ESPN surprised Chris Evert, 70, on air with a block of programming commemorating the 50th anniversary of her first US Open title in 1975. Evert thought she was at the desk to discuss the Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka match.
Among the people involved were Cliff Drysdale, Mary Jo Fernandez, Chris Fowler, Chris McKendry, Pam Shriver, and John McEnroe.
“At the end of the day tennis is a sport. This is what true life is: Friendships, love & good health.”
Loving the tributes to @ChrissieEvert. As a survivor, the biggest part of her legacy for me is the grace & strength w/ which she’s handled cancer.@usopen @espn #Evert #USOpen pic.twitter.com/aLo3WsoXRQ
— Omar (@socialchanger) September 1, 2025
While everyone talked about the inspiration Evert was to them personally, including Fernandez who used the same racquet (Wilson) and same clothing (ellesse) because of Chris, and Shriver who talked about her one-and-only Grand Slam final against Chris, John McEnroe brought the humor which lightened the mood as a usually stoic Evert was brought to tears.
What John McEnroe Said About Chris Evert
McEnroe said that Evert was a few years older than he was so she inspired him to want to act like she did on the court. It did not work out well, he and everyone else on the panel immediately pointed out.
He added that he tried to play like her and admitted his crush on her.
McEnroe also brought up that he was devastated when she got engaged to his archrival Jimmy Connors.
Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors discuss the whirlwind of Wimbledon 1974, where they won the men’s & women’s singles titles while engaged to one another
They broke off the engagement later that year
This piece aired during Wimbledon 1989, Evert’s last appearance at the tournament pic.twitter.com/rbdfJkzqOZ
— Tennis Historian (@HistorianTennis) July 4, 2024
He vowed to beat him after that happened.
Perhaps that was the impetus for the McEnroe and Connors rivalry of the 1980s.
ESPN Gave Many A Tennis Lesson
Spectacular tribute to @ChrissieEvert on the 50th anniversary of her 1975 U.S. Open victory. She made youngsters in every sport believe they could dream and achieve. Beautiful remarks by friends and rivals Pam Shriver and John McEnroe, too!
— Dottie Pepper (@dottie_pepper) September 1, 2025
Chris Evert, an 18-time women’s singles and 3-time doubles Grand Slam champion, was the face of American tennis in her early 20s.
She was a star as the game was growing in popularity.
Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova defined 1980s women’s tennis.
Though she retired in 1989, she has stayed close to the sport through her tennis academy and commentating.
Many younger tennis fans potentially do not know her impact to the sport. ESPN did a good thing by giving them a vital tennis lesson.
