Before Shane and Ilya, there were Chris and Martina—platonically! On the tennis courts, legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova had a rivalry that burned long before the Heated Rivalry‘s stars were even born. If you know your sports history, you know how instrumental these two were in bringing visibility to women’s tennis—and legitimizing the entire sport. Over 15 years and 80 matches across the 1970s and ’80s, they made history as two of the greatest to ever pick up a racket. Their rivalry paved the blueprint for future tennis players like Serena and Venus Williams, Iga Świątek, and Naomi Osaka.
However, their relationship went through countless ups and downs before they became close friends. Rebecca Gitlitz’s documentary Chris & Martina: The Final Set effectively chronicles both their careers and the evolution of their friendship, all while contrasting their fierce competitive past with the hardships they faced undergoing concurrent cancer treatment—and a bond that has only grown closer with age.
Chris & Martina: The Final Set is as traditional as Netflix profile docs come—talking heads, archival footage, the usual structure. But what gives it its power shot is Rebecca Gitlitz’s immersive direction, capturing Navratilova and Evert discussing their careers and intertwined story while going about their daily lives. Other commentators—including sports writers and former players like Billie Jean King—offer insight into the tennis culture of their rivalry, but the leads narrate their own story in a way that never feels like a talking head. It’s personal, it’s authentic, and it’s worth noting that most of the other voices illuminating the background are women (John McEnroe is the only male talking head, which I, as a Never Have I Ever fan, think is neat). All of it adds depth to the professional women’s tennis scene and the reality of how they were perceived from an outside and industry point of view. Their perspective emphasizes the significance of the doc’s female-led narrative.
The doc’s main draw is Evert and Navratilova themselves—vivacious, frank, and utterly compelling as they narrate their own tale. Evert is the personification of unwavering confidence, while Navratilova is more laid‑back but still sharp‑tongued. It makes for a fun dynamic to watch and an even more entertaining one to hear unfold.
The film opens with Evert—fearless and confident as ever—at her most vulnerable during a cancer screening. From there, she recounts her story as the all‑American girl, a tennis prodigy who entered her first Grand Slam at 16 in 1971. Then there was Martina Navratilova: a gifted player from then‑communist Czechoslovakia who traveled to the US alone, without family or coach. Navratilova takes her time narrating her harrowing journey—having boldly sacrificed so much to pursue tennis, defecting from her home, unable to visit or even see her family, and navigating in America with no real support system. One of the most soul‑crushing images is a young Navratilova hugging a pole after winning her first professional WTA singles title in Orlando in 1974, because she had no one there to hug.
Chris & Martina: The Final Set. (L to R) Martina Navratilova and Andy Mill in Chris & Martina: The Final Set. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Once their worlds collided, they became immediate friends—at least briefly. But the rivalry ignited when, after a short stint playing doubles together, Evert dropped Navratilova because she was learning her strategy too well and was determined to become #1. As they faced off across tournaments, both vying for the top spot—Evert beating Navratilova, then Navratilova catching up—they grew stone‑cold toward each other. But as viewers caught wind of their competitive story, more eyeballs landed on not just women’s tennis, but tennis itself. Nevertheless, they couldn’t have been living in each other’s heads more rent‑free, constantly thinking about the other’s play-style and technique, learning their drawbacks from experience. Thus, thoughts of the other pushed them to reach new athletic heights just so they could beat each other next time.
For tennis fans and newcomers alike, you feel the intensity of their rivalry through their spirited narration. Gitlitz’s vérité style elevates each player’s career details, told in a visceral yet honest way. Seeing the two contemplate their responses in intimate settings truly fosters a grounded closeness. Both are open and introspective about the losses in their childhood and how those experiences shaped their personalities, careers, and most importantly, how they saw each other. It’s also wild how they remember exactly what the other lacked in play style compared to themselves—down to a specific moment in any juncture of their long-spanning careers, like clockwork.
But their relationship on the court in the past couldn’t be more different from the one off the court in the present, as its timeline is shared with both parties facing concurrent cancer—Evert diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021 and Navratilova with breast and throat cancer around 2023. The doc’s present-day footage finds them both showing a resounding fear and facing the pressure that can come with the diagnosis. Still, it is naturally gratifying and heartfelt to witness their loving rapport in real-time, constantly visiting each other and trying to be emotionally supportive of one another’s journey.
Sometimes, however, the career deconstruction overshadows the weight of their shared cancer journey. The film spends much of its runtime on an educational tour of their past rather than the humanizing throughline of their present. That being said, it does keep you wondering: how did they manage to form a solid, lifelong bond that eventually made them practically sisters? At what point, across 50+ years of being in each other’s lives, did they begin to see each other as more than just competitors and obstacles? When it gets there, it all clicks and becomes a real, genuine tearjerker.
Chris & Martina: The Final Set. (L to R) Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova in Chris & Martina: The Final Set. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
There’s substantial weight the doc deftly illustrates, particularly the relationship between the misogyny surrounding women’s tennis and their professional ascent, mediated by advisors and the press, impacting not only their relationship but also their self-esteem. There’s a fascinating thread where they discuss the cruel double standards in American sports. Evert was once the face of America, with countless brand deals, talk show spots, and an adoring fan base—not just for her play style, but because she fit society’s definition of beauty. Meanwhile, Navratilova—the immigrant with a more muscular physique—was under constant tabloid scrutiny, with media outlets xenophobically highlighting her American lifestyle as if she were cosplaying, while essentially witch-hunting to out her lesbian identity.
One of Gitlitz’s more entertaining choices is seeing the two friends sit down together on a couch, watching some of their old matches—neither of which they’ve seen in over 40 years. Their engagement with the footage is so delightful; they’re finally feeling the same excitement as viewers, despite already knowing how it plays out. Their humorous repartee is endlessly endearing. At one point, cheering for herself at the screen, Evert remarks, “This is so intense, even though we know who won.”
At its core, Chris & Martina: The Final Set is a complex and riveting tale of friendship and the very definition of good sportsmanship. Beyond the rivalry that molded an entire sport, they also had to navigate the intricacies of self-discovery and shifting perspectives to rebuild their friendship. They persevered through their careers—and when life threw them their most threatening challenge, they didn’t turn it into another competition, but into an opportunity to be more present for each other than ever before. Though it’s a story about two best friends, it’s a sweet, triumphant portrait of everlasting love that’ll make you cheer as if you’re watching a tennis match.
