Chris Evert
The ice-cool champion with a two-handed backhand that broke records and rivals, defining an era of relentless consistency and grace under pressure.
Born 1954 (age 72)·American former tennis player·Birthday: December 21·Baby Boomers
Biography
Chris Evert didn't just play tennis; she applied a quiet, surgical precision that transformed the women's game. Emerging as a ponytailed teenager with a devastating two-handed backhand, she brought a new kind of mental fortitude to the court—an unflappable calm that earned her the nickname 'Ice Maiden.' Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova became the sport's defining narrative, a clash of styles and personalities that pushed both to historic heights. Evert's dominance was rooted in an almost machine-like consistency; for over a decade, she was a guaranteed semifinalist in every major she entered, a staggering testament to her focus and technical perfection. She amassed 18 major singles titles not with overpowering force, but with peerless groundstrokes, tactical intelligence, and a competitive heart masked by a serene demeanor. Evert's legacy is one of sustained excellence, proving that power could be measured in concentration and longevity, making her one of the most respected and successful champions the sport has ever known.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Chris was born in 1954, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1954
#1 Movie
White Christmas
Best Picture
On the Waterfront
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1954Born
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1959Started school
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1967Became a teenager
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1970Could drive
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1972Could vote
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Turned 21
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1984Turned 30
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 40
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 50
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 60
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 70
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 72 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record seven French Open championships.
- Held the world No. 1 ranking for 260 weeks and finished as year-end No. 1 seven times.
- Won at least one major singles title for 13 consecutive years (1974-1986).
- Achieved a winning percentage of over 90% in her career, one of the highest in history.
Did You Know?
She won her first major title (the French Open) in 1974 without losing a single set.
She had a famous romantic relationship with fellow tennis star Jimmy Connors early in her career.
She founded the Chris Evert Charities, which has raised millions for children's causes.
She reached the semifinals or better in 52 of the 56 Grand Slam tournaments she entered during her prime.
“The thing that separates good players from great ones is mental attitude. It might only make a difference of two or three points in an entire match but how you play those key points often makes the difference between winning and losing.”
