Chris Evert Ignites Controversy With 7-Word French Open Suggestion

Chris Evert was one of the most popular women's professional tennis players in history.

And she knows a thing or two about great rivalries on the court.

However, her seven-word suggestion for the French Open trophy is sparking controversy. Evert made the suggestion in the wake of the epic French Open final, in which Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz defeated Italy's Jannik Sinner in five hard-fought sets.

"GIVE THE TROPHY TO BOTH OF THEM...." Evert wrote on her X page on June 8 after Alcaraz was awarded the winner's trophy at Roland-Garros. The post has had almost half a million views.

However, some fans did not like the comment. Although Alcaraz and Sinner were incredibly well-matched on the court, Alcaraz, in the end, won the trophy by outperforming Sinner in the final tiebreaker.

GIVE THE TROPHY TO BOTH OF THEM....????????

— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) June 8, 2025

"No, There is only one winner who earns the Trophy," a fan responded.

"Not the way it works. The better man won today," another fan wrote on Evert's comment thread.

"No, give the trophy to the one who didn’t blow a 2 set lead AND 3 championship points," another person wrote, referring to Sinner.

They delivered such evenly matched play throughout the game that Sinner took the first two sets 6-4, 7-6 and then Alcaraz took the next two sets 6-4 and 7-6 before they ended up 7-6 in the fifth set with Alcaraz then winning the tie-breaker. But he did so handily, 10-2.

The match is already considered so classic that tennis great John McEnroe said it reminded him on his own epic loss to Bjorn Borg in 1980 at Wimbledon.

However, some people liked Evert's suggestion.

"Couldn’t agree more!!!" a man wrote.

"Exact same thought occurred to me during the fifth set. Carlos and Jannik both deserve to be the champions," wrote another person.

Related: Emotional John McEnroe Compares Carlos Alcaraz Win to Epic Match With Bjorn Borg