Saw a short interview with Evert. I was sure I knew all her answers as I have heard so many, but her answer to this question surprised me a bit. I am sure it reflects a definite post career distance and her choice definitely has its own internal reasoning but it is not one that I would have picked immediately. Anyone care to guess the one match that haunts her that way now? ( if you happened to have seen/ read this interview don't be a spoiler!)
The one match Evert wishes she could replay ( as of 2015!)
- Thread starter BTURNER
- Start date
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Is it one of her losing Slam finals?
Phoenix1983
G.O.A.T.
Wimbledon 1977 semi-final? She thought she had the beating of Wade?
Just a complete guess - just from the way you worded your post, it sounds like it's not an obvious choice i.e. a slam final defeat to Navratilova.
Just a complete guess - just from the way you worded your post, it sounds like it's not an obvious choice i.e. a slam final defeat to Navratilova.
Losing to a very young Steffi Graf at Family Circle Cup or whatever the green clay Charleston tournament was at the time?
It seemed the point where Chris put her focus into a clay-court match, became completely determined not to miss in the way that she never lost a clay-court match, and still lost to some kid.
Time passes, even for the greats.
It seemed the point where Chris put her focus into a clay-court match, became completely determined not to miss in the way that she never lost a clay-court match, and still lost to some kid.
Time passes, even for the greats.
7
70sHollywood
Guest
Hmmm, this is tricky. I would also guess not a slam final with Martina. Maybe that match with Graf in the late 80's that went 3 sets, or the AO 88 final.
Moose Malloy
G.O.A.T.
No hints? Any Guesses are basically completely random otherwise. Though I like 88 AO as well. Or maybe she wishes she threw one of her matches vs Jeanne. Or 1980 Wimbledon. Or 1984 USO. Again, we may as well pick matches out of a hat since you aren't providing any clues whatsoever. No fun in that.
Also, Any reason you haven't posted about my new match stats further down the page? I recall you complaining that I didn't do enough women's matches a while back.
Also, Any reason you haven't posted about my new match stats further down the page? I recall you complaining that I didn't do enough women's matches a while back.
Alright I will give you guys a hint. It was a grass court match. I will check out those stats. I had not noticed. It is pretty rare to see women's matches with new stats but I realize its very time consuming work and you both presumably have lives outside of my whims and whines. it is also true that there is more interest in mens tennis here and that ought to be reflected.
suwanee4712
Professional
At that point in time, I would have said the 1984 US Open final. After losing it she said that it would have been the perfect match to retire on. But she had more to do! Had she won it and retired, we would've been denied the thrill of the 1985 French final and what I think of as "vintage Evert" in the last two sets of the 1986 French final. Not to mention two of my favorite matches with Martina, a win at Houston in 1987 and the 1987 Wimbledon SF loss.
So what would her answer be in 2015? I don't know. It's probably going to surprise me. I would guess the 1985 Wimbledon final because it would have meant dethroning Martina on grass at the biggest tournament in the world. And it would have been the center piece of what was an absolutely brilliant summer from Paris through the Canadian Open.
So what would her answer be in 2015? I don't know. It's probably going to surprise me. I would guess the 1985 Wimbledon final because it would have meant dethroning Martina on grass at the biggest tournament in the world. And it would have been the center piece of what was an absolutely brilliant summer from Paris through the Canadian Open.
7
70sHollywood
Guest
Ok, is it an Eastbourne thing? Maybe that absolute classic from 78. Maybe she thinks that match gave Martina a mental edge or something. Maybe too obscure.
It better not be the Wimbledon 80 final!
It better not be the Wimbledon 80 final!
Alright I guess its time. Phoenix1983 wins two tickets to https://www.mainstreet.com/slideshow/worst-tourist-attractions-america/page/6 along with one all expense paid night at the luxurious Motel 6 in McClain Texas.
Evert said the one match that she wants to replay is that 1977 Wimbledon semifinal vs Wade, for the opportunity to take on Betty Stove in the final. My take: it makes sense because she was so sure that she had Wade's number, and it represents the most obvious lost opportunity to win her coveted fourth Wimbledon.
She may not be sure that she might not still lose all those other finals, semis to Martina, King, Goolagong, regardless of how she performed her 'redo'. Those players each could reach yet a higher level in their own games. Evert was still not a sure thing to win the following rounds, if she beat Jordan in 1983, or Mandlikova in 1986. Stove was no Navratilova.
Evert has to feel that both Wade and Stove were the easiest route to improving her GOAT legacy by winning one more W. It makes sense. Wades victories over her were damn few and far between, considering the 40+ times they played and Stove only took a set.
Evert with 4 Wimdledons, 6 majors on grass, and 19 total majors looks a lot better for the addition of one likely victory and then a subsequent routine match.
Evert said the one match that she wants to replay is that 1977 Wimbledon semifinal vs Wade, for the opportunity to take on Betty Stove in the final. My take: it makes sense because she was so sure that she had Wade's number, and it represents the most obvious lost opportunity to win her coveted fourth Wimbledon.
She may not be sure that she might not still lose all those other finals, semis to Martina, King, Goolagong, regardless of how she performed her 'redo'. Those players each could reach yet a higher level in their own games. Evert was still not a sure thing to win the following rounds, if she beat Jordan in 1983, or Mandlikova in 1986. Stove was no Navratilova.
Evert has to feel that both Wade and Stove were the easiest route to improving her GOAT legacy by winning one more W. It makes sense. Wades victories over her were damn few and far between, considering the 40+ times they played and Stove only took a set.
Evert with 4 Wimdledons, 6 majors on grass, and 19 total majors looks a lot better for the addition of one likely victory and then a subsequent routine match.
Last edited:
Mainad
Bionic Poster
She wants another chance to stop poor Ginny winning her only Wimbledon title? What a greedy *****!!!"
Incidentally, it's funny she should pick that Wimbledon semi though. Sue Barker is another player who would dearly love to have another crack in the other semi at that event. She was the obvious favourite to beat Stove and make her first final at SW19. It should have been an all-British affair and the British press were practically salivating at the prospect but she inexplicably lost to Betty. She said she felt so ashamed that she couldn't bear to watch Ginny win the final!
Last edited:
She wants another chance to stop poor Ginny winning her only Wimbledon title? What a greedy *****!!!"
Incidentally, it's funny she should pick that Wimbledon semi though. Sue Barker is another player who would dearly love to have another crack in the other semi at that event. She was the obvious favourite to beat Stove and make her first final at SW19. It should have been an all-British affair and the British press were practically salivating at the prospect but she inexplicably lost to Betty. She said she felt so ashamed that she couldn't bear to watch Ginny win the final!
Playing in a professional tennis tournament rarely brought out a sweet sentimental side in Christine Evert. I think I can still find plenty of witnesses to so attest.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Lol...I don't doubt that at all but she isn't even playing! She's only reminiscing about what might have been. Everybody else still pats Ginny Wade on the back for that 1 Wimbledon win (well, they do here in the UK anyway) and here's 3 time Wimbledon champ and 18 time Grand Slam champ Chrissie E. still bemoaning the one that got away almost 40 years later!!
Lol...I don't doubt that at all but she isn't even playing! She's only reminiscing about what might have been. Everybody else still pats Ginny Wade on the back for that 1 Wimbledon win (well, they do here in the UK anyway) and here's 3 time Wimbledon champ and 18 time Grand Slam champ Chrissie E. still bemoaning the one that got away almost 40 years later!!
To be fair, she wasn't really 'bemoaning' and I don't think she 'begrudges' Wade the victory, so much as she feels she could have done more in that semi. She was directly asked the question. She just answered it. She has done a pretty good job at putting her tennis playing years in perspective and moving on. It does mean she has given the question some thought though.
CEvertFan
Hall of Fame
I'll certainly say her choice is interesting but not what I thought it would be - I would have guessed the 84 US Open final - she was sooo close to winning that one and I think it's probably the match that stings the most for her deep down inside or at least it is one of the most stinging losses of her career. She really played so well that day.
See that is the difference that 30 years and a more careful take on the question brings. Its not about frustration or avoiding that sting or even a feeling of exaltation now. This is not an emotionally driven response. Its simple but clinical. Just replaying a match does not ensure winning it, especially against an opponent like Martina. She wants to be pretty damn sure that the one she picks play over will result in a major not just more inspired play by her opponent , and she prefers that major be another Wimbledon to best improve her legacy. Evert does not need a seventh Open or an eight RG as bad. Chris evidently does not feel that Wade had any more gears to shift into that could stop her if Chrissie really put her grit into that win. She says that the crowd was on Wade's side and she felt deflated.
If that is the standard, the answer makes absolute sense in that it may have been the most 'changeable' match with the strongest possibility of a tangible improvement in the weak link.
Here is the link. By the way, you also get to hear about the Kooyung goat and the Australian flies.
Last edited:
Mainad
Bionic Poster
What was the nature of Austin's animosity?
Vision
Banned
When she was a young teen and had Evert as an idol, Chris refusd to sign her an autograph, apparently that hurt her inside.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Well I guess that taught Chris a lesson. It must have given Tracy great satisfaction to stop her run of 5 US Open titles in her maiden Slam win!
Last edited:
suwanee4712
Professional
I'm very surprised at that answer from Chris give how many times I've heard her comments on her 3 Wimbledon titles in relation to some of her other grand slam titles. To me, her implication was always that she didn't beat Martina or Billie Jean for any of those titles. She had the odd final vs. Morozova, the more satisfying win over Evonne, and the rout of Hana. Maybe I incorrectly read that into her comments. But, if I'm right, then beating Virginia and Betty for a 4th title wouldn't help that situation.
There is the possibility that she feels that her other Wimbledon losses were more justified in terms of how she was playing, or the quality of play from her opponents were just too good. She certainly did the best that she could under difficult circumstances in 1983 against Jordan. Or maybe she just feels differently now?
To me, the ultimate at Wimbledon would be to beat Martina for or on the way to a title. She accomplished every significant achievement there was to achieve in the game save a grand slam. However, a nitpicker like me sometimes thinks about how satisfying Martina's 1984 French Open win over Chris was given that Chris is the greatest female French Open player of all time. Chris doesn't have that equivalent win over Martina for a Wimbledon title.
There is the possibility that she feels that her other Wimbledon losses were more justified in terms of how she was playing, or the quality of play from her opponents were just too good. She certainly did the best that she could under difficult circumstances in 1983 against Jordan. Or maybe she just feels differently now?
To me, the ultimate at Wimbledon would be to beat Martina for or on the way to a title. She accomplished every significant achievement there was to achieve in the game save a grand slam. However, a nitpicker like me sometimes thinks about how satisfying Martina's 1984 French Open win over Chris was given that Chris is the greatest female French Open player of all time. Chris doesn't have that equivalent win over Martina for a Wimbledon title.
the problem is that if she 'replays' that match with Martina, and she still loses, she wasted it. Evert, more than anyone alive, knows how often her very best still was not good enough to take Navratilova down on those English grass courts. She does not think it likely that this Wade 'replay' will lead to anything other than that fourth Wimbledon.
This is not an emotional question to her. Its a risk/benefit analysis. She is not willing to risk losing a potential fourth Wimbledon title AGAIN, by taking on a riskier task. Beating Wade and Stove back to back, is less risky than playing Martina once.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Nor for a US Open title. Those were the 2 Slams she could never beat Martina at in a final.
7
70sHollywood
Guest
It's amazing how many of the Evert/Nav slam finals went to 3 sets, and hardly any of them were blow-outs. Pretty much any of those Chris could have won. Being an Evert fan back in the 80's must have been agony.
Vision
Banned
There was a video around here on the WTA anniversary party.It tells it all.Well I guess that taught Chris a lesson. It must have given Tracy great satisfaction to take away her run of 4 US Open titles in her maiden Slam win!
Mainad
Bionic Poster
I'd love to see that video.
Phoenix1983
G.O.A.T.
I'm booking my flights to Texas as we speak!
Well that was quite a lucky guess - but I do agree that Evert would surely have beaten Stove in the final. Of course, we don't know how the rest of tennis history would have played out, if that'd been the case, so who knows if Chris would have ended up with 19 slams in that alternate reality...?
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
While commentating on the RG final a few weeks ago she mentioned the '73 final that she lost to Margaret Court and that she was a couple of points away from winning but choked so I'm guessing it's probably that one.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Made me laugh out loud mate.She wants another chance to stop poor Ginny winning her only Wimbledon title? What a greedy *****!!!"
as a fan I would say the 1984 US open. That was a huge disappointment for this fan.
So I'm surprised that she picked the 77 semifinal.
That said,I came out of lurkerdom to say the negative posts often devolve into misogyny. I assume that evert abused these posters' pets when they were children.
So I'm surprised that she picked the 77 semifinal.
That said,I came out of lurkerdom to say the negative posts often devolve into misogyny. I assume that evert abused these posters' pets when they were children.
suwanee4712
Professional
From a risk standpoint, I can understand her choosing that match. As you said, it would have been a less risky choice in adding another slam to her resume, especially given that it would be another Wimbledon title.
I normally rooted for Martina in their matches, but I have to admit that I got caught up in the thrill of Chris' 1985 French win, and I would've been happy to see her win that year's Wimbledon too. I do believe that I'm going to have to dig up that 1985 Wimbledon final and re-watch it. It's been a while since I've seen it.
I would also say that a loss of that Wimbledon title would've been a rather large blow to Virginia's prestige as a tennis champion. She would still hold US and Australian titles, but as they say, winning Wimbledon cures all. And I'm glad that Virginia did win that title with a win over another Wimbledon champion in the semis. It makes up for some other missed opportunities that she had.
Hell even I as one of the staunch Evert fans, would not want anyone but Ginny to win that one. LOl, Evert can have any title but that one. The Tennis fates decreed that Wade should come out of her aging fog and swing her way to victory on the centennial year. The Brits just deserved it too much for all those years of drought. Its sacrilege on par with yanking Noah's RG title.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Mind you, we used to think of Chrissie as 'almost a Brit' while she was married to John Lloyd. A bit like the 'Aussie Kim' phenomenon Down Under while Clijsters was still engaged to Hewitt!
But then they split up...sigh!
MLRoy
Hall of Fame
She and Ginny weren't exactly the best of friends so I don't think it was for "shame". ;pShe wants another chance to stop poor Ginny winning her only Wimbledon title? What a greedy *****!!!"
Incidentally, it's funny she should pick that Wimbledon semi though. Sue Barker is another player who would dearly love to have another crack in the other semi at that event. She was the obvious favourite to beat Stove and make her first final at SW19. It should have been an all-British affair and the British press were practically salivating at the prospect but she inexplicably lost to Betty. She said she felt so ashamed that she couldn't bear to watch Ginny win the final!
MLRoy
Hall of Fame
I don't know about that. Ginny is one of the few Evert doesn't seem to like. I remember several "thanks, Virginia"s over the years in that sarcastic tone. I would have guessed her first Wimbledon final(?) where BJK beat her love & one.
The other day, did you hear Chris and "Pammy" strolling down memory lane about THAT Wimbledon?! "Pammy" (aka Mrs. James Bond) called that "Virginia Wade's Wimbledon", and Chris was loudly silent. Thanks, Virginia. ;p
Given that the question was which match Chris wishes she could replay, I'm not that surprised she mentioned the Wade Wimbledon semi. It was one of those occasions that I think Chris took the result for granted.
As the #1 seed and defending champion, I think she felt Billie Jean and Martina were her biggest obstacles tot he title. evert met King in the QF. It was King's first singles appearance at Wimbledon since she dethroned Evert in 1975, having "retired" from singles competition after winning the title in 1975. Chris was very keyed up to play and beat Billie Jean that year. With the confidence of a second Wimbledon title, more years at #1, and the fact that Billie Jean was still on the comeback trail, she knew she should Billie. And she did, comprehensively, 6-1,6-2! With Martina losing to Betty Stove in the QF, Chris thought it was a foregone conclusion she would win the title. And she had a letdown vs. Our Ginny in the SF.
I read comments from Chris that she admitted to the letdown, and that she was a bit stung by the crowd reaction - against her - and it impacted her. That was a rare occurrence for Chris, to let the crowd or outside factors affect her play and the result of the match. It's true that Chris owned Virginia during their career. But one detail Chris forgot about was that in June of 1977, Virginia had split their previous 4 matches. Wade crushed Evert 6-2,6-2 indoors in London in November 1976. And Virginia also beat Chris in straight sets in the 1977 VS of San Francisco, semifinals. Virginia was coming into her own as a player, and actually at her most consistent and peak form heading into Wimbledon. (Virginia's chief Wimbledon nemesis Evonne Goolagong missed that year due to giving birth, and I believe that contributed to Virginia's confident mood that year.) While Virginia tended to fold often at Wimbledon under the enormous weight of expectations, Chris should not have underestimated Wade.
Two other factors influenced the 1977 Wimbledon semi between Evert and Wade. One was the 3R match between Evert and Tracy Austin, their first ever meeting. As soon as the draw was announced, Evert admitted she was nervous for that match. A big mistake for her, not only to be nervous, but to admit it. She won the match, but wasted too much emotional energy on what was a relatively easy 3R win. Chris played very patchy in her next match against Greer Stevens, struggling to win 8-6,8-6. And as I mentioned previously, the QF with Billie Jean was the one Chris really got up for her. Chris simply had a letdown - something rare for her - in the SF. Which is why I am sure she regrets having the letdown and losing out on an opportunity for another Wimbledon title. And while I don't think Betty would have beaten Chris in the finals, don't forget that 2 years prior, in the QF, when Stove wasn't playing at as high a level or with as much confidence as she was in 1977, she nearly beat Chris on the grass at Wimbledon, barely losing 5-7,7-5,7-5. Betty also pushed Chris in their US Open semi on clay a few months after Wimbledon in 1977, so I don't think a Chris over Betty in the Wimbledon final would have been an absolute forgeone conclusion either.
1977 was also the Wimbledon centenary, and Queen Elizabeth's jubilee, so there was a lot of celebration and British sentiment that year. I think Chris may have been a bit sidetracked by that, and was all a part of why she lost a match she could have won, especially since she rallied from losing the first set rather easily. But if you watch that match, it's evident that Chris was nervous from the start, and was simply outplayed, even from the baseline, by Miss Wade. I know it still stings Chris, but it did happen on very rare occasions.
PS - if Chris was "loudly silent" when 1977 was referred to as 'Virginia Wade's Wimbledon', she should have been. Because it WAS Wade's Wimbledon, not Evert's. Chris may still be bitter, and could point to her gazillion romps over Our Ginny. But she didn't do it in 1977, and there is no sense in being bitter about it now. If anything, Chris should be bitter about losing the 1979 and 1984 US Open finals. She should have won both of those matches.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Last edited:
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Virginia Wade is highly complimentary about Evert to this day. And when Evert talks about being pleased she played when she did, she invariably mentions Wade in the group of her contemporaries (& she includes Borg, Connors and McEnroe).
I'm sure I mentioned on another thread that Evert was devastated by this loss and was debunked..
Anyway, had I seen this thread earlier this match would have been my guess.
And as an Evert fan I would never deny Wade this title. Rule Britannia
I'm sure I mentioned on another thread that Evert was devastated by this loss and was debunked..
Anyway, had I seen this thread earlier this match would have been my guess.
And as an Evert fan I would never deny Wade this title. Rule Britannia
Just to let you know: Chris Evert DOES have a win over Martina at Wimbledon, the 1976 semi final, 6-3 4-6 6-4. Of course, that was a little before Martina developed into a truly great player, but still, Chris has a Wimbledon win over Martina and she then went on to beat Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the final, of course.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Also beat Navratilova in semi, Wimbledon 1980, then went on to lose to Cawley - the first ever Wimbledon title decided on a tiebreak.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
What a great post.
D
Deleted member 735320
Guest
3 Wimbledons(74,76,81) 2 Aussies(82,84) for 5 majors on grass
D
Deleted member 735320
Guest
two wins over MN:76 semis and 80 semis
Yeah, I've said that later. See above.
D
Deleted member 735320
Guest
She should have a lot to pick from:
73 French, 81 French, 82 French; 75 W, 77 W, 78 W, 80 W; 84 US,
73 French, 81 French, 82 French; 75 W, 77 W, 78 W, 80 W; 84 US,
