Chris Evert d. Pam Shriver - 1985 Newport Final

When Pam Shriver complained to the press during the 1985 Wimbledon fortnight that she was always ending up playing Martina Navratilova at big events, and never Chris Evert -it had been over 2 years since Evert & Shriver had played- the press interpreted it as a challenge to the new #1 ranked Evert, and Chris did indeed take special notice of the comment. By the end, Shriver probably was glad she could instead play Martina, as Chris dished out one of the stunners of the '85 season in front of the Tennis Hall of fame crowd in Newport, RI.
Bud Collins & Mary Carillo commentate the match, with dvd footage provided by chrisevert.net

[@Dbdbe1]

Chris was so great in so many ways, but digging deep, pulling herself back, and finding a way back to beating Martina in 1985, and getting back to number one in the world is, for me, unbelievably impressive. You can see the results here: she's just so sharp.

[@csmith5420]

Love Carillo’s comment about “you can go months without seeing Chris get down on the ground and roll around.”

[@Alwyn38]

Chris was such a great competitor. Whenever anyone challenged her reputation, or if she lost to anyone - the next time she played them she would be extra hungry for the win. She had "reputation" matches with Hana (Mandlikova), Bonnie Gadusek and Pam Shriver over the years. In 1984 everyone began writing her off - losing to Manuela Maleeva and having almighty struggles against Lisa Bonder and Carling Bassett. It was great to see her take the No1 spot again in 1985.

[@wallshootout5616]

Chris was high quality from the first to the last Match of her career.She made the Best out of everything. I loved her play from the first day on.

[@serenakicksass]

Great point at the end too where Chris even outvolleyed Pam at the net. Terrific stuff.

[@seanjenkins331]

When we talk about the great servers in Women's tennis, I think it started with Pam. She was tall, could hit the wide angles well, had a lot of pace even before serves were clocked on the radar gun and she was one of the first women to really have a kick serve

[@shihlin1]

I read somewhere right after this match Chris and Pam went to a Huey Lewis and News concert later that evening.

[@jmcgaw]

I was working at the Tennis Hall of Fame as a driver during this tournament and took Chris back to her hotel right after this match. Almost got into an accident, I was so nervous!

[@johnblacklovesmar]

That's what you call a smackdown.

[@remarc69]

Chris Evert at the peak of her powers in 85'...even on a low bouncing grass court she despatched Shriver handily.

[@thomashumphrey7395]

I forgot to mention in my posting that Chris's consistent shot-making was equaled by her steely toughness and resolve. And, as a ranked junior and college player myself growing up watching her and the like of the era, I always loved that she and Connors just seemed like such patriotic and "American" tennis. They represented the best of American tennis and toughness. Plus, she was sexy as hell and had great legs.

[@jeffreyturner7678]

I think in 83 or 84 Pam got to #3 in world at singles- and there was an interview where she said Im working on many disciplines to get my rank higher- and the interviewer said "..so you're waiting till Chris or Martina retire..."? I thought it was mean at time

[@jonathankieranwriter]

Chris was an excellent grass court player, as her 3 titles and seven runner-up appearances at Wimbledon testify, as does her 2 grass court majors at the Australian Open ('82 beating Martina and '84 beating Sukova.) So, the woman has FIVE grass court Slam titles under her belt, though she truly should have won at least two or three more Wimbledons (the 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1985 Wimbledons come to mind as having been especially winnable for her, based upon her ranking at each juncture, the draws she faced, momentum, and actual leads that were squandered.) But part of the glory of Evert was that her booming, immaculate, dictating baseline game (with those brilliant angles and passing shot winners) translated brilliantly to surfaces.

[@thangvuong9196]

Pam had such natural volleying technique, if she had developed a consistent top spin forehand she would have challenged for many more titles.

[@csmith5420]

Carillo: “You can go months without seeing Chris get down and roll around like that.” LOL

[@dtw1958]

I don't think Pam said this out of any direct hit to Chris. There were plenty of tourneys Martina didnt play in where Chris was entered. These players were so much closer and had more respect and a bond then the girls today. Pam was a card, and well--liked.

[@lenwelch2195]

One of the finest grass court matches Chris ever played

[@vosharap]

Another great match from Evert

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

Chris - 0ne of the all time great lobbers - look at her lobs here !!

[@ryanletemi]

LOL bud's commentary "Oooh" "Ah" "she might get it!!!"