The new Netflix documentary 'Chris & Martina: The Final Set' delves into the complex fifty-year relationship between tennis icons Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, charting their fierce on-court rivalry and deepening friendship, particularly as both women have recently battled cancer.
Directed by Rebecca Gitlitz, the film interweaves footage from their early careers on the women's professional tour with scenes from 2023 and 2024, where both Evert and Navratilova are undergoing cancer treatments. Evert is dealing with a recurrence of ovarian cancer, and Navratilova is undergoing treatment for breast and throat cancer.
From Rivals to Allies
During the 1980s, when Navratilova began to dominate women's tennis, the competitive intensity between the two led to a period of strained relations. Navratilova's pursuit of dominance was partly fueled by training from basketball legend Nancy Lieberman. Evert, known for her composed demeanor on court and dubbed the "ice queen," contrasted with Navratilova, who defected from communist Czechoslovakia in 1975 and found it more challenging to control her emotions. Despite their individual competitive drives, they were close in their younger years, even playing doubles together.
Navratilova's first Grand Slam final victory against Evert was at Wimbledon in 1978, a period that marked the beginning of Evert creating distance due to their rivalry. The documentary features interviews not only with Evert and Navratilova but also with Evert's ex-husband Andy Mill, Navratilova's sister Jana, and fellow tennis figures including John McEnroe, Pam Shriver, and Zina Garrison, alongside journalists Sally Jenkins and Mary Carillo.
A Closer Bond Through Adversity
The film highlights the profound support Evert and Navratilova offer each other during their current health challenges. Scenes depicting Evert having her head shaved by her son and Navratilova admitting moments of wanting to face treatment alone offer poignant glimpses into their vulnerability. The documentary also touches upon the difficulties Navratilova faced in being publicly out in the 1980s, though some aspects of their post-retirement friendship and Navratilova's public identity are noted as being less explored.
'Chris & Martina: The Final Set' aims to provide a comprehensive look at their intertwined careers and the evolution of their friendship. The documentary offers insight into their individual journeys, Evert's early reluctance to form close bonds with higher-ranked players, and Navratilova's experience of leaving her family behind after defecting. The film examines how these differing paths ultimately led to a connection that has strengthened over time, especially in the wake of their health battles.