Happy 66th birthday to tennis icon Chrissie Evert!

Chrissie.

There had never been anyone quite like her in the sport of tennis and there hasn’t been anyone since.

She’s Chris Evert and today is her 66th birthday. While she’s known these days as a well-respected tennis broadcast for ESPN, I grew up knowing her as one of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport.

During her 1971-89 Hall of fame career, Chrissie won three Wimbledons, seven French Opens, six US Opens, two Australian Opens and 157 tournaments overall.

Chrissie also finished the year ranked number one in the world in seven different seasons, was number two six other times, and made it to at least the semifinals in 52 of the 56 grand slam tournaments she competed in. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) dedicated its World No.1 trophy to Chrissie with the official naming of the “Chris Evert WTA World No.1 Trophy.”

She became the first ever WTA World No.1 on November 3, 1975 and held onto the top ranking for 260 weeks, the fourth most in history of the WTA. But she had been the dominant player during the 1974 and 75 seasons and no doubt would have racked up at least another 70-75 weeks or more had the current ranking system been established.

Asked a few years ago what attributes make her so universally admired, Chrissie replied: “It was very important for me to be a good sport. It’s sport, it wasn’t worth it for me to lose my temper and cause a scene. You’re going to have good days and bad days. Be a good sport on the court, be a good role model for kids and be appreciative of being in this life, not always thinking: ‘What will people give me?’ but: ‘What can I give to others?’”

She heralded the influence of Billie Jean King in driving forward the women’s game to help establish the infrastructure and organisation in place today: “We’ve lived a privileged life by being a woman’s tennis players. We’re proud that we’re the No.1 women’s sport in the world. I always say if Billie Jean was a golfer – then it would be No.1. That’s why our sport was elevated.”