"Chris Evert has a glass of wine, she tells the dirtiest jokes" - Martina Navratilova on American's not so-'prim and proper' side

Martina Navratilova has laid bare the unreserved and unfiltered side of yesteryear rival and present-day friend Chris Evert; a side to the 18-time Major singles winner that surprised her when they first started to get to know each other. Navratilova and Evert were the dominant forces in women's tennis across the 1970s and 1980s. However, the once fierce rivals are today the closest of friends, and have even helped each other through their respective battles with cancer.

2024 marks Evert's 50-year Wimbledon anniversary. The American's first taste of success at SW19 came in 1974, shortly after her first-ever Grand Slam title at the French Open. Evert came out on top against Olga Mozorova in the final, winning 6-0, 6-4 and ending the legendary Billie Jean King's two-year reign as the Wimbledon women's singles champion. She would win the title again in 1976 and then once more in 1981.

Navratilova, a nine-time champion at SW19, in a recent admission to the media at Wimbledon 2024, recalled the phase when she and Evert started to develop a bond. According to the Czech-American, she had initially perceived Evert as a very shy and reserved person. However, she revealed that it "a glass of wine" was all it took to transform the three-time Wimbledon winner's personality. Navratilova also said that Evert, once loosened up, would crack the "dirtiest jokes".

"Chris seemed so prim and proper. But then she has a glass of wine, she’s a different person. She tells the dirtiest jokes. Nobody knows. I still remember some of them," Navratilova said.

Martina Navratilova had invited Chris Evert to take part in the 2024 French Open women's singles trophy presentation ceremony

Navratilova was chosen to present the 2024 French Open women's singles runner-up and winner's trophies. However, upon realizing that this year marks 50 years since Evert won the first of her women's tennis record seven singles titles at Roland Garros, the Czech-American invited Evert to take part in proceedings as well.

Later, Evert took to X (formerly Twitter) to acknowledge Navratilova's kind gesture, writing:

"So, I presented the Roland Garros winner's trophy last year, @martina was asked to present this year. Since it was the 50th Anniversary of my first win, she asked me if I would join her in presenting...Generous and thoughtful, that's my friend Martina!"

Evert and Navratilova were a formidable doubles pairing as well, with the duo winning the women's doubles titles at the 1975 French Open and the 1976 Wimbledon Championships.