For the latest episode of Boardroom Talks, Evert and Navratilova reflect on 80 matches, shared adversity, and the bond that transformed women’s tennis.
For more than four decades, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova have been linked by one of the greatest rivalries in sports history. Now, the tennis legends are sharing a different chapter of their relationship in The Final Set, a new Netflix documentary that explores their intertwined careers, enduring friendship, and parallel battles with cancer.
The pair joined Rich Kleiman for the latest episode of Boardroom Talks to discuss the film, reflecting on how a rivalry that produced 80 matches and countless iconic moments evolved into a lifelong bond that proved invaluable during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
For Navratilova, her cancer diagnosis required the same mindset that fueled her rise from communist Czechoslovakia to the top of the tennis world.
“You just put one foot in front of the other,” she said. “That’s what cancer treatment is about. You literally take it day by day.”
Evert, who was diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer in 2021, echoed that perspective. Rather than asking “Why me?” she viewed herself as one of millions facing a similar challenge.
“I’m just like everybody else,” Evert said. “You just have to keep going and not feel sorry for yourself.”
Their simultaneous health battles only deepened a relationship that had already been forged through years of competition. While the documentary revisits their historic rivalry, both women emphasized that their connection was always more complex than what fans saw on the court.
“We saw each other at our rawest and most vulnerable year after year,” Evert said. “We didn’t have to be best friends, but there was something deep inside us that we knew and trusted about each other.”
That trust became especially meaningful as they navigated cancer together. Evert recalled that Navratilova was the first person she wanted to call with good news after receiving clear test results, while Navratilova said their shared experiences created a unique understanding that few others could provide.
The documentary also revisits some of the defining moments of their rivalry, including the emotional 1984 US Open final, when Navratilova felt the New York crowd was overwhelmingly against her despite winning the championship. Evert acknowledged the difficult dynamic, noting that fans often rallied behind underdogs during Navratilova’s dominant stretch atop the sport.
Looking back, both legends believe their rivalry elevated their careers and the game itself.
“We would have won more,” Navratilova said when asked whether either player might have captured additional Grand Slam titles without the other. “But we would not have been as good tennis players. We made each other better.”
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Their impact extended beyond championships. As pioneers in women’s sports, Evert and Navratilova helped elevate women’s tennis into a global attraction, drawing record audiences and creating a rivalry that transcended sport.
Today, their priorities look different. Evert spoke about wanting to spend time with her two-year-old grandson, while Navratilova’s focus is on keeping up with her young children.
“Living,” Evert said when asked what excites her most about the future. “Living.”
For two athletes who spent decades chasing titles and making history, that simple answer may be the most meaningful victory of all.
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