Career Retrospective

Photos: The Roland Garros greatness of Chris Evert

On the 50th anniversary of Chris Evert's first Grand Slam title at the 1974 French Open, look back at five decades of her appearances in Paris, including her seven Roland Garros singles titles, a record in the women's game.

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Having almost beaten Margaret Court in the French Open final of 1973, Chris Evert returned to Paris in 1974 as one of the favorites.

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02 /16
As the No.2 seed, 19-year-old Evert captured her maiden Grand Slam singles title – the first of 18 majors – with victory over Olga Morozova. She also won the doubles, with Morozova.

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In 1975, Evert defended her French title by beating Martina Navratilova in their first encounter in a Grand Slam final (they teamed to win the doubles). Later in 1975, Evert became the first official WTA World No.1 when computer rankings were introduced.

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After missing Roland Garros for three years due to World Team Tennis commitments, Evert returned to Paris in 1979, collecting her third title with a final defeat of Australian Wendy Turnbull.

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In 1980, Evert lifted French title number four at the expense of Romania’s Virginia Ruzici, who won the Roland Garros title in 1978.

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In 1981, Evert fell to Hana Mandlikova in the semifinals in Paris, but she turned the tables on the Czech to win a third Wimbledon title a few weeks later.

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After falling in the Paris semis again in 1982, to Andrea Jaeger, Evert lifted the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen for a fifth time in 1983, beating 1977 champion Mima Jausovec in the final.

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Evert was again a contender in 1984 but Navratilova pocketed her second French Open title. Aside from her tournament debut in 1973, it was the only time Evert lost a Paris final.

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Evert’s 1985 defeat of Navratilova for a sixth French title ended four straight losses to her great rival in major finals, and saw Evert return to No.1 for the first time since June 1982.

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In 1986, Evert overcame Navratilova once again for her seventh Roland Garros crown and last Grand Slam title. It proved to be their 14th and last meeting in a major final.

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In 1987, Navratilova prevailed over Evert in the semis but was bested by Stefanie Graf for the title, the young German’s first major.

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Evert played in Paris for the final time in 1988. Hindered by a bone spur on her heel and in a changing of the guard moment, she fell in the third round to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, who won the first of her three French titles the following year.

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In 1992, Evert presented Monica Seles with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen after she won the French Open for the third year in a row.

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Maria Sharapova won Roland Garros for the second time in 2014, with Evert handing over the trophy.

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In 2023, Evert handed the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen to another queen of clay, Iga Swiatek, after she won her third Roland Garros title.

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During her career, Evert posted a 72-6 win loss record at Roland Garros. Her seven titles from nine finals remains the record in the women’s game, surpassed in the sport only by Rafael Nadal when he won the eighth of his 14 titles in 2013.

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