Evert: "Despite current earnings, I'm happy to have played in my era"
Chris Evert responded regarding the evolution of generations and prize money.
Interviewed by our colleagues at Punto de Break, the American with 18 Grand Slam titles shared her feelings about the 70s-80s period during which she played on the court.
"The 70s meant the rise of tennis. They were like a kind of perfect storm, where everything fell into place. This circuit was composed of the first group of athletes to reach the highest level.
Many people ask me if I wouldn't have liked to play today, because of all the money that is paid. But I'm happy to have arrived right at that moment, to share a locker room with Billie Jean King and that group of women."
Indeed, Chris Evert accumulated a total of $8,896,165 in career prize money, a colossal gap compared to what current champions can earn.
Why Modern Tennis Feels More Predictable: 20 Years of Slower Courts, Heavier Balls, and Optimized Athletes 
Australian Open's Epic Rise: From Shunned Slam to Tennis Powerhouse 
PTPA's Fight to Reform Tennis: Djokovic's Shock Exit Amid Lawsuits Against ATP, WTA 
Tennis Fans' Favorites Exposed: Record Crowds at Australian Open, Top Surfaces, and Players Who Captivate 
A cup of coffee used to cost a nickel...