‘Going to Catholic School for 12 Years..’ – Chris Evert’s Admission on How a Strict Childhood Turned Out to Be a Blessing in Disguise for Her

Former American star Chris Evert is among the most respected personalities in tennis. The 67-year-old has served the sport for a long. While she is undoubtedly one of the best tennis players of all time, her tennis analysis is on point too. Evert retired in 1989 with 18 Grand Slam titles to her name. During her playing days, she used to be very serious and focused on her game.

However, despite the common rhetoric, the former world number 1 once quashed such claims and revealed that she has a fun side, too. Here’s what she said about the impact of a strict upbringing.

Evert on the impact of studying in a catholic school

Back in 1990, a year after her retirement, the 18-time Grand Slam champion appeared in an interview. Here she looked back at her career and talked in detail about her upbringing and personality.

Talking about the catholic school’s impact, the former world number 1 said, “Going to catholic school for 12 years, this sort of suppresses you a little bit.”

Read more: ‘You’re Playing Like a Dog’- Chris Evert’s Brutally Honest Example of Martina Navratilova Paints a Gloomy Picture of Next-Gen Players’ Sensitivity to Criticism

Further, she revealed how tennis helped her discover her actual self. “I think after when I joined the tour full time, I had free time, and I just got to be myself and I told my parents at 19 please stay home I’d like to do this on my own I want to have my independence and that’s when I started to find my own personality and my own niche and I tell a lot of dirty jokes. I can’t help it,” she added.

Evert’s stoic and composed nature on and off the court during her playing days got her the name ‘Ice Maiden’. Her rivalry with the outspoken Navratilova also helped solidify her position as the calm one in the rivalry. Although Evert has quashed such claims after her retirement, many of her fans still associate her to the name.

Chris Evert on having strict parents

Apart from her school, Evert also had restrictions at her home. In the same interview, the 67-year-old spoke about the strict upbringing she had experienced. Speaking specifically about her father, the legend recalled that he enjoyed working hard and expected the same from his kids. However, Evert believes that working hard helped her become a better tennis player.

Further, talking about her mother, the former world number 1 revealed that she was more like a balancer. She was the one who would convince her dad to let them have some fun as well.

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With the perfect balance of fun and discipline, Evert became one of the greatest players of all time. If we take a look back today, her parents did play a pivotal part in helping her become a legend in the tennis world.