Tennis News: Martina Navratilova, Maria Sharapova and Eugenia Kim

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert are one of the most storied rivalries in sports. Between 1973 and 1988, they played each other 80 times, but 60 of them were finals of tournaments. Navratilova led the all-time head-to-head 43-37, while Navratilova won 18 Grand Slams and Evert also won 18 major titles. The two even won a Grand Slam in doubles playing next to each other at the French Open in 1975.

And that’s the part that matters most, in a way. While Navratilova and Evert approached tennis in different ways and with different backgrounds and were the greatest of rivals, they also became good friends while playing and continued that friendship long after they stopped playing tour-level tennis.

The two have been interested in making a documentary about their rivalry and long-time friendship for “decades,” according to Navratilova. Now that appears ready to happen. EverWonder Studio and Meadowlark Media are teaming up with the two players to make a film. This will include some behind-the-scenes, never-before-seen footage. The doc has no name yet and no release date, but we can be sure it will be a must-see once the film does come to fruition.

An Evert-Navratilova doc is on the way, plus Sharapova is rooting for one certain player

Former No. 1 player Maria Sharapova makes no bones about it. There is one WTA player who has yet to win a Grand Slam that Sharapova would dearly love to see win a major. That player is Ons Jabeur. Jabeur, of course, has been to several recent Grand Slam finals, but then mentally or physically she just can’t seem to win one.

On a recent episode of the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Sharapova said simply about Jabeur, “I’m rooting for Ons to win her first Grand Slam. She deserves that so much.”

Sharapova also said that Coco Gauff continuing to become a tennis power would be much-needed. Said Sharapova, “She has such a great voice and is an amazing competitor, which is just like the full package. And it came together for her in New York City (at the US Open). I think her journey has been interesting. From the age of 16, she has been the prospect and the target and everyone believed that she would get there.”

Hatmaker Eugenia Kim says what appears to be a very racist remark

Eugenia Kim, a hatmaker who sells $200 hats and expensive scarves, has a tennis line. Who knew? But now she has been sued in New York in what appears to be a wrongful termination lawsuit. According to court papers and the New York Post, however, there was an issue with who Kim wanted to be in a photoshoot to help sell the line.

According to the lawsuit, Kim specifically did not want African Americans in the ads nor did she want people she saw as “fat.” Per the suit and former marketing director Bridgette Sena, Kim stated, “It’s white, blonde, skinny people who play tennis.” Along with, “I don’t want to hire a black model for a tennis campaign! I play tennis every day and I have never seen a black person. I can’t even think of a black person except Serena (Williams).”

It will be interesting to see how the suit plays out, of course. But you can make up your own mind as far as wanting to buy your next hat from Eugenia Kim’s line or not.