Chris and Martina: The Final Set Explores a Legendary Tennis Relationship
Now united in mutual support through cancer treatment, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova revisit the complexities of their decades-long relationship at the pinnacle of sporting achievement.
This Netflix documentary presents a compelling narrative about the profound friendship and rivalry—sometimes referred to as "frivalry"—between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. These two giants dominated international women’s tennis throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, significantly elevating the sport. Their success also contributed to challenging sexist attitudes, including skepticism about the viability of women’s football. The film portrays their intense relationship in the present day, highlighting how they support one another while confronting cancer.
The documentary is highly engaging and effectively underscores the valid point that even within the fiercely competitive realm of professional sports, genuine friendship and sportsmanship can exist. However, it leaves room for the possibility that the friendship between Evert and Navratilova, while authentic, may be more nuanced than depicted. The dual narrative somewhat shifts focus away from a particularly compelling aspect: Navratilova’s courageous defection in 1975 at age 18 from communist Czechoslovakia to the United States. She faced the painful reality that she might never see her mother or sister again and endured the real threat of abduction by Soviet or Czech security forces. (For context, ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev was 23 when he defected.)
So, what does an 18-year-old do, without family, in an unfamiliar country? The film suggests the answer was to find an alternative, supportive, sisterly family within the world of women’s tennis—a world that Evert and Navratilova experienced differently, given their respective sexual orientations, with Evert being straight and Navratilova gay.
The documentary traces the evolution of the Chris and Martina relationship: from their early uncomplicated friendship and doubles partnership, through a difficult period when Chris concentrated more on her career, leading to a phase of icy estrangement, and finally to their gradual reconciliation as they embraced their status as joint international treasures. The film includes insights from other tennis stars such as Pam Shriver and Zina Garrison, who were often overshadowed by the Evert/Navratilova dominance, as well as commentary from John McEnroe.
As is common with American tennis documentaries, there are moments that evoke British pop culture, likely unnoticed by American viewers. For example, the voice of BBC commentator Dan Maskell is heard praising Navratilova as "the best lady player we’ve ever seen," and the film frequently shows the ethereal and enigmatic Duchess of Kent presenting the Wimbledon trophy.
