Last year, Tennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert joined ESPN for Wimbledon and the US Open tournaments. She also worked the Australian Open this year and just announced by the Alleged Worldwide Leader, she’ll be working all four Grand Slams for ESPN2 under a new four year contract. In addition to the slams, she’ll work various other tennis events for the network.
The next tournament for Chris will be the French Open in May. Before ESPN, she worked for NBC in the 1990’s, but left the network to become a mother to raise her three sons.
She also runs her own tennis academy.
Here’s the ESPN press release.
Chris Evert to Serve as ESPN Tennis Analyst Year Round
Hall of Famer to Work All Four Majors and More in Four-Year Deal
Tennis great Chris Evert, who joined ESPN at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, has signed a four-year deal to work all four of tennis’ majors and other events. One of the most accomplished players in history, she also recently worked the Australian Open, including the women’s final, on ESPN2. That event completed her “tennis TV Grand Slam,” fitting for someone who won a “career Grand Slam” on the court. Her next assignment for ESPN will be the French Open – a title she won a record seven times.
Evert won 18 major singles championships, including at least one each year for 13 consecutive years (1974-1986). In addition to her seven wins in Paris, she took home a record six US Opens, plus three Wimbledon championships and two at the Australian Open. She retired in 1989 with 157 singles titles overall, and a career win-loss record of 1,309-146 (.900), the best of any professional player in history.
“Last year we quickly discovered what Chris brings to our telecasts – the perspective of having been at the sport’s pinnacle, keen knowledge of the game today and a personality that sparkles with both candor and humor,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production. “She instantly fit well into our hard-working team and it’s appropriate a champion of all the Grand Slam events will work all four for us.”
Evert said, “Everyone from ESPN – from the commentators to the production staff – made me feel part of the family from day one. I couldn’t ask for a more helpful or engaging group of people to team with. The Grand Slams were such an important part of my life, and I am excited to be going back to them. I look forward to expressing the emotions, as well as the strategies, that the current players are feeling at these special events.”
I had a crush on Chris Evert growing up. I think a lot of tennis fans in growing up in her era did.
