WTA legend Chris Evert is always happy to hype up her counterparts- even if they were her rivals on the court. Recently, she made her stance clear on the whole GOAT debate- and interestingly enough, she did not side with Martina Navratilova or Serena Williams! She instead went with another WTA hall-of-Famer, who is undoubtedly an inspiration to millions of women, worldwide.
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After Andre Agassi’s daughter paid a tribute to her mother’s legacy a few days back, Chris Evert follows suit, praising the 22-time Grand Slam champion. As per usual, Chrissie’s fans have flooded the comment section with their wholesome memories of watching the German tennis player slay her opponents on the court. Needless to say, Serena and Navratilova’s fans were quick to mention the legacies of their respective idols in the comments!
Chris Evert stans Steffi Graf leaving out Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, and Margaret Court!
Yes, Evert is in awe of Steffi Graf! In reply to a recent fan tweet that specifically asks her to recount Graf’s legacy, Evert has an interesting reply. The tennis enthusiast argues that completing a calendar slam is one of the biggest achievements one can have on the court. If any tennis player were to achieve this feat, their fans would undoubtedly react “very strongly”. Graf owned this legacy in 1988 and topped it with an Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. Evert remembers the legend fondly in her reply.
She says, “I feel the Majors, especially winning all 4 Majors in one Calendar year, are more important/ newsworthy in today’s game. It’s too bad, so many other stats are important. To me, Graf is a #goat.”
I feel the Majors, especially winning all 4 Majors in one Calendar year, are more important/ newsworthy in today’s game. It’s too bad, so many other stats important. To me, Graf is a #goat.
@ChrissieEvert hi Chrissie, do you remember how the tennis world and i guess the world at large reacted to grafs 1988 campaign? I feel like if someone completed a calendar slam today everyone would react very strongly and i was wondering if that was also the case at the time
While Graf’s daughter herself hails her mother as the greatest of all time, Evert’s reply makes it clear that she was not just playing favorites.
With this, Evert leaves no room for doubt as to who is her favorite candidate for the GOAT title.
What do the fans have to say?
Shortly after Evert’s post, tennis fans swarmed in with their comments, praising Graf.
Thank you for your insight, i very much agree!!
Also Graf’s consecutive weeks at number one: 377! No one else even comes close.
A fan points out that Serena and Navratilova both have won consecutive Grand Slams. Just as the GOAT debate is supposed to, Evert’s tweet fuelled reactions from Navratilova fans too who argue that with 167 titles and 59 Grand Slams, she is the real GOAT.
Steffi in my view stands alongside Serena and Margaret Court in the next group below Martina, who undoubtedly stands alone at the top with her unrivalled career record, 167 career titles is just extraordinary.
Completely agree, and the fact that Graf won Olympic gold that year was icing on the cake for an incredible season.
Both Steffi Graf and Serena Williams retired at the peak of their careers on the court. A fan commented how both these legends could have played for the pinnacle “at least once”.
As the GOAT debate continues for both ATP and WTA icons alike, it becomes increasingly difficult for fans to take one single stance- given how players keep revamping their own legacies every day. While opinions surely differ on who should be considered the GOAT of tennis, Graf’s career achievements, longevity at the top, and impact on the sport make her a strong contender for the title.
WATCH THIS STORY: Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer.
Who is your GOAT? Let us know in the comments!