Chris Evert, a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States, carved out a career defined by extraordinary consistency and Grand Slam success. Her remarkable ability to consistently reach the deepest stages of major tournaments set her apart in the history of professional tennis. Evert's career win percentage in singles matches, an astounding 90.05% (1309–145), stands as the best in the history of the sport, for both men and women.
This unparalleled record underscores her enduring presence at the top of the game for many years.
A Grand Slam Fixture: Semifinals and Beyond
Evert's Grand Slam record is particularly striking for her consistent advancement to the semifinals or better. Out of the 56 Grand Slams she played, she reached the semifinals or better in an astonishing 52 of them. This includes an incredible streak of 34 consecutive Grand Slams played from the 1971 U.S. Open through the 1983 French Open where she reached at least the semifinals. This level of sustained performance at the highest echelons of the sport is a testament to her skill, mental fortitude, and strategic play. She never once lost in the first or second round of a Grand Slam singles tournament, a feat that highlights her consistent readiness and ability to overcome early challenges.
Her Grand Slam journey began at age 16 at the 1971 US Open, where she received an invitation after winning the national sixteen-and-under championship. After an easy straight-sets win in the first round, she faced American No. 4 Mary-Ann Eisel in the second. Evert saved six match points, with Eisel at one point serving at 6–4, 6–5, 40–0 in the second set, before coming back to win 4–6, 7–6, 6–1. She made two further comebacks from a set down against Françoise Dürr and Lesley Hunt, before losing in straight sets to Billie Jean King in the semifinals. This defeat ended a 46-match winning streak built up through a variety of professional and junior tour events, but it marked the beginning of her incredible Grand Slam consistency.
Record-Breaking Final Appearances and Titles
Evert's consistency extended to Grand Slam finals, where she made 34 appearances, more than any other player, male or female, in the history of professional tennis. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. Her success on clay courts was particularly notable, with a career winning percentage of 94.05% (316–20) on that surface, which remains a WTA record. This dominance on clay contributed significantly to her numerous French Open titles.
Her first Grand Slam title came at the French Open in 1974, where she defeated her friend Olga Morozova in the final 6–1, 6–2. Morozova's net approaches were often thwarted by Evert's effective passing shots and lobs. Evert also won her first Grand Slam doubles title at this event, partnering with Morozova. In 1975, she won her first of four consecutive US Open titles, a record for the Open Era. This was also the first US Open played on clay, a surface where Evert excelled. She defeated Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the final, coming back from a set down. Her 299 Grand Slam singles match wins rank as the third best in the Open Era, further solidifying her place as one of the most successful players in the sport's history.
Milestones and Memorable Victories
Throughout her career, Evert achieved numerous milestones and memorable victories. In 1976, she set a record for the fewest games lost by a Grand Slam champion in the Open Era at the US Open, losing only 12 games during the entire tournament. She later called 1976 "the best year of my life." In 1982, she completed the Career Grand Slam by winning her first Australian Open title, defeating Martina Navratilova in a rematch of the previous year's final. This title was deeply significant to Evert, who stated, "I have wanted this tournament so badly. Then it was over and I had won it... it was a very emotional moment for me because this title meant so much... the Australian title has been the missing link in my career. I am not thinking about retiring, but I would have hated to look back in 10 years and see something missing from my career."
In 1984, Evert became the first player in the Open Era to win 1,000 matches during the Australian Open. One of her most satisfying wins came at the 1985 French Open, where she defeated Martina Navratilova in a match often considered one of the greatest women's matches of all time. This victory, which reclaimed her World No. 1 ranking, was particularly meaningful after a string of four major final losses against Navratilova. Evert's ability to maintain such a high level of play and achieve these significant victories over nearly two decades underscores her exceptional talent and enduring legacy in tennis.
