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Ice Maiden: Chris Evert Year end No. 1 ranking: 1975-77, 1980-81 Christine Marie Evert disregarded the history books and signalled to the tennis world she was on the rise in 1970, as she beat Margaret Court - who was the world's number one and had just completed the Grand Slam - in North Carolina. Records galore were to be broken in a 20-year career, which finished in 1989. The Little Ice Maiden attracted a new generation to copy her powerful backhand drive and shots that seldom missed. Evert won 21 major titles, 18 singles in 34 finals, and six behind leader Court and managed to win at least one major singles crown for 13 consecutive years.
She won her first at the 1974 U.S. Open and last in 1986 at the French, where she collected seven singles titles with a 72-6 match record. Between 1974 and 1979 the pony-tailed prodigy won 125 consecutive matches on clay, including 24 tournaments. Evonne Goolagong and Martina Navratilova were Evert's biggest rivals, as they frequently met in tournaments finals. In their 80 matches, Navratilova came out ahead, 43-37, winning nine of their 13 major finals. Standing at 5-foot 6-inches, Evert was crowned number one in the world between 1975-1977 and 1980-1981, cementing her place in the top ten for 17 years. In the 57 majors she contested she won 18 and was at least a semi-finalist 53 times. Her worst efforts were two quarterfinals at the U.S. and two 3rd round loses at the French and Wimbledon. Two Australian (1982, 1984), seven French (1974-1975, 1979-1980, 1983, 1985-1986), three Wimbledon (1974, 1976, 1981) and six U.S. Open crowns (1975-1978, 1980, 1982), plus six major doubles titles capped a career, which included eight Federation Cup and 11 Wightman Cup triumphs for the U.S. Evert was the first player to win $1m in 1974 and more than 1,000 singles matches. She finished her career with $8, 896, 195 in prize money, 157 singles titles, with a 1,309-146 win/loss record. Grand Slam Record Australian Open Singles winner 1982, 1984; Singles finalist 1974, 1981, 1985, 1988; Doubles finalist 1988 French Open Singles winner 1974-75, 1979-80, 1983, 1985-86; Singles finalist 1973, 1984; Doubles winner 1974-75 Wimbledon Singles winner 1974, 1976, 1981; Singles finalist 1973, 1978-80, 1982, 1984-85; Doubles winner 1976 U.S. Open Singles winner 1975-78, 1980, 1982; Singles finalist 1979, 1983-84; Mixed finalist 1974 Tournament Record (inc. Federation Cup) Italian Open Singles winner 1974-75, 1980-82; Singles finalist 1973, 1984; Doubles winner 1974-75; Doubles finalist 1981 United States Federation Cup team member 1977-82, 1986-87, 1989; winning side 1977-82, 1986, 1989; losing side 1987 United States Wightman Cup team member 1971-73, 1975-82, 1984-85 Other Information WTA President 1975-76, 1983-91
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