Chris Evert Marks Late Father’s Forgotten US Open Swing With 5-Word Message

Born into a tennis-playing family, her father, Jimmy Evert introduced American legend Chris Evert to the sport. A respected coach, Jimmy trained all five of his children and also guided players like Brian Gottfried, Harold Solomon, and Jennifer Capriati. His influence helped shape Chris into one of the greatest players in history, with 18 Grand Slam singles titles and countless accolades. But beyond his coaching, Jimmy’s own playing career was also remarkable.

Jimmy Evert was a two-time U.S. age-group champion who made his amateur tour debut in 1938. While representing Senn High School of Chicago, he won the 1940 Illinois state high school championship before serving briefly in the U.S. Army. He later attended the University of Notre Dame on a tennis scholarship, majoring in economics. In 1945, he captured the Middle States Championships in Elmsford, New York, and two years later achieved his biggest victory—winning the 1947 Canadian International Championships in Vancouver, defeating Emery Neale 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

Though Jimmy won three career titles, the Canadian triumph remains his most celebrated. Recently, a fan post commemorating the win caught Chris Evert’s attention, prompting her to share it on X with the caption, “awwww, thx for posting this! ❤️❤️❤️.” Her elder son, Alexander James Mill, also marked the moment on Instagram, writing, “Good ole Jimmy,” in honor of his grandfather’s 78-year-old achievement.

Jimmy reached a career-high U.S. ranking of No. 11 before transitioning full-time to coaching. He passed away from pneumonia on August 21, 2015, in Fort Lauderdale at age 92. Chris paid tribute at the time, writing, “It’s an honor and a blessing to have been your daughter. You will be in my heart forever. RIP Dad… XO.”

Chris Evert has often reflected on her father’s impact, both on and off the court. In a 2013 PBS interview, she recalled, “I came from a very structured family… My father was the breadwinner… and my mom would take care of the kids. There were rules. My dad was the head of the family, no doubt about that.”

Chris Evert opens up about the impact of her father on her life

Raised in a Catholic household with strict discipline, Chris said her father’s decision to train all his children left her with no choice but to fall in love with tennis—a choice her fans are grateful for today.

In February 2025, speaking to We Are Tennis, Evert remembered how her father taught her not to reveal emotions on court: “Don’t show your emotions, because you don’t want your opponent to see how you’re feeling. They’ll use that to their advantage.” She admitted it came naturally to her, as she was already more introverted than extroverted.

Jimmy’s influence extended beyond tennis strategy. In a 2014 Forbes interview, Chris credited him with protecting her finances when many athletes were losing fortunes to risky investments. Two years later, in the Daily Mail, she shared how he kept her grounded despite her fame: “He worked as a tennis coach until he was 75 and, even though I made millions, he never lived off my money like some people on the circuit these days.”

In the tennis world, “super dads” like Richard Williams often get the spotlight—but Jimmy Evert’s legacy proves he was every bit as dedicated, going the extra mile to ensure his daughter’s success both on and off the court.