Hi Neighbor!
All is fair on the tennis court, and as Wimbledon rolls out for another masterful tournament this month, I am back to report – fairly – on another tennis related Netflix documentary, Chris and Martina: The Final Set. Keep in mind, this one-episode show is recommended not just for tennis players but for anyone who respects epic rivalries and enjoys sports. This match-up, Neighbors, set the mark not only for women’s tennis but for women’s sports historically.
Throughout the ‘70s and ’80, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova battled each other for wins, championships, titles, and bragging rights for who achieved No. 1 ranking throughout the year and at the end of each calendar year. They faced off against one another an unprecedented 80 times, with Evert holding strong early in their battles but with Navratilova eventually surpassing her, 43-37, due to her commitment to fitness and overall improving her game.
The differences in style – petite, feminine Chrissy holding a wooden racquet versus stocky, defector from communist Czechoslovakia Martina – played into the contention, creating an on-again, off-again friendship, both on and off the court. When the dust settled and with decades of competition behind them, what remained was a mutual respect and a resurfaced friendship in the face of adversity: cancer.
This is a must watch to see the tender side of these fierce competitors as they support one another through diagnosis, treatments, and results. As they sit side by side during the documentary watching clips of themselves in their prime playing matches against one another, they smile and cry, but they also get nervous all over again even though they outcome is a foregone conclusion. Even heroes are human.
Chris and Martina set the bar high for women’s tennis and women’s sports, but in the end, in spite of their iconic status and accolades, they showed up for one another, and isn’t that what life should be about? Lasting friendships that endure in spite of an intense rivalry.
Taking a lesson from their page,
Jackie
