Martina Navratilova marked her 70th birthday on October 18 with a Miami dinner that brought together generations of WTA stars, family members and two of the sport’s most enduring rivals.
The celebration was held at Casa Matilda, where Chris Evert, Pam Shriver, Rosie Casals, Mary Carillo, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Chanda Rubin and Gigi Fernández joined Navratilova’s wife, Julia Lemigova, and their daughters Emma and Victoria.
“Seventy is a significant number, but I’m thankful to have reached it,” Navratilova said. “There was no better way to celebrate than with my fellow tennis champions, my family and friends. Having Chris there made it even more special.”
Navratilova arrived in Miami from Santa Fe after attending a First Serve – New Mexico charity fundraiser alongside Tracy Austin. Austin later shared images from the birthday evening.
A reunion of rivals and friends
Evert, whose on-court rivalry with Navratilova defined an era of women’s tennis, posted a birthday message before the dinner. She described Navratilova as a friend of five decades, a fierce opponent and a remarkable person, while wishing her health and happiness.
Shriver’s photographs from the gathering included Evert delivering a speech for Navratilova. Carillo also addressed the guests during the evening.
“It was an unforgettable night for Martina’s 70th,” Shriver wrote, reflecting on the lasting friendships tennis had provided. She added that the Miami gathering came at the end of a 12-day trip spanning five cities and left her feeling grateful.
Rubin called it an extraordinary evening spent celebrating Navratilova alongside a large circle of friends.
A landmark year beyond the birthday dinner
The Miami occasion continued a prominent year for Navratilova. Shortly before the US Open, she appeared at the International Tennis Hall of Fame celebrations in Newport, where she wore a Ted Tinling dress connected to her 1979 Wimbledon triumph.
At that event, Navratilova teamed with Hall of Fame inductee Roger Federer for an exhibition against Gabriela Sabatini and Marat Safin.
Earlier in the year, Navratilova and Evert were the focus of the Netflix documentary Chris & Martina: The Final Set, which followed their long rivalry as well as their separate experiences with cancer.
The numbers behind an unmatched rivalry
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Navratilova-Evert meetings | 80 |
| Head-to-head record | Navratilova led 43-37 |
| Finals contested against each other | 60 |
| Grand Slam finals against each other | 14 |
| Grand Slam singles titles each | 18 |
From 1973 through 1988, Navratilova and Evert faced each other 80 times, an extraordinary total that included 60 championship matches. Navratilova finished ahead 43-37 in their head-to-head series.
Both women collected 18 major singles crowns. Navratilova remains the record-holder with nine Wimbledon singles titles, while Evert’s seven French Open singles championships remain the leading total in the women’s game.
