When Navratiliova was at her best, maybe part due to how great Martina was at that point, partly due to the matchup, partly due to Evert maybe stagnant for awhile, Evert wasn't even a very tough opponent for her awhile. Ultimately I look at 82-87 and I see a pretty easy ride for Martina overall. When I look at Chris's career and I look at the 70s/start of 80s people she faced, and then having to face peak god mode Martina for many years after that, it is night and day contrast.
Here is
the last leg of the rivalry, after Evert broke through the mental and physical barrier that Martina had become from late '82 through late '84 in Key Biscayne in the beginning of '85. through to their last match. I think it finally crystallizes and reflects the patterns and the totality of their rivalry in a way prior periods did not.
1985 Key Biscayne, FL F W 6-2, 6-4
1985 Lipton/Delray Beach, FL F L 6-2, 6-4
1985 Dallas, TX F L 6-3, 6-4
1985 French Open F W 6-3, 6-7, 7-5
1985 Wimbledon F L 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
1985 Australian Open F L 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
1986 Dallas, TX F L 6-2, 6-1
1986 French Open F W 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
1986 Los Angeles, CA F L 7-6, 6-3
1987 Houston, TX F W 3-6, 6-1, 7-6
1987 French Open SF L 6-2 6-2
1987 Wimbledon SF L 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
1987 Los Angeles, CA SF W 6-2, 6-1
1987 Filderstadt, Germany F L 7-5, 6-1
1988 Australian Open SF W 6-2, 7-5
1988 Houston, TX F W 6-0, 6-4
1988 Wimbledon SF L 6-1, 4-6, 7-5
1988 Filderstadt, Germany F L 6-2, 6-3
1988 Chicago, IL F L 6-2, 6-2
19 meetings 5 clay, 6 hard, 4 grass, 5 on indoor carpet
12 wins for Martina to 7 wins for Evert. Martina won the carpet meetings with ease all in straights. Martina won the grass meetings always being taken to three hard fought sets. On hard courts it is virtually a dead heat ( Evert has won one more here, but Martina has won one or two more throughout the full rivalry.Evert won the overwhelming number of clay meetings with Martina winning only one of 5 but driving her deep into the third more often than not.