They don't play tennis: they're THE TENNIS. Thank you, Chris and Martina. We have been lucky to live in your times. And we are lucky because now we can watch your spectacular matches again, forgetting actual tennis.

Surely one of the best matches between these two - wonderful tennis and shot making. Chris looks so lovely too :)

Only just started watching their matches, it really is the perfect rivalry. Amazing tennis.

Those lobs are incredible. Mind you she could even make lob winners in windy conditions. Chris Evert is perfection anyway.

Playing on this clay surface was absolutely brutal on a hot day and Chris was the best who ever played on it. Her mental toughness and guile really comes to the fore.

Chris really demonstrated that all-court game she worked hard to develop. Martina made her do that and that is a credit to just how good Martina had become. And to think Chris was sending down aces as well! You'd not have seen that a few years earlier. These two players pushed one another to explore aspects of their games in a way I'm sure neither would have done had fate not put these two on the tour at the same moments in time. I don't think we've seen tennis quite like it since.

I still miss the rivalry. We have never seen anything like it.

chris evert is the goat...in my eyes......she did win her gs titles faster than martina did.....and they started playing at almost the same time...also.....chris has records martina will NEVER break...like 1 gs every year for 13 years.....almost every single US open and wimbeldon chris was in, she made it to at least the sf....AND....who was it that MARTINA beat for OVER half of her gs titles.......?????

One of my favourite matches and how to win with amazing lobs!!

Chris Evert my all time favourite ladies player....and my teenage crush

People forget. Chris had a great volley & didn't mind using it

Such an incredible rivalry - they made each other play better, and played 80 times over 16, 17, years. Both are true greats.

Chris's Precision is Unrivaled.

Huge Chris Evert Fan She Was Just So Calm On The Court. Loved It When Won. Loved It 😀

Chris could hit every shot in every point as if it were match point ,

They are both true greats, I enjoyed Chris's matches more but Martina was equally amazing and their rivalry maybe the greatest ever in all sport.

Chris had the best lob and drop shots in tennis, bar none.

Still surprised Chris lost to Martina so easily at the French Open this same year. I think Chris may have been coming off a wrist injury but I could be wrong. This was such a good match for her.

OMG! This seems like yesterday! I was at this match in Houston. It was so hot that day!!!!!!

Love it

They were so good I have tears in my eyes

Chris Evert playing for ever a caress for our eyes.

I completely agree with your statement but wanted to add something else. These two players were tremendous players mentally as well. There aren't many players today who have their ability to rise up to challenges and play their best at the most important times. These two were as good as anyone in tennis history. Love watching them.

Thanks for posting! And I understand that it's especially edited for Evert fans, still with lots of drama, but I'd love to see the match in its entirety.

All time great tennis. I mis these two. Such class.

That first volley😯-Chris👍👍

Simply the best🎉🎉🎉🎉

Chris dominated Martina on clay because Martina's speed was less a factor than it was on faster surfaces. I always considered Matrtina's speed to be an incredible advantage on grass. Also, this match reveals something that should be apparent to everyone who ever played tennis. Chris Evert had the greatest lobs that the game of tennis has ever seen. No other player, male or female, was ever her equal on that shot.

This was a much better match than the 1988 final when these 2 met again. But Martina was a pale shadown of herself for that match going down 0 and 4. But the speeches Chris and Martina gave that year alone was worth the admission tickets. Both were so gracious, genuine and yet funny!

Definitely one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports....

@doetim Chris Evert is so smart

Chris is the best ever.

Both players were having a bad Spring in 1987. Martina was on a losing streak that wouldn't see her win a tournament until Wimbledon in July, and she would say years later that she was burned out during this period. Chris was really struggling on her way back from injury, skipping the Australian Open, followed by some some poor losses.

Evert was very precise and could counterattack effectively. Navratilova's backhand was a weakness.

love it when Chris evert beats Martina

I always knew Chris was the 'Ice Maiden' and hit line after line on her ground strokes, but I didn't see her skills with the drop volleys. And her basic volleys were excellent, as well. I guess that's why she won 18 grand slams...

7:36 sums the whole video up

watching this match im really surprised that chris didnt go to net more in her career. her deep ground strokes would have set her up to go to net. watching this match just reminded me of how good she had gotten at net.

Origin Of The Legendary Tennis Bracelet

@MARKBPHARM I agree. I wish Chrissy would have raised her game a little more during her Wimbledon matches. She once said, in essence, Martina just exhuded such confidence at Wimbledon, and that gave her the edge. This match shows what an excellent volleyer Chrissy was. Besides, percentage tennis is at the net. I think she would have won many more matches against Martina had she played the net more. The reason is because she would have taken the net away from Martina which was her strength.

Awesome match!!!

All I can say is.. WOW CHRISSIE,what a "Great" match!

Even tho this was just a regular stop on the Slims tour back in the 80's, both these two treated this final like it was a grand slam. Tough loss for Martina, but Chris was better on this day, but then again, it's on clay, so that an advantage for Evert. Amazing display of great defensive to offensive play from Chris with one winning lob after another. What the clip doesn't show at the end is minutes after their handshake, Chris walked over to Martina to comfort her after a tight close match. You NEVER see that on today's WTA tour. NEVER. What great sportswomen these two were and still are. As I'm typing this, I just found out Serena lost in the early rounds of 2014 Wimbledon, so maybe in 2014 Serena might go winless in grand slams. So who knows, maybe Serena might not break the 18 grand slam titles in singles that Chris and Martina each own.

Wow by the US Open Martina went full mullet hair do. Love it!

That is the best way to put it.

' who said Chris cant volley ' - Bud Collins

And yes there was a time in tennis when figure skating would randomly appear out of nowhere,Those where the days😉😊

The crowd hates Martina I just love it!!!

Chris used her powerful groundstrokes to crush Martina.

Chris is the goat

I wish that espn would show "Unmatched', here in Canada, I guess we will just have to wait. I hear that it was quite the show, and I can't think of any rivalry that is quite like theirs. The ulimate baseliner vs the ulimate serve and volley player, tennis will never be quite this great again, I am afraid...

Billie Jean is my favorite commentator, she always has great things to say about stradegy and what a player should be thinking about. Her knowledge of the tour and players, and just her enthusiastic self; bring a better level of commentating to any match.

There really are not that many pro matches where touch shots like lobs and dropshots, play a major pivotal role during AND decisive role in the results. They win key points of course, but normally not enough of them to be called fundamental to the win. Evert's lob certainly was absolutely fundamental to this win. And this is not the first time in her career either. Once that lob gets grooved, she can hit it off both wings, from literally every part of the court and with either underspin or topspin and it can completely befuddle and exhaust the greatest volleyers in women's tennis history. Ask Court, King, Goolagong, Casals, Wade, Mandlikova, Sukova, Shriver, and of course, this woman.

Thrilling

Good lord Chrissie's length on groundies tremendous and love Billie's comments

Wow a great post....couple of sweet aces by chris.....who was the figure skater that appeared at about 7.40?

well said doetim and shotout! not only would martina and chris have been fine, they would have been champions still if placed in today's game, one thing they had the advantage over was they grew up and played in an era that one had to use both power and variety and get this "actual strategy" so if you take that into account they would have the advantage over today's mindless ball bashers!

Thank god for martina and chrissie, i think their rivalry was one of the greatest things in 20th century sport. Clay was not the greatest showcase for their rivalry though. I always thought, that as brilliant as martina was, she was always rather clumsy on clay, and never at her best.

@spacecolt, watch a 70's game between these two senoritas, one played with wooden racquets, and spot the differences. This looks quite modern actually

@sibais Chris's backhand was better than Justine's ( just because it's a one hander and it looks pretty doesn't make it better), a natural two-hander, doesn't use the left hand to power or changed the ball direction, can let go if she has to hit with one hand, the other hand is used for guideance, unflappable. Justine had to work on her forehand, Chris didn't - nothing wrong with her natural side spin, not to mention return of serve, which was the best in the business.Justine has the serve.

Chrissie hated being called "FT Lauderdale Hatchet woman" that Bud collins started sort of as a compliment to her. But face it: she was not a murderess but a relentless winner who hated losing! Love her!

I totally agree. People (especially young people) 4get about the folks who came 1st or did important things 1st. W/O Chris & Martina, there'd be NO Steffi, Monica, Lindsay, Jennifer, Williams girls & Belgium girls. And the same goes 4 Sampras & Federer & this generation of 2hand backhand players with NO volley games. Of course things will change again but w/o the older generations, there'd be No new generation. Also the older players had better footwork than today's players in my opinion.

So, u think Steffi never heard of Chris & Martina when she was coming up as a little tennis champion? And what's ridiculous about Roger not ever being the player he is w/o Pete paving the way 4 him. Roger talks about Pete being his idol & hero all the time. Their games & playing styles are very similiar. Much like Kobe's game mirrors Jordan's. Do U think someone, anyone inspired Steffi 2 play tennis? Besides her dad I'm sure there was 1 female athlete that inspired her. Who do U think if anyone?

Seriously, I've only played on clay ONCE in my life and I'm 32. Chis Evert would be the one I would want to coach me on playing on clay.

@doetim I like your statements!!!!!!

The best ever rivalry of woman's tennis...

MRS. CHRIS EVERT TRULY IS AN UNBELIEVABLE LADY. BOTH LADIES ARE CLASS ACTS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE VERY YOUNG AROUND THESE TWO SUPERB WOMENS CAREERS TO ENJOY THEM BOTH. PLUS, DISCO. 70'S-80'S-EARLY 90'S WERE BEAUTIFUL TIMES. I WOULD HATE TO BE YOUNG TODAY.

Funniest part is at 7:35. Some old queen taped over ice skating to record this match. Must be a huge Evert fan. That being said, Evert had a mean lob.

@pablotjob yes, in the US they play on 'har-tru' which is green.... the US Opens of 1975-77 were also played on that type of clay. Truer bounce than red clay and a little faster, but still a good deal slower than hard court. Its amazingly fun to play on, and doesn't get you filthy like the red clay does!!!

Love Schiavone. And remember Kimko Date.....

@shottut Yep Chris would drive todays players up the wall because she simply never made stupid errors and kept the ball to such a great length constantly. Wozniaki is world number 1 right now - in some ways she's a similar player to Evert however she doesn't have anywhere near the skills or mental fortitude Evert had - I mean she wasn't even distracted by that ice skater at 7.35!

@sibais Serena and Venus WERE products of their time when they came on the scene like everyone else. They were not anomalies, they did hit just a tad harder than most others but the game was moving towards faster pace with or without the Williams. Graf, Seles, Capriati, Davenport all hit very hard and the williams just built on that and hit a bit harder cuz they came after and the game was evolving. Anyway you should clarify your statement about Chris and Martina getting pummeled.

@antonarap i was responding to sibais who said chris & martina would get pummeled by today's robot players, and he said on another match they looked like they were playing in slow motion. But I have that racket chris is using & her old wood one, and they don't have the zing of the new rackets. It is ridiculously easy today in comparison it used to take.

When Martina at the age of 30+ facing the young generation players like Seles, Graf and so, she managed to win. Same for the aging Graf meeting those Williams sisters and managed to beat the shit out of them. Do not look down on old generation players. They are just as good as the new.

@sibais And every tennis expert agrees that Chris Evert is the best ground stroker in the history of the game ! What's your point ??

@doetim Thank You Thank You Thank You. I hate those stupid statements also on tennis message boards. Very good post. Could not have said it better.

great match much better to watch than today's womens tennis.

@sibais LOL... Thanks for providing me with the biggest laugh I have ever heard concerning the sport of Tennis... when were you born ???

At the post-match handshake at the net, Martina pats Chrissie on her rear with her hand, not the racket! ;)

sorry did it again... guess I should proof read..should have typed "you've" at the beginning and "era's" not era at the end.

@sibais I don't think that Chris and Martina would get pummeled against the lady's nowadays. Chris has always had a mental toughness that nobody else could match, and Martina could still play the net with ease. They wouldn't get pummeled. In fact, they'd be pummeling others.

Love me some Billie Jean on the commentary!

green clay?????

I admire your confidence - and I hope it'd be true. Marketing of women's tennis has had more influence then many assume. Indeed, looking at the possible "next generation" Seles and Graf - everyone thought Navratilova was powerful and before her Court and King - but then they'd come up and perhaps they'd be wiped off the court by Serena or Clijster's. In a way, I dislike the denouement of the passing shots - the rallies, strategies and tactics instead of blowing each other off the court.

Chris and Virginia Wade are class..Martina, Billy Jean, and Rene Richards are twisted lesbians..Robert at 68.

@sibais This is before the rackets, strings & balls were changed to increase speed...just above a wood racket. Challenge of the day: Find yourself a wood racket & go hit with it. Then tell me how bad these ladies are... something tells me it will change your mind. Sport was much tougher then.

What I said was not confidence, it's common sense. Do you really think if Serena was alive in 1925 she would be hitting with same pace she's hitting now? I hope you don't believe that.

@sibais You gone from talking about Serena and her serve to everyone else. There was nothing wrong with Chris forehand, nothing; everyone knew that Chris didn't step into her serve and she never really work on it, so ? And as far as your picks for putting these girls against Chris and Martina in there primes and same raquets; not one of the girls you mention would be Chris on clay ! or Martina on grass.. not one ! And your comparison of the era is in your words "stupid", so give it up.

@sibais Kid you really are thick, so big deal a commentator gives their opinion (that doesn't make it fact)... in 10 years that opinion will change... but ask John and Tracy who the best ground stroker the game has ever seen .. is... trust me when I tell you they will all say Chris. That has yet to change.

@sibais Yeah ..Okay then.. it all about you and this era... and every single commentator says it ... NOT !!! Lindsay was a great ball striker, and I have heard that, never heard anyone ever say she had or has the best groundstrokes !

@sibais "these ladys would get pummeled nowadays" Stupid statement! If Chris and Martina were players of this generation, they would be just fine because they would be hitting at today's pace not 1987 because everyone is more or less a product of their time. It's not like if Serena was alive in 1925 she would have double bagelled Suzanne Lenglen and Helen Wills Moody with her 125 mph serves. Her pace would have been relative to her time. I just hate it when people make these stupid statements

@sibais Did you mean that if Martina or Chris was 25 today day they would get pummeled because you still assume their pace would be slow like in this clip? If you meant that of course your statement is stupid! If you meant that they would get pummeled hitting with other players now but with the pace in that clip, well duh that's a given!

Ok. I guess there is nothing more 4 me 2 say. Steffi just wanted 2 play tennis & there was No One ever in all of Tennis that inspired her. She was so driven 2 play & excel & no one before her even caught her eye. Ok. Kool. Whatever. Take care.

sorry, should have typed" Serena's",and " could hardly be" not "could be".

Isn't that commentator with BJK painful? Does anyone know his name? He just speaks nonsense without drawing breath!

U just don't get what I'm trying 2 say. How do U know that Steffi wasn't influenced by Chris & Martina. Chris is 15 years & Martina is 13 years older than Steffi. Steffi, I'm sure was inspired by those 2 greats 2 compete at a high level in women's sports. So,.why would U say there would've been a Steffi even w/o Chris & Martina. Oh, I almost 4got, U Really are a Steffi Graf fan. I am too but I know that before yesterdays' greats, there would be No todays' greats. No Roger w/o Pete, 4 example.

@sibais OMG you obviously don't play tennis, and if you do, you know very little about the game. You can't muscle the ball with the raquet, it doesn't work very well, and although a strong arm helps, it is about timing, wrist snap, tossing the ball in front of you and weight transfer; far more than it is about strength. Secondly Serena althletisism could be describe as unbelievable, she moves like she has bricks in her shoes, she slips and slides all over a Wimbledon, hardly a graceful mover.

Believe you? I guess U speak from experience? U've started a sport or profession w/o another person's inspiration? Or U know someone or know of someone besides Steffi Graf, who started something w/o another person's inspiration?

who is the dude in the booth who thinks he is 'educating' us. "the slice isn't a short ball, but yet it is" He is embarrassing both the viewers and BJK.

Martina looks sluggish in this match, not moving with her usual agility for some reason. Maybe it was the issue she was having with her left ankle at the time. Also, she served poorly, I think around 50% in the second and third sets. Not to take anything away from Chris' play, but other than the close third set, I don't think this was one of their better played matches.