Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert, known as Chris Evert-Lloyd from 1979 to 1987, is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships and three doubles titles. She was the year-ending World No. 1 singles player in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1981. Overall Evert won 157 singles championships and 32 doubles titles...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth21 December 1954
CityFort Lauderdale, FL
CountryUnited States of America
She's great for the game. She has that combination of glamour and hard work ethic, ... I think her motives are pure as far as, it means more to her to win tennis tournaments than to be on the cover of a magazine.
The great high of winning Wimbledon lasts for about a week. You go down in the record book, but you don't have anything tangible to hold on to. But having a baby -- there isn't any comparison.
When I was younger, I was a robot. Wind her up and she plays tennis.
There were times when deep down inside I wanted to win so badly I could actually will it to happen. I think most of my career has been based on desire.
A champion hates to lose even more than she loves to win.
Losses are always a relief. They take a burden off me, make me feel more normal. If I win several tournaments in a row I get so confident I'm in a cloud. If I lose I go back to the dressing room and I'm no better nor worse than anyone else. A loss gets me eager again.
In tennis, at the end of the day you're a winner or a loser. You know exactly where you stand.... I don't need that anymore. I don't need my happiness, my well-being, to be based on winning and losing.
If I win several tournaments in a row, I get so confident I'm in a cloud. A loss gets me eager again.
Every time I played a pro from then on, I never felt intimidated or felt like there was such a big gap. I always felt like there's no pressure.
Even though there are a lot of bright tennis players out there, you still have to protect yourself and save all your mental and emotional energies for tennis.
Billie Jean and I have a very special relationship. We were perceived as different in the beginning, but now we laugh because we are very much alike. We're strong, we're stubborn. In a lot of ways free spirits, open-minded.
My first U.S. Open I think was just very special for me because that was sort of the beginning of what was a 'Cinderella' story for me.
Without getting into it, just that I'm not as goody two-shoes as people think. I'm a normal woman. I've dated a lot of guys, I've had a few drinks, I've cursed, I've been rude to my parents.
If you're a champion, you have to have it in your heart. You can have the greatest coaches in the world, all the opportunities to play, and the greatest equipment, but if you don't have it inside, you're not going to make it. On the other hand, if you don't have any of those luxuries but you have heart and courage and the guts to go out there and grind it out, then you'll make it.