Jennifer Capriati has been one of the best WTA players in the history of tennis. So back in 1994, when she made her decision to quit tennis and go back to school, it shocked the world. Among the people who were caught off-guard by her sudden decision were her fans and seasoned tennis players alike. Chris Evert too found it hard to believe that Capriati would renounce all the fame and decide to live a normal life.

Looking back at an interview from January 1994, Chris Evert talked to Charlie Rose about what she thinks of Capriati’s bold decision. Capriati had always looked up to Evert as her role model. On account of her magnificent success at such a young age, she would be called the next Evert. However, her career as a tennis prodigy was short-lived owing to various reasons both on and off the court.

Chris Evert talks about Jennifer Capriati making a “courageous” decision

In the first three minutes of the interview, Rose asked, “I want to talk about tennis today.” He hits the nail on the head,  “Are you surprised by Capriati? Her decision to leave the tour.”

Evert seems a little taken aback as she said, “I’m…I’m a little surprised that she has been away this long. I thought originally after the US Open she said she had an elbow injury. She’s gonna take a little bit of time off. I thought she’ll be back in January. I thought okay, the girl wants to take three months off, that’s her privilege.”

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‘Debilitating and Damaging’ – A Devastated Chris Evert Once Revealed How Jennifer Capriati’s Depression Was Due to Over-Hyped Fans and Media

However, voicing her then-current concerns, Evert reflected, “I thought she would be back in January to play in the Australian Open, and now…now I’m not quite sure she’s gonna come back, period.”

Capriati was then debating leaving the tour permanently to finish school. She wanted to go back and do all the things teenage girls did. Evert said, “Because she’s saying, “Well, you know maybe I want to go to college. I definitely want to finish high school before I start playing again.” But she might wanna go to college.”

While Evert and Capriati have always been close, Evert reveals what she really thought of this decision. She said, “Jennifer, for 17 years old it’s a very courageous decision, I think.”

Chris also confessed how she did not come to this stance at once. Surely for a great tennis player, seeing her successor drop the racket is painful. “I mean in the beginning, I didn’t think so but now I’m thinking, this girl wants to be a normal girl, and she’s snubbing her nose to the money and to the fame and maybe even her parents, you know, maybe rebelling a little bit. But she wants to be a happy normal kid,” she added.

Capriati and Evert have always been close as Capriati’s coach was Evert’s father. Evert recalled fond moments with Capriati both on and off the court on several occasions.

Jennifer’s tennis career post-1994

Ultimately Jennifer did not quit her career in 1994 permanently. She went on to make a striking comeback in 1996. She did not play a single match in 1995. However, the time off did her good as she was named the WTA Comeback Player of the Year in ’96.

She hit a rough patch from 1995 to 2000 but scripted history from then on. She went on to become the World No 1, winning three Grand Slam titles.

Watch this story – Chris Evert looks back at her astounding rivalry with Martina Navratilova and the negative impact of her 13-match losing streak