So happy to see tennis legend Chrissie Evert get her due at this year’s U.S. Open

Loved that tennis legend and longtime ESPN commentator Chris Evert presented the trophy after Saturday’s US Open women’s final in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first of her record six titles at the tournament.

While at Flushing Meadows last week, I paid a visit to Chrissie’s plaque on the Wall of Champions (see bottom photo). She was my first favorite tennis player and I tried to never miss one of her matches – especially if she was playing her arch-rival Martina Navratilova.

Evert finished her career with 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record seven French Open titles, a record six US Open titles, three Wimbledon titles, and two Australian Open titles.

Aside from her many records, I applaud Chrissie the most for her support of gay tennis players back in the late 1970s and 1980s when she was at the peak of her America’s sweetheart days. She stood up, publicly, for Billie Jean King when BJK was outed by a spurned ex-girlfriend.

The video below highlights the former World No. 1’s role as an advocate for the next generation, detailing her involvement as President of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and chairperson of the USTA Foundation and her efforts to support tennis.

Evert was celebrated as a “teacher,” “fighter,” and a “powerful voice” for many players who followed in her footsteps. The video narrator also states: “Decades later, her imprint is everywhere, on every court, in every comeback, and every girl who dares to dream. Chris Evert became a teacher, a fighter, a powerful voice. Happy anniversary, Chrissie. Your legend will live forever.”