Evert/Navratilova– Last Point of '88 Wimbledon SF
…Steve

The 1988 Wimbledon semifinal remains a serious sore-spot for fans of the rivalry, when Chris hit a clear winner to save a match point at 5-6 in the 3rd set, back to deuce, with chalk flying in every direction, only to have Martina hustle the Chair Umpire into calling the match after a late (and wrong) line call on Chris’ passing shot—wrong, as viewed by the entire stadium and all tennis announcers broadcasting the match in every language in every country—rather than facilitating an environment for a possible over-rule, or playing of a let, as a solution. Evert would never have been satisfied winning a match by any means short of fully earning her victory…she would have petitioned the Chair to have a bad line call be replayed, or at least let her doubt about the call be known, both to be fair and because it would be unsatisfying to win a match she knew she didn’t really win. And besides, Martina had to know Chris had fewer Wimbledon's left to play than she, and would also have liked a shot at the final. But Martina wanted her title, at all costs. She lost in the final to Graf.

It is the only time I have ever seen Chris Evert refuse to shake the hand of the Chair Umpire at the end of a match, nor did she look at or speak to Navratilova, no doubt thinking, “Well, that moment says it all about the difference between us.”

[Editor's Note: Chris had won 3 of their previous 4 meetings in straight sets.]