested it because NTSC couldn't define the ball well, whereas the PAL system could pick it up with no problem.

[@shihlin1]

@@th8257 Even the Japanese TV broadcasts from the 1980's rival the 4K picture quality of today. Not surprisingly, U.S. usually lags behind Europe and Asia in telecommunications and this type of technology.

[@asmrdude1593]

Everts game would translate incredibly well today. Super speed and court coverage and the power with which she hit the ball even with a wooden racket is astounding. Queen

[@karbethong]

Thanks AO for putting this up. I was there that day, and it was an amazing match. It's a pity the video misses the crucial games early in the third set, when Chris, the ultimate baseliner, stormed the net to take it away from Martina. She hit more than 30 winning volleys that day - must have been a career record. Those without grey hair might not know how dominant Martina was at the time. The Australian Open was then played at the end of the year, and Martina had lost only one match in the entire year - at the French Open. She rarely even lost a set. Then in the leadup tournament in Sydney, she played Evonne Goolagong in the final. Evonne was then 31, the mother of two kids, and her body was a wreck, but somehow she made it to the final to play Martina the Invincible. The first set was a whitewash: 60 to Martina. At the end of that set, the camera caught Evonne bending over and quietly screaming at herself in pain and humiliation. Then in the second set, she tried a radical tactic. She stood well inside the baseline to return serve, trusting her instincts, took the ball early, and chipped and charged to the net. She didn't win them all, but she won enough to turn the momentum around. Every time Martina tried to get to the net to control the point, Evonne was already there. She finally won the set, and at the end of it, she was clearly done for. The third set was just a canter for Martina - but Evonne had done enough in that second set to drop a hint to Chrissie, who was watching it from Melbourne. In that third set of this Australian Open final, she too chipped and charged - and though she was nowhere near as good at the net as Evonne, she kept taking Martina by surprise and putting the volleys away. What a match that was - one of the dozen or so matches I will never forget.

[@hotblonddude]

karbethong you’re referring to 82 when the results for Martina you mention were for 83.

[@irina25701]

I respected Navratilova during my childhood days in the 80s n 90s

[@shihlin1]

The one loss all year you're referring to must be 1983. Still, after this AO loss, Martina lost only 3 matches in 82---to Sylvia Hanika at the Avon Championship final in NYC, to Pam Shriver at the U.S. Open---all 3 setters. Her won-loss records in 82 and 83 have not been broken.

[@kosta88816]

I Remember That Match Did Evonne In Her Speech Say Something Funny About Martina 😀

[@danguee1]

Nice, very detailed intricate story. But this game was not in the year you're referring to. And she actually won the French in 1982. Which makes one wonder what else you got wrong....

[@nujeru99]

A classic final between arguably the two best rivals the sport has seen. This was a thrilling sequel to their amazing final at the ‘81 AO. Chrissie’s depth and precision was surgically precise in this match. I was so impressed with how she charged the net so often in this match. Chrissie was always a terrific grass court player, despite the media wanting to label her as only “the queen of clay” (which she definitely was prolific on the dirt as well)

[@ianwalters11]

Christie was amazing I couldn’t agree more. Amazing on all services. Modern day press like to call Rafa Nadal “king of clay” which of course he is but he’s got a list of wins on other surfaces as long as your arm and arguably the greatest mens player of all time.

[@shihlin1]

Chris came out firing and played about as aggressive grass court tennis as we've seen her. Still, she needed 3 sets to win. Maybe it's me, but it appears Martina is not 100% sharp in this match. I've never seen her serve and content to stay on the baseline trading groundies with Chris. On GRASS !

[@95KIPPIE]

The classiest, most graceful champion ever!!!

[@yussepig6629]

Both are hitting such great depth here. The ball is bouncing so low. Incredibly high standard match,

[@richardgalloway4857]

Great match, even 40 years later.

[@tupaei01]

There's something about a (lawn) tennis match on a grass court with (Chrissie's) wooden raquet at this high level and the graceful manner that these ladies played the game. The Kooyong atmosphere was really special in my book. I think we have definitely lost a lot. ❤

[@tomgraves3581]

What class these ladies showed. At match end, they warmly smiled and shook hands. Chris smiled towards her husband and sat down. No parading around the court, blowing kisses and bowing like fake royalty. No screaming and falling to the ground. How refreshing...

[@njc84]

I hate when players win and fall to the ground, it's so overdramatic, especially on clay and they end up covered in the stuff. I was happy when Halep won Wimbledon this year she didn't do the whole falling to the ground routine.

[@shihlin1]

Serena luvs to blow air kisses to the crowd and bow to four sides of the court as tho they're there to see her win. Djokovic usually likes to fall down on his back after winning a close five-setter.

[@eamaro3241]

Oh my god you people are so judgmental. Get over yourselves. It's entertainment.

[@tiffanylyons4474]

shihlin1 Well they are not there to see her lose! That is called her personality.

[@senorgato70]

It's hard to fathom that 11 years into her career and Chrissie finally won the AO. Yes, she didn't play the event for the better part of a decade but it's still a bit hard to believe. Imagine if she had played it more consistently, she definitely would have likely won it at least 3 more times. And if she hadn't skipped the French Open '76-'78 when she was completely dominant on clay, she would have at least 6 more Slams to her credit for a total of 24.

[@jondavwal13]

What does this even mean? Is it English?

[@jondavwal13]

Conservatively if you give her 2 of the 3 French Opens during the period she was unbeaten on clay and 2 Australians during the 8 years she skipped it then she would be at 22. If not conservative possibly as many as 26. But she played tennis during the height of its popularity and its commercial peak. Other things like WTT were making more money for the players and supposedly the AO was a joke back then, played among the goats.

[@jondavwal13]

Martin Pascoe That’s nonsense. Evert chose not to play. Austin retired. Plus her days were numbered anyway. Probably the worst athlete who ever won a major title. She was a pale imitation of the original. Blech.

[@senorgato70]

Martin Pascoe LOLOLOL. "Lucky to get 18" Because of Austin? You mean, the same Austin who never even got to a final (and barely a semifinal) of ANY OTHER Grand Slam tournament? And you thinks he would have prevent Evert from getting to 18? Possibly the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. If anything, Austin was "lucky" to get 2. She won at a time when Evert was considering starting a family with John Lloyd and there was plenty of talk of her leaving the game. She won at a time when Navratilova was still mentally and physically weak. I find it absolutely hilarious how Austin always talks about how she should have made it a "Trivalry" with Evert and Navratilova, had she not gotten injured. Bull.

[@DainBramaged00]

20:58 With a wood racket this is awesome. "Point of the match"

[@jgamez5023]

Two things about Chris that always surprised me: how fast she was and how in shape she was. She was running down shots all match long!

[@michaelpatrick7888]

what a smartly played final by chrissie..shes the best-- i dont need to know who holds most majors bc every time i watch her play she exemplifies professional conduct and sportsman,,sportswomanlike play,,congratulations !!also to martina i saw you play in us open way back in 1983 or 1984 cant remember but what a treat!!2 of the best usa athletes ever!!

[@pawshands9706]

Here here.

[@juliuscepeda9655]

It’s impressive that Chris could win this final uses a wooden racket against Martina’s graphite Yonex. Chris should have made the switch to graphite right after this match. It would have blunted some of Martina’s dominance in the next 2 years.

[@Sully44JJ]

Quality is amazing...wish all of her grand slam finals were of this quality.

[@Sully44JJ]

AMAZING quality of video resolution...thank you so much for posting this match. Would love to see 1981 Final between these two also, another fantastic match!

[@th8257]

Australia, as with most of Europe, used the PAL TV system back then. It produced noticeably higher quality pictures than the American NTSC system. You can see it in the original BBC footage of Wimbledon from the 70s and 80s too. Significantly higher picture quality than the American networks. It's one of the reasons that Wimbledon changed from a white ball to a yellow ball - the American networks requested it because NTSC couldn't define the ball well, whereas the PAL system could pick it up with no problem.

[@iamshadowbanned699]

I am really surprised with Chrissie's use of the swinging volley on her backhand side. I also like the angles she effortlessly hits on her backhand. Very nice to watch.

[@asmrdude1593]

Chris evert would be a BEAST in modern day tennis. With modern technology her strokes would be deadly. And the movement is unreal. Only thing that she would need to alter would be that serve.

[@arthurgearheard4701]

Wait a minute! She wasn't as powerful as Steffi Graf and Serena Williams!

[@lenwelch2195]

⁠​anyone who has ever played tennis knows that power is just one of many attributes- placement, spin , strategy play bigger parts than power. One can use an opponents power. Novices always carp on power. Most points won in tennis is forcing your opponent to miss . It’s not hitting winners . Serena often had 22 unforced errors and if she had more winners to errors usually won . Chris usually had 1-2 unforced errors a set and Chris hit her ground strokes flat and harder than Martina . Where Martina excelled was her serve . Martina held more easily and often Martina would win by a service break in the third set against Chris . Martina hit her backhand cross court with slice unless approaching going down the line .

[@dedenreview1599]

1982 and good video resolution...

[@jerryl9823]

40 years almost. Believe it or not.

[@th8257]

Australia, as with most of Europe, used the PAL TV system back then. It produced noticeably higher quality pictures than the American NTSC system. You can see it in the original BBC footage of Wimbledon from the 70s and 80s too. Significantly higher picture quality than the American networks. It's one of the reasons that Wimbledon changed from a white ball to a yellow ball - the American networks requested it because NTSC couldn't define the ball well, whereas the PAL system could pick it up with no problem.

[@collinsfemmville1067]

Awesome to see matches between these two champions ... even thought it was probably little or no price money they gave it their all..they are really great champions no doubt

[@skylaxx]

amazing quality upload from the old Kooyong place. Great to see Martina in action with Yonex R-7, it's such a difference in play comparing to a wooden Wilson of Chris :) also nice to see a friendly handshake at the end.

[@th8257]

Australia, as with most of Europe, used the PAL TV system back then. It produced noticeably higher quality pictures than the American NTSC system. You can see it in the original BBC footage of Wimbledon from the 70s and 80s too. Significantly higher picture quality than the American networks. It's one of the reasons that Wimbledon changed from a white ball to a yellow ball - the American networks requested it because NTSC couldn't define the ball well, whereas the PAL system could pick it up with no problem.

[@dimeshgujadhur210]

Chris using a wooden racquet and beating Navratilova with graphite. Fantastic !

[@kosta88816]

I Love Evert Matches Where She Wins And This Was Her First Australian Open 😀🙏🎾

[@malaydhar917]

Very well done Chris ! I love it ! 💚💚-BMD

[@pjesf]

Chris' preparation and footwork (even before she improved her athleticism) were so amazing that even with bad bounces on grass and/or wind the stroke would end up looking the same

[@pawshands9706]

One of my favorite of Chrissie's majors.

[@jondavwal13]

Evert was way more of a genius than people give her credit for. The angles she produced from the baseline especially going past people at the net have never been duplicated, except maybe by Seles, the only other player who could hit the ball anywhere from anywhere in the modern era. Evert skipped 15 Grand Slam Tournaments, 8 during her very peak and 3 on clay in years when she was unbeaten on clay. She would have 24 or 25 Grand Slam titles had she played them all as they do now. Yes, I know, people did not play the AO very often then but the fact remains she still skipped them. Court, who some regard as the GOAT (I don't) won it 11 times and it completely pads her resume. If Evert had been playing with graphite here, the way she was hitting, she would have blown Martina off the court.

[@tomschmitz5745]

well said and so true... evert would indeed have 24 to 25 grand slam singles titles, if not more, based on grand slams she should have won and would have been favored to have won (example 77 wimbledon for instance)...

[@jigsterify]

Jonathan Wallach well actually Jonathan most downgrade Margarets achievements but she did dominate her era more than any other player in history (highest win loss ratio in history male or female) and greatest combined haul of GS titles in history male or female and won the singles calendar year GS and the mixed calendar year GS twice. I don’t think Chrissy knew how to play doubles did she lol...I don’t say Margaret was THE goat because it’s hard to compare generations but she’s no less the goat than Chris, Martina, Steffi or Serena

[@danguee1]

Lovely to hear the birds tweeting in the background. Nice.....

[@Ed-wh8sx]

1st major where graphite racket was used. they were heavy and thin beam

[@shihlin1]

It was around this time 1982 that the Evert-Navratilova friendship hit a wall. Navratilova finally had a coach Renee Richards for the first time and there were trainers, nutritionists, etc. an entourage and so on to help Martina run at 100% efficiency. The most notable presence in Martina‘s life was pro basketball player Nancy Lieberman who acted as Martina's "trainer from hell", incorporating many WNBA training regimen to get Martina in peak physical shape. Lieberman also used mental tactics to brainwash Martina to become reconditioned to "hate" Chris, no matter what the cost. And for a while, Martina believed Lieberman. Needless to say, relations between Evert and Navratilova hit an all-time low. Luckily Lieberman did not stay at Martina's side for long and the two women parted ways. And luckily for the tennis public, her friendship with Chris resumed along with their on-court rivalry.

[@johniii8147]

They moved on from the fall out long ago in their friendship. Chris was at Martina's wedding and It was Martina that set up Chris with her 2nd husband in Aspen. It's been an enduring friendship and have great respect for each other. They understood each other in the heat of the probably like no one else could battling for so long.

[@oiooi6460]

Yea that's how Martina became the Hulk lol

[@shihlin1]

@@johniii8147 Well, according to hubby #2 Andy Mill, he slept with Chris in Martina's bed while she was away and had them use her place. Doesn't get more trusting than THAT !

[@danguee1]

WNBA training regimes ("training from hell") from the early 80s? Who are you trying to fool? Even these days, that training is pretty lightweight - can't imagine what it was 40 years ago when the game was amateur and played by a few hundred women! [Edit: I just looked it up: the WNBA was only formed in 1996 - so Lieberman can hardly have taken any regimen from 14 years in the future...So your information is bogus]

[@shihlin1]

Chris' best grass court match from the '80s. She lost the AO final the previous year to Martina in 3 close sets. You can tell Chris was really "in the zone" for this match. Looks as tho Chris is at the net more than Martina here. The fact that Martina is NOT serve and volleying on half her service games says a lot about Evert's level of play.

[@Qball30]

Great quality, watching this reminds me of slow play , it’s like players studied set play moves and executed it based on the set play. I guess today it’s faster because players change tactics during points faster ?🤷‍♂️ Awesome to see AO on grass and Martina use aluminum while Chris a wooden racket ….

[@draganplackov7343]

Two Queens 🤩

[@danguee1]

This is amazing quality. Very strangely almost 3D.....(watch it in full screen). So actual granularity is like HD but with added depth. Extraordinary.....

[@th8257]

Australia, as with most of Europe, used the PAL TV system back then. It produced noticeably higher quality pictures than the American NTSC system. You can see it in the original BBC footage of Wimbledon from the 70s and 80s too. Significantly higher picture quality than the American networks. It's one of the reasons that Wimbledon changed from a white ball to a yellow ball - the American networks requested it because NTSC couldn't define the ball well, whereas the PAL system could pick it up with no problem.

[@lightkairi096]

wow thanks for sharing this awesome tennis history ^.^ i never watched it before

[@markbarnfield8680]

Grew up watching Chrissy, all I can say is sweetness!

[@heinzconrads5243]

my favourite Chrissie-outfit

[@bojandabic3111]

Last point is fantastic

[@shihlin1]

Chris had never won the Australian, losing in the finals both times, to Goolagong in 74 and an excruciating close 3-setter to Martina the previous year in 81. Evert, perhaps heeding the advice of others, knew she had to be AGGRESSIVE from the start. It also appears to me Navratilova is not 100% sharp in this match. Look how Martina decides to serve and stay back instead of charging the net---on GRASS ! Perhaps sensing this, Evert played about as aggressive grass court tennis as we'll ever see her. She WANTED this match, her first Australian Open title to complete her career slam---winning all four grand slam singles titles (tho not in the same year). Afterwards in the press room, the media picked up on how visibly moved Evert was in completing her career slam. Chris said: "The Australian has always been the missing link. Now that link is finally joined".

[@lenwelch2195]

Both players have a definite purpose with every placement. They know why there hitting the ball to a location that they know the likely response. Trying to fool the other became pointless- when Chris felt like she had a chance to win she made her mark, when she was getting beaten badly found a way to collect as many games to give Martina as much trouble even when she knew Martina would win . Having lost the 81 AO final and winning the Open she was eager but not desperate . In first and third sets she set the pace and followed every short ball to the net . Martina for some reason couldn’t hit penetrating strokes , they floated just a bit allowing Chris to get into position . An excellent win considering the grass surface .

[@jondavwal13]

Evert and Graf are the missing link in the evolution of tennis, bridging the gap between the great serve and volleyers of the past and the power tennis of today. Navratilova is a throwback although maybe the greatest of her kind and the culmination of the serve and volleyer. Evert almost invented the modern women's game. Graf added the power to the baseline on the forehand side. The first true modern champion was Seles. Powerful off both wings, good to great serve, and able to hit the ball anywhere on the court from anywhere on the court. Evert was the most popular tennis player in history and probably the most important player in the Open era. When she was in her prime tennis was televised every week on US network television. So much talent coupled with so much charisma. Tennis was never the same after she retired.

[@michaelpatrick7888]

nicely put! i miss evert play style bc she had a "wait and see" type point construction which added an element of drama and interest to the game where as some players love to just whack the ball and finish point early ..hardly mentioned too here is my second american favorite lyndsay davenport --wow did she get better with age -she was also point construct type and not that aggressive but loved her style of gusto and topspin returns...she was very tall for a woman tennis player and i think she won a couple majors at least 5-6 --illl check now..lol take care ..:)

[@michaelpatrick7888]

@timothy chung just because someone doesn't have the slams like seles Graf hingis or evert doesn't make her a second tier,,I'm a big fan of underdogs like lindsay however on second I wouldn't even say underdog she's a fighter and she beat sete s a couple times I believe,,,

[@michaelpatrick7888]

@timothy chung what about the Spanish commentator from Miami she's about 46 now,,Mary Jo Fernandez,another gem who when you watch wonder why she didn't win alot like more than ten but she did take olympic medals home two x I think

[@kosta88816]

Chris changed the game the double handed backhand ! She was popular brought people to tennis 🎾

[@lee-annhammond6106]

If only they all played like that now😀

[@jasongreen5238]

Interesting to see Martina staying back and Chris being more aggressive here and beating her into the net. Chris had good success when she was the aggressor. Not sure why she didn’t employ this tactic more.

[@th8257]

She was very uncomfortable doing it. In lots of her interviews, she says she really regrets not working on it more, buy that she just wasn't comfortable doing it.

[@gvivo2120]

Every Lloyd was the epitome of femininity in women's tennis and yet, she was a force to be reckoned with, even for power players like Navratilova.

[@neorich59]

Watching Wimbledon in the late 70's and 80's Navratilova was more or less dominant on grass. This is probably one of the rare occasions when Evert beat her on that surface. As always, great to watch the two of them battling it out!

[@911801111801]

The truth is that you'd better research before speaking. Evert defeated Navratilova in 4 other occasions on grass courts.

[@gillwallworth528]

Always windy just like Eastbourne, quality is superb

[@lol080198]

Chris's racket was so small.... Like badminton size

[@HunterBidenCocaineBag]

That's what we had back then. It's very hard to play tennis with a wooden racket (not to mention the frame size). Evert was the best striker of the ball (although Austin is a clear 2nd) with a wooden racket. Today's players could not play with that racket. Trust me, Evert is thwacking the ball hard. It would be another whole tennis season before Evert went to graphite.

[@filosoforvgsapereaude5020]

Muy buen partido de dos grandes jugadoras

[@stevena.2306]

at 10:10 the angle on Martina's serve; incredible.

[@tomasgrimm3086]

Wow, never seen an official tennis match with so evident differences in raquets, and even more amazing is that older technology won

[@prateekagarwal2783]

90's tennis has slow speed but the technique is unbelievable.. look at the kind of shots Martina and evert are playing and their movements are phenomenal which no today's players has...except for serena..

[@jigsterify]

prateek agarwal this is 80s, Chris retired in 89

[@oiooi6460]

I wonder if this was the match that made Navroidilova look for that something extra to add to her game. All of a sudden, she became more musclebound than Schwarzenegger

[@karbethong]

A ps: does anyone have a copy of that 1982 final in Sydney between Evonne and Martina - or know of anyone who has? It would be wonderful to have that on KZbin.

[@jigsterify]

karbethong not sure about 82 but the 81 Sydney final is on Chris’ own KZbin channel chrisevertdotnet link is kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6GkdpKgiLuAh80

[@TressBraga]

This was very slippery grass, unlike in Wimbledon. From my understanding, the US Open, Australian Open, and Wimbledon were all grass court tournaments at one time.

[@angusthecat1689]

1974 was the last year the us open was on grass

[@ElectoneGuy]

Aluminum vs wood racquet.

[@jutjubow]

Chris won using a wooden racket whereas Martina already played with one made of carbon fibre!

[@ammadoux]

very beautiful.

[@tomschmitz5745]

interesting in that 1) the court looked very slippery especially for martina, but chris seemed to have no issues? 2) evert was whacking the ball throughout as opposed to a short time later when they played for the year end championship (and 1982 number #1 ranking) where she seemed not to be hitting so hard and hitting out? 3) the last time evert would beat martina until early 1985, over 2 years and 13 defeats in a row..

[@Sebastian-wz1wh]

Wow that arena looked terrible compare to the other 3 majors at the time, no wonder they tried to remove AO’s status as a grand slam event. Look at how the fortunes have turned.

[@HartonoAAgus]

I just knew if it was grass court event before

[@roter13]

all the majors (apart from the French) were on grass at some point

[@ylabr1]

Andrea Jaeger (#3 seed) watching at 9:08?

[@drugstoremarc2]

Evert is a beautiful woman

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

God how I miss the days when everyone didn't grunt, or scream, or froth at the mouth, or threaten people, or cry because they lost, or roar like Thor because they won a game. They had dignity and just put on a superlative competition. Funny, but by this time, the "mens'" game was already turning into a sad spectacle. Ironic that the women kept it together longer than the men.

[@michadrak8650]

Not offending anyone, but the judge looks like she's 80 years old. The glasses have 10 diopters. How did she see where the ball fell?

[@johncolgrave]

Martina was actually a better tennis player the older she got. Notice her staying back on grass in 1982 compared to 1984 onwards she served and volleyed all the time. That's when she became unbeatable.

[@jamesclark1682]

2 of the greatest players ever. They met more often than many may remember. In UK the press always commented on Martina using weights, gym work as a weapon against her, particularly when she came out. Utterly despicable

[@oiooi6460]

Think this defeat led to Martina Navroidilova

[@etabeta123]

one with wood and another with carbon???? very interesting

[@alexsdb9712]

Time to get back to the wood. At least get tennis back to the modern racquets, but of 80s or early-to-mid 90s technology and material. Head size too. Time for tennis to join other professional sports with their equipment regulations (racquet, ball and surface), so that it will be at a very close similar playing level for all, and we would really see who not only has the true abilities - shot selections, net skills, natural pace, ball control, court sense - but simply who are the natural talents.

[@njc84]

When did AO become a hard court event,? This looks so strange.

[@neorich59]

Till fairly recently, all Grand Slams bar the French were played on grass. That's probably why there were so many great Aussie and American Grass Court players! :O)

[@th8257]

1988

[@th8257]

@@neorich59 the US Open was last played on grass over 40 years ago in 1974. The Australian open changed over 30 years ago in 1988.

[@Paglia444]

Chris won 10 majors on clay, 5 on grass, and 3 on hard.

[@arthurgearheard4701]

Evert had a 125 Match Winning Streak on Clay! NOBODY' will probably ever accomplish such a feat REGARDLESS of Surface!

[@th8257]

Really odd match, this. Never seen Martina serve and stay back on her first serve so much. Can only assume it was an attempt at a different tactic and it backfired. Another that is noticeable is how odd the bounce was on the old courts at Kooyong. Apparently they courts were built on a slight slant for drainage, so the players were hitting the ball uphill to get it over the net

[@nordattack]

In my opinion, Chris Evert is the greatest woman tennis player in history. Her grace, lane smarts, shot building ability, purity of stroke (no one hits more pure) and mental toughness are unmatched in history. She has also won more Grand Slam titles than any player, male or female, in history. Serena by comparison is just a steroid and drug performance enhanced beast playing a game of brute force and noise. Plus, when Serena is losing, as happened this year at the US Open, she goes roid rage due to all those chemicals in her body. Chris will always be the epitome of what classic tennis is about. And note: In this match Navratilova was using a modern graphite power racket and Chris beat her with a piece of wood.

[@TheDiana1]

Nordattack, go check on the FACTS!!!. Martina won the same amount of Grand Slam singles as Chris did BUT Martina won OVER 167 MAJOR SINGLES TITLES and OVER 177 MAJOR DOUBLES TITLES quite clearly making her the greatest tennis player in history which includes 9 Grand Slam singles at the greatest tennis tournament of them all Wimbledon and that's a WORLD RECORD that will NEVER BE EQUALLED NEVER MIND BEATEN!!!. Also if you know your tennis history, through 1982 till the end of 1983, Martina had a blood disorder and lost a lot of energy very quickly and if you read Chris's autobiography, she went to the hospital a few times with Martina as at the time they didn't know what was wrong with her. In this final, it is quite clear that there's something wrong with Martina, always staying back, not chipping and charging at every opportunity and more importantly, not serving and volleying on grass!!!. Oh and finally, the figures I've quoted are FACT, you go on to any website, tennis journal or anywhere you care to mention and you'll see that these figures are TRUE and CORRECT!!!. As for Chris playing with a "bit of wood", they both did until 1982 but Chris has said she didn't start to use graphite racquets till 1983 as she felt that she had to get used to it because at first she felt that her groundstrokes were being adversely affected and she couldn't control the ball as much. They played each other 80 times with Martina winning 43 to Chris's 37. In 1984, they played each other in 13 finals and Martina won them all!!!.

[@nordattack]

I agree, Martinia is one of the best women tennis players ever in history. However, I still prefer Chris and considering she did not have the big serve or speed of foot as Martina, Chris proved she could build a point and use her mind to outsmart her opponents. Evert reached 34 Grand Slam singles finals, more than any other player in the history of professional tennis. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, the same as Martina and three doubles titles. Evert never lost in the first or second round of a Grand Slam singles tournament. Overall, Evert won 157 singles championships and 32 doubles titles.

[@TheDiana1]

nordattack, what's your point?. It doesn't matter how many Grand Slam finals you make it's about how many you win!!!. As I said, Martina won 167 singles titles and 177 doubles titles way more than any other male or female player in the history of the game!!!. In 1984, Martina won $1 million pounds for holding all four Grand Slam singles titles by beating Chris 6-2, 6-2 in Paris on clay!!!. Martina and Pam Shriver won 31 Grand Slam doubles titles and won 9 Grand Slams doubles finals IN A ROW which was 2 Grand Slams one after the other!!!. Chris Evert was an unbelievable tennis player and the greatest female returner of all time BUT Martina is the greatest female tennis player of all time without question!!!. Tennis today is all about power and the technology of the racquets you only have to look at Serena Williams and being the greatest is so much more than just how many Grand Slam Singles titles a player wins. With their amazing rivalry, both these ladies took women's tennis to a whole new level that made the whole world sit up and take notice!!!.

[@nordattack]

My point is I agree with you but I still like Chris better. ;)

[@timdown7126]

tennis looked a lot different back then i cant tell if it is good or bad different

[@aycaramba6225]

its just different.. back in the day strategy was the key ( tennis chess ) now is all about strength .

[@jigsterify]

We don't really have any serve volleyers on the womens side these days and maybe only Mischa Zverev on the mens side, and also the racquet tachnology is way better today, notice Chris is playing with a wooden racket.

[@maquipax]

I think Ivo Karlovic does serve and volley too.

[@jondavwal13]

From my perspective it is worse. I was a ranking junior in the 70s and 80s. I stopped playing for many years. 2 or 3 years ago I decided to play a little again so I tested a few rackets, bought two and then started competing a bit. I was a baseline player with great placement and consistency, decent serve, not great, wore people down back in the day. I took a few lessons with a pro who basically said "remember when you played you were to keep your wrist tight, well now just let it go and whip the racket instead." He also adjusted my grip slightly so the racket face was pointing down when I brought it back instead of parallel like I used to play. I listened to his advice and as a result I was basically superman with my new rackets. I had serious players telling me they couldn't handle my sidespin forehand or my serve. It was downright ridiculous. Yes, I'm stronger now, but not that strong. I lost a lot of respect for current players. Tennis was a game that required a brain and thought process. Geometry was really important. Not so much anymore. The power Evert has here she is generating herself. That's hard.

[@danguee1]

12:40 Imagine being forced to wear that uniform! Who the hell thought *_that_* was a good idea?!?

[@patscanlan2678]

Women today seem to be a lot more powerful,hitting the ball a lot harder.

[@a66789]

*

[@Masterdoctorgenius14]

Wimbledon? Just joking.

[@robertk2007]

Tennis should go back to wood rackets

[@nickelwindow53]

Why is AO on grass?!?

[@Przemek16l]

They couldnt afford hard ground yet xD

[@smallfire93]

This was the early years of the Open Era, where all courts were still on grass. That includes the Grand Slams.

[@nickelwindow53]

smallfire93 wow I had no ideas 🤔

[@shihlin1]

nickelwindow53 It was always on grass until 1988 when they opened the Rod Laver arena complex where it's played today. Back then it was at Kooyong Stadium in Melbourne.

[@nickelwindow53]

shihlin1 cool!!!! So if you had a grass game you had better luck there and Wimbledon to snatch two grand slams huh lol

[@Walkman0007]

wow this tourny looks way better in grass

[@arslaanpasha3334]

one was a man

[@iwnunn7999]

Looks like powder puff tennis compared to today's game.

[@tomschmitz5745]

because their playing with powder puff equipment both rackets and strings.. trust me, they are NAILING the ball and are also playing with way smaller racket heads too! both would be champions today given today's technology and learning the game and growing up with today's technology...

[@yamilcordoba3867]

Que aburrido era antes el tenis sobre todo su juego

[@janjr165]

Boring.

[@jl3322]

Chris beat the transexual Navratilova

[@frankzito8653]

Navratilova is female. And a great person. Unlike you.

[@arslaanpasha3334]

​@@frankzito8653 I dont why people have problem with a person's gender