Perfect match: Tennis stars who weeded through the competition to find their best friend
Tennis players have a unique relationship with their colleagues.
They travel the world together and battle it out on court to become the best of the best.
But every now and then, amidst the competition and madness, players find a special connection with somehow who they go on to call their best friend.
Keep scrolling to see all the tennis stars who, despite their on court rivalry, have become besties over the years.
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Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert
In 1973, Martina Navratilova entered her first career tournament.
She walked past Chris Evert playing a game of backgammon, not knowing that soon they would become fierce rivals.
The duo faced off 80 times in their careers, 60 times of which were finals, and became two of the biggest names in tennis.
However, eventually their rivalry took a turn.
"I think the moment we became really good friends was the moment we realised that something was bigger than ourselves individually," Evert said.
"I think you and I looked at each other after, like, 50 matches. We're like, 'Whoa, look at that crowd.'"
In January 2022, Evert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her first call was to Navratilova.
Then, not even 12 months later in December 2022, Navratilova was diagnosed with breast and throat cancer.
"We were always in the trenches when we played matches, and then we're in the trenches when we had cancer together," Evert said.
"We'd laugh about that."
The pair have both said they couldn't have gotten through their battles without one another.
With five battles against cancer between them – three for Navratilova and two for Evert – what once was their fiercest rival became their strongest friendship.
"We just kind of felt each other. We were always aware of each other's lives, and this brought it to another level in that we kind of knew intuitively what to do, what not to do, supporting each other," Navratilova said.
"Studies show you need to surround yourself with positive friends, three to five, who will be there for you, no matter what.
"When you're negative, you stress yourself. Stress causes cancer, as well as many other ailments. Having that group of friends was essential for me."
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic grew up as rivals on the junior tennis circuit, never thinking that one day, that rivalry would take them through to the pros.
Born just one week apart in 1987, the pair grew close over the years, coming to understand one another's life and struggles as they travelled the world together on the pro tennis circuit.
"We have known each other since very, very early days," Djokovic said in 2016 when Murray scored World No. 1 for the first time.
"To see how he has raised his level in the past 12 months is quite extraordinary."
The pair were two of the best tennis players of their time, with Murray saying Djokovic was his "main rival really throughout my career".
But they managed to maintain a friendship by keeping the work talk to the court.
"When me and Novak speak with each other, we don't talk about tennis, rankings, the matches we play against each other," Murray said in 2016
"Maybe when we finish playing, that might change. But we talk about each other's families, children and stuff. We chatted at length this year quite a lot because obviously I became a father the first time.
"We spoke about the difficulty in keeping the sort of balance in your life with the family and the travelling and the work and everything."
Murray retired from the sport in August 2024, thinking he was leaving tennis in his past.
Then his friend asked him to be his coach.
"He wanted an opponent to coach him," Murray told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"I was shocked, obviously."
Murray admits that what makes him the best coach for Djokovic is how well he knows him.
"I'm aware, as a coach, I have limited experience, but I have huge experience of playing against Novak," Murray added.
"There's only a couple of players in the world that have played him as often as I have."
Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams
Like many tennis besties, Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams were rivals – but it didn't stop them from forming a friendship.
The pair quickly warmed to one another on and off the court, in 2015 doing a joint interview with Vogue where they shared how Williams helped Wozniacki through her split from golfer Rory McIlroy.
When Williams heard the news that the couple had broken off their engagement, she began texting and calling her friend to check in.
"My phone was going crazy," Wozniacki told the publication.
"But I didn't want to talk to anyone.
"First she texted, 'If you don't pick up, I am going to fly to Monaco.' And then, 'If you don't answer the door, I am going to knock it down.'
"So I thought, OK, I better answer the phone. And I am so glad I did."
Wozniacki said she couldn't be more grateful that Williams didn't pity her.
"I mean, it's not like anyone died. I was in shock, but she was really helpful because she had been through it before," she explained.
"She didn't sugarcoat it, and she didn't look down on me.
"She was really there for me when I needed her the most, and that's why I think our friendship is so strong now."
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe
Taylor Fritz and Francis Tiafoe grew up as friends, playing against one another as teens.
But now they're on the professional circuit, Fritz tells the New York Times he 'hates' coming up against his friends on the court.
"It's tough to get into it when you're playing a friend," he said.
"I've had a good record in these matches, but it's definitely uncomfortable."
As uncomfortable as it is, Tiafoe explains it's their friendship that pushes them both to be better.
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