Few competitors have redefined women's tennis as deeply as Chris Evert. Over a career that spanned from the early 1970s to the late 1980s, Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and spent 260 weeks as the world No. 1. Her game was often described as a model of consistency and precision, built on a foundation of two‑handed backhand accuracy, relentless movement, and a near‑perfect ability to construct points from the baseline. Yet beneath that seemingly steady surface lay a constant process of evolution. Evert understood that to stay ahead of younger, faster, and more powerful opponents, she could not rely solely on the patterns that brought her early success. Her strategic adjustments—sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic—offer a masterclass in career longevity and tactical intelligence. This analysis traces those changes from her teenage years through her final Wimbledon final, showing how one of the game’s greatest players adapted without losing her core identity.

Early Career: The Baseline Prototype

Chris Evert first captured the world’s attention as a 16‑year‑old in 1971 when she reached the semifinals of the US Open. At that stage, her game was already remarkably mature. She played almost exclusively from the baseline, hitting flat groundstrokes with extraordinary depth and consistency. Her two‑handed backhand, which later became one of the most recognizable shots in tennis, was already a weapon—not for pace, but for its ability to change direction and land within inches of the lines. Evert rarely came to the net. In her early matches, she relied on her opponent making errors under the pressure of her sustained, error‑free hitting.

This approach was revolutionary for its time. While many women players served‑and‑volleyed or mixed in frequent net rushes, Evert stayed back, using angles and court positioning to force short balls. She possessed an almost preternatural court sense, knowing exactly where to place the ball to disrupt an opponent’s rhythm. Her two‑handed backhand gave her extra stability on returns and allowed her to hit through the court even when stretched wide. By 1974, at age 19, she had won her first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open, and within a year she had claimed the first of three straight Wimbledon titles. Already, observers noted that her game was “pure” in its reliance on fundamentals—footwork, timing, and unerring shot placement.

Key Characteristics of Evert’s Early Style

  • Baseline dominance: She almost never approached the net except to shake hands at the end of a match. Statistically, she won more than 90% of her points from behind the baseline.
  • Two‑handed backhand: A reliable shot that she could drive cross‑court or inside‑out with equal effectiveness. It neutralized power servers and gave her stability on high bounces.
  • Physical endurance: Her training regimen emphasized aerobic fitness and leg strength, enabling her to cover the court for hours without losing intensity.
  • Mental toughness: She rarely showed frustration, a trait that forced opponents to beat her cleanly rather than hoping for unforced errors.

The First Strategic Shift: Adding Variety in the Late 1970s

By the late 1970s, the women’s game was changing. Players like Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, and Virginia Wade were introducing greater power and more aggressive net play. Evert recognized that pure baseline consistency might no longer be enough against opponents who could rush the net behind big serves. She began to incorporate several tactical adjustments that, while modest in appearance, profoundly altered her matchups.

Incorporating the Drop Shot

Evert added a delicate drop shot to her repertoire. Previously, she had rarely deviated from driving the ball deep. The drop shot forced opponents—especially those who liked to camp behind the baseline—to move forward and then retreat. This tactical variation broke the rhythm of power players and set Evert up for easy passes if they guessed wrong. She used it most effectively on clay, but it became a weapon on all surfaces.

Changing Spin Patterns

Although she was never a heavy spin player like later generation stars, Evert began to mix in more topspin on her forehand and occasional slice backhands. The topspin gave her margin over the net and allowed her to pull opponents wide with sharper angles. The slice backhand, though less common for her, provided a change of pace that forced opponents to generate their own pace—something they often failed to do under pressure.

Improved Court Coverage

In her early years, Evert’s movement was efficient but not explosive. Over time, she worked on split‑step timing and lateral quickness. She started to read opponents’ shots earlier, allowing her to cut off angles and redirect play. This was especially important as faster surfaces—like the grass at Wimbledon—required quicker reactions.

First Signs of Net Play

In 1978, Evert began to approach the net occasionally, though still rarely. Typically, she would come in behind a deep approach shot down the line, especially on her backhand side. Her volley was functional rather than spectacular, but it was effective enough to win short points and save energy. This small adjustment helped her win three more French Opens (1979, 1980) and a second Australian Open (1982).

The 1980s: Navigating the Navratilova Era

The arrival of Martina Navratilova’s peak in the early 1980s forced Evert into her most significant strategic overhaul. Navratilova’s serve‑and‑volley game, combined with unprecedented athleticism and left‑handed angles, presented a matchup that Evert initially struggled to solve. From 1982 through 1984, Navratilova won 13 of their 14 meetings, often dominating with her net‑rushing and power.

Adjustments in Return Position and Timing

Evert began standing farther behind the baseline on Navratilova’s serve to give herself more time to read the direction. She also shortened her backswing on returns, aiming to block the ball back deep rather than trying to hit winners. This minimized unforced errors and forced Navratilova to hit a first volley from deeper in the court. The change did not yield immediate results—Navratilova still held a dominant head‑to‑head record—but it made matches closer and forced the left‑hander to work harder for points.

Increased Net Play and Volleying

Most notably, Evert dramatically increased her net frequency in the mid‑1980s. While she had previously approached only a few times per match, she now regularly looked for opportunities to come forward. She developed a reliable approach shot, usually a deep forehand cross‑court or a backhand down the line, and followed it with a solid volley. She also started chip‑charging on second serves, especially on grass and fast hard courts. Her volleying improved to the point where she could win decisive points at the net, as she did in her 1985 Wimbledon semifinal against Navratilova, where she came to net 35 times (winning 60% of those points).

Pacing and Shot Selection

Evert also learned to vary the pace of rallies. Instead of hitting every groundstroke at a steady deep tempo, she would hit a slower, higher ball to push Navratilova back, then follow with a flatter, more aggressive shot. This “heavy‑light” pattern disrupted Navratilova’s rhythm and made it harder for her to rush the net confidently. Evert also started targeting Navratilova’s backhand more frequently, knowing that the left‑hander’s two‑handed backhand was less effective when forced to hit on the run or from a stretched position.

Mental and Tactical Preparation

Perhaps the greatest adjustment was mental. Evert studied Navratilova’s patterns obsessively, noting tendencies on serve returns and at the net. She also worked with coaches to develop game plans for different surfaces. While she never fully reversed the head‑to‑head deficit (Navratilova leads 43–37 overall), she became more competitive in their later matches, winning five of their final nine meetings from 1985 to 1988. Their rivalry is now considered one of the greatest in sports history, and Evert’s tactical flexibility was a major reason it remained so compelling.

Adapting to Power: The Graf Challenge

In the late 1980s, a new generation of power players emerged, led by Steffi Graf. Graf’s forehand was arguably the most devastating shot in women’s tennis history, and her athleticism allowed her to dictate rallies from the first ball. At 5’6”, Evert was at a height disadvantage on fast serves and high‑bouncing topspin forehands. Yet she found ways to compete, including winning her 18th and final Grand Slam title at the 1986 French Open by beating Graf in the final.

Countering the Forehand

Evert’s primary adjustment against Graf was to take the ball early, especially on the backhand side. By standing on top of the baseline and cutting off Graf’s angles, she prevented the German from setting up her forehand from a comfortable position. She also used her backhand to redirect the ball down the line, forcing Graf to change directions while running—something she was less comfortable with.

Service Returns as a Weapon

Evert had always been an excellent returner, but against Graf she focused on attacking the second serve. She would step in and drive the return deep to Graf’s backhand, then follow with a cross‑court shot to open the court. This aggressive return strategy never allowed Graf to dictate from the first ball.

Fitness and Stamina

Evert also recognized that Graf’s power would lead to shorter points on fast surfaces, so on slower surfaces like clay she extended rallies deliberately, using high‑loop forehands and deep slices to wear down her younger opponent. She maintained an intensive fitness regimen, focusing on leg strength and agility drills, to keep up with Graf’s speed. This paid off in their five‑set matches at Roland Garros (though women played best‑of‑three, the physical demands were similar). In fact, Evert won her final French Open in 1986 at age 31, beating Graf 6–4, 6–2 in the final with a masterclass in tactical variety.

Legacy of Adaptability: What We Can Learn

Chris Evert’s career is often cited as a blueprint for how a player can remain at the top despite changes in the sport. Her strategic adjustments were not radical—she never became a serve‑and‑volleyer nor a power‑basher—but they were precisely targeted. She added tools without discarding her core strengths. As a result, she won Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces (clay, grass, and hard court) and competed successfully against three distinct generations of champions.

Key Lessons for Coaches and Players

  • Evolution, not revolution: The best adjustments build on what already works. Evert kept her two‑handed backhand and baseline fundamentals while layering in new skills.
  • Study opponents: Evert spent hours analyzing opponents’ patterns and adapting her game plan accordingly. Match preparation was as important as physical practice.
  • Surface awareness: Her success on clay (seven French Opens) versus grass (three Wimbledons) shows that tactical adjustments must account for court pace and bounce. She played more aggressively on faster surfaces and more patiently on slow ones.
  • Mental resilience: Even when losing streaks occurred (as against Navratilova in 1982‑84), she refused to abandon her approach. She tweaked, not panicked.

External Resources for Further Reading

Conclusion

Chris Evert’s strategic adjustments were not about reinventing herself but about expanding her toolkit without losing her identity. From the pure baseline consistency of her teenage years to the net‑rushing and tactical nuance of her late career, she demonstrated that the greatest players are always willing to refine their methods. Her ability to analyze opponents, trust her fundamentals, and incorporate new patterns at the right moments kept her competing at the highest level well into her thirties—a rare feat in professional tennis. For any athlete or coach, Evert’s career stands as proof that adaptability, grounded in self‑awareness, is the most enduring weapon of all.