Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert, known as Chris Evert-Lloyd from 1979 to 1987, is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships and three doubles titles. She was the year-ending World No. 1 singles player in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1981. Overall Evert won 157 singles championships and 32 doubles titles...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth21 December 1954
CityFort Lauderdale, FL
CountryUnited States of America
I was very, very shy as a younger girl, just petrified of people. Tennis helped give me an identity and made me feel like somebody.
A champion hates to lose even more than she loves to win.
... after being at the top, I don't think I could play senior tournaments, because you know how good you were. I don't know if I would enjoy that, being half of what I was.
Now that I'm losing some, I can see how tough I was -- the killer instinct, the single-mindedness, playing like a machine. Boy, that's what made me a champion.
The great high of winning Wimbledon lasts for about a week. You go down in the record book, but you don't have anything tangible to hold on to. But having a baby -- there isn't any comparison.
Losses are always a relief. They take a burden off me, make me feel more normal. If I win several tournaments in a row I get so confident I'm in a cloud. If I lose I go back to the dressing room and I'm no better nor worse than anyone else. A loss gets me eager again.
I'm not an overly ambitious person; I don't feel like I have to excel.
I always looked ahead.
Every time, all the time, I'm a perfectionist. I feel I should never lose.
I think team sports probably teach you more about giving - about being unselfish and being flexible.
When I was younger, I was a robot. Wind her up and she plays tennis.
Being famous before you've formed your personality, before you have that self-esteem, is dangerous.
There were times when deep down inside I wanted to win so badly I could actually will it to happen. I think most of my career has been based on desire.
I realized that with hard work, the world was your oyster. You could do anything you wanted to do.