“Well, God, probably the most challenging thing that I have had in my life has been probably worrying about how people perceive me,” said Chris Evert during a conversation with Craig Gabriel of We Are Tennis. She came into the world’s notice as early as when she was 15 years old. Back then, the world had certain expectations of her—those that came with a whole list of ‘Don’ts’. “It’s not an easy thing to be famous and successful when you haven’t developed your personality or your character yet at 15, 16 years old,” she added. She is seventy now and knows better. Things have changed. Fifteen-year-old stars have more support now. They have parents telling them they can be anything they want. 

Evert has kids of her own, too—three boys. She refers to them as “the best thing about being Christ Evert”. But for all the things that have changed, one thing has remained constant. She is still loved by her fans. When you’ve won 18 Grand Slam titles, been the world no. 1, and have won 125 consecutive matches on clay well before the advent of Rafael Nadal, you’d expect that. But sometimes, that love and that fandom can encroach upon some mother-son time. Her enduring popularity recently sparked a humorous and heartfelt moment, as her son shared why traveling with his legendary mom presents unique challenges, proof that her star still shines brightly off the court.

Moments ago, her son, Alexander Mill took to IG stories to share a delightful fan moment involving his legendary mother, Chris Evert. While at the airport, two fans recognized Evert and eagerly approached her for autographs. As she graciously signed photos for them, her elder son captured the moment and added a humorous caption to the clip: “Can’t go anywhere with this woman 😂,” tagging his mother in the post. The candid moment perfectly captured the enduring admiration fans still hold for the tennis icon.

For those unfamiliar, Chris Evert met her 2nd husband, former Olympic skier Andy Mill, through her best friend and once rival Martina Navratilova. The two married in 1988 and had 3 sons over their 18-year marriage. Their eldest, Alexander Mill, was born in 1991, followed by Nicholas in 1994 and Colton Jack in 1996. Alexander, now a fitness coach and CrossFit enthusiast, once pursued skateboarding and has consistently stood by his mother, especially during her courageous battle with cancer.

In December 2023, the tennis icon revealed that her cancer had returned, just months after celebrating her remission. Throughout this difficult journey, Alexander has remained a steadfast source of strength and support, further deepening the bond they share in family. The recent fan interaction at the airport is just another reminder of Evert’s widespread impact and her family’s love.

Moreover, these days, Chris Evert is more often seen with a microphone in hand, lending her expert analysis to tennis broadcasts. Recently, she shared her thoughts on the upcoming 2025 French Open, expressing skepticism about Iga Swiatek’s chances while citing her recent struggles as a potential hurdle to victory.

“We’re seeing her C game right now,” Chris Evert reflected on the chances of Iga Swiatek chances of winning Roland Garros

When it comes to Roland Garros, Chris Evert’s legacy is unmatched as she’s a 7-time champion on French clay. Comparatively, Iga Swiatek has already amassed five Grand Slam titles, with an impressive four of them coming in the French Open. Evert has previously voiced her admiration for Iga’s dominance on clay, once saying, “I’m worried about it every day. When I put my head under the pillow I’m worried about Iga. I think Iga will end up on double digits. I don’t just think she will beat my record here. I think it’s double digits.”

Evert’s praise didn’t stop there, though. After Swiatek’s 2023 Roland Garros win, she drew comparisons between Iga and tennis icons like Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Martina Navratilova, highlighting her relentless hunger for greatness. However, heading into the 2025 edition of Roland Garros, Swiatek’s current form raises some concerns.

So far this year, Swiatek holds a 27-9 win-loss record and is yet to lift a title. Reflecting on that dip, Evert recently offered her outlook for the upcoming French Open, while admitting uncertainty: “I don’t know how you can pick anybody between [Aryna] Sabalenka, Iga, and Coco, and with Madison Keys, really to me would be my fourth pick.  I just don’t know how Iga is going to react. That, to me, is the unknown. We know what she is capable of, and with her past records, she’s brilliant at the French Open, but I just don’t know if she can find her A game, because she’s going to need it. It’s kind of like we’re seeing her C game right now.”

Do you agree with Evert’s analysis? Or do you think another French Open title is on the cards for Iga? Share your thoughts below!