Evert/Margaret Court – Wimbledon 1973
….Sankar

One of my favorite Chris Evert matches is one that I only got to see a couple of years back on video.  This was the Wimbledon 1973 semi-finals against Margaret Court, then world number 1 and still at or near her peak.   Grass was also Margaret's favorite surface and she is of course one of the game's great players.  But Chris seemed to care two hoots about her opponents reputation.
 
Chris was simply awesome in her 6-1 destruction of her opponent in the first set.  Chris won 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, but it is that first set that just stuck in my mind.
 
It was the classical Chris Evert - excellent anticipation and return of Margaret's big intimidating serves; superb passing shots and devastating lobs that made Margaret look quite silly coming to the net; and moving Margaret side to side as well as front and back.   The fit and athletic Margaret Court looked like she needed oxygen after Chris raced to a 4-0 lead in the first set!!
 
Margaret was hopelessly out of her depth and Chris made it look so easy!  I am not surprised that Chris has such a good record against Margaret (9-4).