Swede star Borg and American champion Evert discuss their legendary careers at French Open
Tennis News
Chris Evert
spoke about Bjorn Borg's incredible reception at the French Open and commented
that she herself feels like one of the Beatles for her Roland Garros career.
The Swede joined her in an interesting conversation in which they reminisced
about their golden era in Paris.
Both were
multi-time Grand Slam champions and won their most titles on the clay at Roland
Garros. According to the American, Borg remains the biggest star in tennis,
despite the emergence of players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena
Williams and Novak Djokovic.
Incredible careers of Evert and Borg at French Open
Borg won
six French Open titles between 1974 and 1981. For 30 years, the Swede was the
tournament's most prolific champion, and surpassing his record seemed almost
impossible until Rafael Nadal's emergence. The Spaniard tied Borg with his
sixth title in 2011 and has since reached the almost unreal total of 14 titles
at Roland Garros. Nevertheless,
Borg, an 11-time Grand Slam champion, became a legend with Roland Garros as his
ideal stage.
Similarly,
the American Chris Evert is the most successful female champion in French Open
history, with seven titles between 1974 and 1986. 'Chrissie' also shone in
Paris, and only Steffi Graf came close to her record, thanks to her six titles
there. Still, both Borg and Evert can be considered the best performers at the
French Open after Rafa Nadal.
Memories from two tennis legends
Evert and
Borg joined a conversation with the New York Times to recall their prime years
at Roland Garros during the '70s and '80s. The American remembered that back
then, little was said about women's tennis, and everything revolved around the
men's game, where Borg was the biggest star.
Bjorn Borg: "the first Tennis superstar"
"In
Paris they were a little behind the times when it came to equality and women’s
liberation and celebrating women athletes. It was all about men’s tennis. And
Bjorn was like a rock star, like one of the Beatles. He had to have security
guards around him."
"The
girls were screaming and crying and trying to grab at him. I’d never seen
anybody idolized like him. To this day I think he’s still the biggest star
tennis has ever had," Evert said.
On the
other hand, Borg praised Evert, stating he felt proud of the 18-time Grand Slam
champion and himself as pioneers of the two-handed backhand, while most players
still used the one-handed backhand: "I think we introduced the world to
the way we played. Chrissie and I liked to play from the back court. We had
two-handed backhands, and not too many players did that," Bjorn Borg said.
The Swedish
former player also recalled his nervousness upon reaching the final of the 1974
French Open, where he won his first title. Borg remembered that he was not
favored to win the tournament, but managed to reach the final against the
reigning US Open champion Manuel Orantes: "Before the tournament I would
definitely say I was not the favorite to win. I surprised myself by being in my
first Grand Slam final."
"I was
a bit nervous, but I think he felt more pressure than I did. Plus, he got very
tired. And the more we played, the more tired he got and the more pressure I
could see that he felt," the former world No. 1 added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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