Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova

Navratilova at the Prague Open, in 2006
Country (sports)  Czechoslovakia
(1956–1975)
 United States
Residence Miami, Florida, USA
Born (1956-10-18) October 18, 1956
Prague, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Turned pro 1975
Retired 2006
Plays Left-handed (one-handed backhand)
Coach(es) Miroslav Navrátil
George Parma[1]
Věra Suková
Renée Richards (1981–1983)
Mike Estep (1983–1986)[2]
Craig Kardon (1988–1994)[3]
Prize money

US$ 21,626,089[4]

Int. Tennis HoF 2000 (member page)
Singles
Career record 1,442–219 (86.8%)
Career titles 167 WTA, 1 ITF (Open era record)
Highest ranking No. 1 (July 10, 1978)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open W (1981, 1983, 1985)
French Open W (1982, 1984)
Wimbledon W (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990)
US Open W (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals W (1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986Mar, 1986Nov)
Doubles
Career record 747–143 (83.9%)
Career titles 177 WTA, 9 ITF (Open era record)
Highest ranking No. 1 (September 10, 1984)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open W (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989)
French Open W (1975, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988)
Wimbledon W (1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986)
US Open W (1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour Finals W (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986Nov, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991)
Olympic Games QF (2004)
Mixed doubles
Career titles 15
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian Open W (2003)
French Open W (1974, 1985)
Wimbledon W (1985, 1993, 1995, 2003)
US Open W (1985, 1987, 2006)
Team competitions
Fed Cup W (1975, 1982, 1986, 1989)
Coaching career (2014–present)
1986 Paraguay stamp

Martina Navratilova (Czech: Martina Navrátilová pronounced [ˈmarcɪna ˈnavraːcɪlovaː]; born Martina Šubertová pronounced [ˈmarcɪna ˈʃubɛrtovaː]; October 18, 1956) is a retired Czech and American tennis player and coach. In 2005, Tennis magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005.

Navratilova was World No. 1 for a total of 332 weeks in singles, and a record 237 weeks in doubles, making her the only player in history to have held the top spot in both singles and doubles for over 200 weeks. She was year-end singles No. 1 seven times, including a record five consecutive years, as well as year-end doubles No. 1 five times, including three consecutive years during which she held the ranking for the entire year.

She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 major women's doubles titles (an all-time record), and 10 major mixed doubles titles, marking the open-era record for most Grand Slam titles. She reached the Wimbledon singles final 12 times, including nine consecutive years from 1982 through 1990, and won the women's singles title at Wimbledon a record nine times (surpassing Helen Wills Moody's eight Wimbledon titles),[5] including a run of six consecutive titles – the best performance by any professional player at a major event. She and Billie Jean King each won 20 Wimbledon titles, an all-time record. Navratilova is one of just three women ever to have accomplished a Career Grand Slam in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles (called the Grand Slam "boxed set"), a distinction she shares with Margaret Court and Doris Hart.

Navratilova holds the records for most singles titles (167) and for most doubles titles (177) in the open era. Her record as No.1 in singles (1982–86) is the most dominant in professional tennis. Over five consecutive seasons, she won 428 of 442 singles matches, averaging fewer than 3 losses per year to 87 wins, for a sustained winning percentage of 96.8%. She holds the best season win-loss record for the open era, 86-1 (98.9%) in 1983, and four of the top six open era seasons. She recorded the longest winning streak in the open era (74 consecutive matches) and three of the six longest winning streaks.

She is the only professional player to have won six major singles crowns without the loss of a set. Navratilova, Margaret Court and Maureen Connolly share the record for the most consecutive major singles titles (six). Navratilova reached 11 consecutive major singles finals, second all-time to Steffi Graf's 13, and is the only woman ever to reach 19 consecutive major semi-finals. Navratilova also won the season-ending WTA Tour Championships for top ranked players a record eight times and made the finals a record 14 times. She is the only person of either sex to have won eight different tournaments at least seven times.[6] She was ranked in the world's top 10 in singles for a record 20 consecutive years (1975-1994), a span which included 19 years in the top 5, 15 years in the top 3, and 7 years as the world No.1 ranked singles player.

In women's doubles, Navratilova and Pam Shriver won 109 consecutive matches[7] and won all four major titles—the Grand Slam—in 1984. The pair set an all-time record of 79 titles together and tied Louise Brough Clapp's and Margaret Osborne duPont's record of 20 major women's doubles titles as a team. Navratilova also won the WTA Tour Championships doubles title a record 11 times. She is one of only five tennis players all-time to win a multiple slam set in two disciplines, matching Margaret Court, Roy Emerson, Frank Sedgman and Serena Williams. Navratilova took her last major title in 2006, winning the mixed doubles crown at the 2006 US Open, just short of her 50th birthday — 32 years after her first Grand Slam title in 1974.

Originally from Czechoslovakia, she was stripped of her citizenship[8] when, in 1975 at the age of 18, she asked the United States for political asylum and was granted temporary residency.[9] At the time, Navratilova was told by the Czechoslovak Sports Federation that she was becoming too Americanized and that she should go back to school and make tennis secondary.[10] Navratilova became a US citizen in 1981, and on January 9, 2008, she acquired Czech citizenship.[11] She stated she has not renounced her U.S. citizenship nor does she plan to do so and that acquiring her Czech citizenship was not politically motivated.[12][13]

Early life and tennis career

Navratilova was born Martina Šubertová in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Her parents divorced when she was three,[14] and her mother, an accomplished gymnast, tennis player, and ski instructor,[15] moved the family to Řevnice.[7] In 1962, her mother Jana married Miroslav Navrátil, who became her first tennis coach. Martina then took the name of her stepfather (adding the feminine suffix "ová"), thus becoming Martina Navrátilová (Czech pronunciation: [ˈmarcɪna ˈnavraːcɪlovaː]). Her father, Mirek,[16] was a ski instructor[17] and remarried and divorced. When she was eight, he committed suicide.[18]

In 2008, Navratilova's mother died of emphysema, aged 75.[19] Navratilova has a sister, Jana, and an older paternal half-brother.[14] Navratilova's grandmother, Agnes Semanska, was a tennis player for the Czechoslovak Federation before the Second World War and had a ranking as high as no. 2 among Czech women during her amateur career.[15][20]

When Navratilova was 4, she was hitting a tennis ball off a cement wall and started to play tennis regularly at age 7.[7] In 1972, at the age of 15, Navratilova won the Czechoslovakia national tennis championship. In 1973, aged 16, she made her debut on the United States Lawn Tennis Association professional tour but did not turn professional until 1975. Although perhaps most renowned for her mastery of fast low-bouncing grass, her best early showing at majors was on the red clay at the French Open, where she would go on to reach the final 6 times. In 1973, she made the quarterfinals where she lost 6-7 4-6 to Evonne Goolagong. She made the quarterfinals the next year and lost to Helga Masthoff (née Niessen), after again losing the first set in a tiebreak. She won her first professional singles title in Orlando, Florida in 1974, at the age of 17. Upon arriving in the United States, Navratilova first lived with former Vaudeville actress, Frances Dewey Wormser, and her husband, Morton Wormser, a tennis enthusiast.[21]

Navratilova was the runner-up at two major singles tournaments in 1975. She lost in the final of the Australian Open to Evonne Goolagong and in the final of the French Open to Chris Evert over three sets. After losing to Evert in the semifinals of that year's US Open, the 18-year-old Navratilova went to the offices of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in New York City and informed them that she wished to defect from Communist Czechoslovakia. Within a month, she received a green card and in 1981 became a US citizen.[9] Also, in 1975, Navratilova teamed with then world number one, Chris Evert, to win the French Open women's doubles title, Martina's first major title. They teamed again in 1976 to win the women's Wimbledon doubles title over Billie Jean King and Bette Stove.

Navratilova won her first major singles title at Wimbledon in 1978, where she defeated Evert in three sets in the final and captured the World No. 1 ranking for the first time on the WTA computer, although Evert maintained the number one ranking at the end of 1978. She successfully defended her Wimbledon title in 1979, again beating Evert in the final in straight sets, and earned the World No. 1 ranking at the end of the year for the first time. Just before Wimbledon in 1979, Navratilova and Evert played possibly the highest scoring women's professional match ever in the Eastbourne final, which Evert edged 7–5, 5–7, 13-11 after facing match points herself. In April 1981, Evert defeated Navratilova in the finals of the Women's Tennis Association championships, held on clay at Amelia Island, 6–0, 6–0. It was Navratilova's only professional double bagel loss (one she later avenged with a crushing 6–2, 6–0 defeat of Evert in the finals of the same Amelia Island event in 1984). It was at this point that Navratilova began working with Nancy Lieberman to improve her fitness and toughen her mental approach to better compete with Evert and fulfil her true potential.[22] In 1981, Navratilova won her third major singles title by defeating Evert in the final of the Australian Open. Navratilova also defeated Evert to reach the final of the US Open, where she lost a third set tiebreak to Tracy Austin. Navratilova won both Wimbledon and the French Open in 1982.

After adopting basketball player Nancy Lieberman's exercise plan and using Yonex isometric midsize graphite-fiberglass composite racquets, Navratilova became the most dominant player in women's tennis. After losing in the fourth round of the first major event of 1983, the French Open, she captured the year's three remaining major titles (the Australian Open was held in December at that time). Navratilova's loss at the French Open was her only singles defeat during that year, during which she established an 86–1 record. Her winning percentage was the best ever for a post-1968 professional tennis player. During 1982, 1983, and 1984, Navratilova lost a total of only six singles matches.[23] This included a run of 13 consecutive victories over her closest rival and world-ranked #2, Chris Evert. Navratilova's reign from 1982 to 1986 is the most dominant unbroken spell in the professional era.

Navratilova won the 1984 French Open, thus holding all four major singles titles simultaneously. Her accomplishment was declared a "Grand Slam" by Philippe Chatrier, president of the International Tennis Federation, although some tennis observers countered that it was not a true slam because the titles had not been won in a single calendar year. Navratilova extended her major singles tournament winning streak to a record-equalling six following wins at Wimbledon and the US Open. Navratilova's victory meant she became the first player to win majors on clay, grass and hard court on the same year. She entered the 1984 Australian Open with a chance of winning all four titles in the same year. In the semifinals, however, Helena Suková ended Navratilova's 74-match winning streak (a record for a professional) 1–6, 6–3, 7–5.[24]

A left-hander, Navratilova completed a calendar grand slam in women's doubles in 1984, partnering right-handed Pam Shriver, a tall and talented player whose most noted stroke was a slice forehand, a shot virtually unheard of in the game today. This was part of a record 109-match winning streak that the pair achieved between 1983 and 1985. (Navratilova was ranked the World No. 1 doubles player for a period of over three years in the 1980s.) From 1985 through 1987, Navratilova reached the women's singles final at all 11 major tournaments held during those three years, winning six of them. From 1982 through 1990, she reached the Wimbledon final nine consecutive times. She reached the US Open final five consecutive times from 1983 through 1987 and appeared in the French Open final five out of six years from 1982 through 1987.[25]

In 1985, Navratilova played in what many consider to be perhaps the best woman's match of all time, the French Open final against Chris Evert. Navratilova battled back from 3–6, 2–4 down to 5-5 all in the third set, before Evert hit a winning backhand passing shot on match point to defeat Navratilova 6–3, 6–7(4), 7–5. This was a major turnaround for Evert, who was so outmatched the year earlier in the final that Bud Collins remarked as a TV commentator that the sport needed to create a higher league for Navratilova to compete in. In outdoor matches against Evert, Navratilova led 10-5 on grass and 9-7 on hardcourts, while Evert was up 11-3 on clay. On indoor courts, however, Navratilova had a decisive 21–14 lead. At the end of what is widely regarded as the greatest rivalry in women's tennis, Navratilova led Evert 43–37 in total matches, 14–8 in Grand Slams and 10–4 in Grand Slam finals.

Seventeen-year-old German player Steffi Graf emerged on the scene in 1987 when she narrowly beat Navratilova in the final of the French Open, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6. Navratilova defeated Graf in straight sets in the 1987 Wimbledon and US Open finals (and at the US Open became only the third player in the open era to win the women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles at the same event - the rare 'triple crown'). Navratilova reached all four Grand Slam finals in 1987, winning two of them. Graf's consistent play throughout 1987, however, allowed her to obtain the World No. 1 ranking before the end of the year. Graf eventually broke Navratilova's records of 156 consecutive weeks and 331 total weeks as the World No. 1 singles player but fell 60 short of Navratilova's record of 167 singles titles. Including doubles, Navratilova won almost three times as many titles as Graf with a record doubles/mixed/singles combined total of 344 titles to Graf's 118.

In 1988, Graf won all four major singles titles, beating the 31-year-old Navratilova 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 in the Wimbledon final along the way, after recovering from a set and a break down.[26] In 1989, Graf and Navratilova met in the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open, with Graf winning both encounters in three sets. Despite the 13 year age difference between the two players, and Graf's comparative lack of investment in doubles and mixed doubles, Navratilova won 9 of the 18 career singles matches with Graf and 5 of the 9 major singles matches with her. At age 34, Navratilova defeated Graf the last time they played in a major in the semifinals of the 1991 US Open 7–6(2), 6–7(6), 6–4, to end their Grand Slam rivalry 5-4 up. It is worthy to note that all 4 of Graf's Grand Slam victories over Navratilova came in the finals of a Slam. This is reflected in the Grand Slams Finals chart below.

Navratilova and Sukova playing doubles

Navratilova's final major singles triumph was in 1990. In the final, the 33-year-old Navratilova swept Zina Garrison 6–4, 6–1 to claim an all-time record ninth Wimbledon singles crown. Though that was her last major singles title, Navratilova reached two additional major singles finals during the remainder of career. In 1991, she lost in the US Open final to the new World No. 1 Monica Seles. And then in 1994, at the age of 37, Navratilova reached the Wimbledon final, where she lost in three sets to Conchita Martínez. Soon after, she retired from full-time competition on the singles tour. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.

In 2000, Navratilova returned to the tour to mostly play doubles events, while rarely also playing singles. In her first singles performance in eight years, at Eastbourne in 2002, she beat World No. 22 Tatiana Panova before losing in the next round to Daniela Hantuchová in three sets. In 2003, she won the mixed doubles titles at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, partnering Leander Paes. This made her the oldest ever major champion (aged 46 years, 8 months). The Australian Open victory made her the third player in history to complete a "boxed set" of major titles by winning the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles at all four majors. The Wimbledon win allowed her to equal Billie Jean King's record of 20 Wimbledon titles (in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles combined) and extended her overall number of major titles to 58 (second only to Margaret Court, who won 62).[27] Despite being criticized for receiving a wildcard, Navratilova won a singles match over Catalina Castaño 6–0 6–1 at the first round of Wimbledon in 2004, aged 47 years and eight months, to make her the oldest player to win a professional singles match in the open era. She then lost her second round match with Gisela Dulko in three sets.

On July 6, 2006, Navratilova played her last career match at Wimbledon, losing in the third round of mixed doubles to the eventual champions, Israel's Andy Ram and Russia's Vera Zvonareva. Earlier that day, Navratilova lost her women's doubles quarterfinal match against Chinese fourth seeds Yan Zi and Zheng Jie, also the eventual champions. Navratilova capped off her career by winning the mixed doubles title at the 2006 US Open with Bob Bryan, her 41st major doubles title (31 in women's doubles and 10 in mixed doubles) and 177th overall. At the time, she was just over a month away from her 50th birthday.

Navratilova won 167 top-level singles titles (more than any other player in the open era) and 177 doubles titles. Her last title in women's doubles came on August 21, 2006, at the Tier I Rogers Cup in Montreal, Canada, where she partnered Nadia Petrova. Navratilova won 18 major singles titles: nine at Wimbledon, four at the US Open, three at the Australian Open, and two at the French Open. Her overall record in 67 major singles events was 306–49 .862 (120–14 at Wimbledon, 89–17 at the US Open, 51–11 at the French Open, and 46–7 at the Australian Open). Some observers argue that the very few singles matches she played in her forties should be counted separately in her career statistics. She is the only player to have won at least one tour event for 21 consecutive years and won the singles and doubles at the same event a record 84 times. She was ranked in the world top 3 in singles for 15 years between 1977 and 1993. Her career singles match win total of 1,442 is the most during the open era.[28]

In September 1992, the 35-year-old Navratilova played Jimmy Connors in the third Battle of the Sexes tennis match at Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada. Connors was allowed only one serve per point and Navratilova was allowed to hit into half the doubles court. Connors won 7–5, 6–2.[29] She played for the Boston Lobsters in the World TeamTennis pro league through the 2009 season.[30]

Playing style

Navratilova has an attacking serve and volley.[1][31] Under Renee Richards, she improved her game tactics.[32]

Evert said that "Martina revolutionized the game by her superb athleticism and aggressiveness...She brought athleticism to a whole new level with her training techniques — particularly cross-training, the idea that you could go to the gym or play basketball to get in shape for tennis."[1]

Coaching career

In December 2014, it was announced that Navratilova had joined Agnieszka Radwańska's coaching staff.[33] However, in April 2015, after Radwańska struggled in the first half of the season, the pair decided to part ways.[34][35]

Personal life

In 1985, Navratilova released an autobiography, co-written with The New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey, titled Martina in the U.S. and Being Myself in the rest of the world.[36] She had earlier co-written a tennis instruction book with Mary Carillo in 1982, entitled Tennis My Way.[37] She later wrote three mystery novels with Liz Nickles: The Total Zone (1994),[38] Breaking Point (1996),[39] and Killer Instinct (1997).[40] Navratilova's most recent literary effort was a health and fitness book entitled Shape Your Self, which came out in 2006.[41]

Sexuality and relationships

In 1981, shortly after becoming a United States citizen, Navratilova gave an interview to New York Daily News sports reporter Steve Goldstein, coming out as bisexual and revealing that she had a sexual relationship with Rita Mae Brown,[42] but asked him not to publish the article until she was ready to come out publicly.[43] However, the New York Daily News published the article on July 30, 1981.[32][44] Navratilova and Nancy Lieberman, her girlfriend at the time,[45] gave an interview to Dallas Morning News columnist Skip Bayless,[46][47] where Navratilova reiterated that she was bisexual and Lieberman identified herself as straight.[48] Navratilova has since identified herself as a lesbian.[49]

From 1984 to 1991, Navratilova had a long-term relationship with Judy Nelson, whom she met at a tournament in Fort Worth in 1982.[50] Their split in 1991 included a much-publicized legal wrangle. Navratilova was featured in a WITA (Women's International Tennis Association) calendar, shot by Jean Renard with her Wimbledon trophies and Nelson's children in the background.[51]

On September 6, 2014, Navratilova proposed to her longtime girlfriend Julia Lemigova at the US Open.[52] They married in New York on December 15, 2014.[53]

Health problems

On April 7, 2010, Navratilova announced that she was being treated for breast cancer.[54] A routine mammogram in January 2010 revealed that she had a ductal carcinoma in situ in her left breast, which she was informed of on February 24, and in March she had the tumour surgically removed;[55] she received radiation therapy in May.[54]

In December 2010, Navratilova was hospitalized after developing high altitude pulmonary edema while attempting a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.[56]

Activism and opinions

When not playing tennis, Navratilova is involved with various charities that benefit animal rights, underprivileged children, and gay rights. She participated in a lawsuit against Amendment 2, a successful 1992 ballot proposition in Colorado designed to prevent sexual orientation from being a protected class.[57] In 1993, she spoke before the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.[58] She also serves as the Health and Fitness Ambassador for AARP[59] in an alliance created to help AARP's millions of members lead active, healthy lives.

In 2000, she was the recipient of National Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian activist/lobbying group.[60]

A vegetarian, Navratilova appeared in ad campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In an April 2006 interview, however, she said she had recently begun eating fish again because she found it hard to get enough protein while on the road;[61] which would make her a pescetarian rather than a vegetarian; nevertheless in 2008 she described herself as vegetarian.[62]

Navratilova in September 2011

She has spoken out on a number of volatile political issues, including tort/litigation reform, but perhaps her most consistent theme—aside from gay and lesbian rights—has been her unstinting opposition to Communism, and unrelenting opposition to the former Eastern Bloc power structure that compelled her to flee her native Czechoslovakia. She has denounced the Soviet Union's control over Czechoslovakia, maintaining that she refuses to speak Russian to this day because of the Soviet Union's former hegemony over Eastern Europe.

"Whenever people go into politics and they try to say that Communism was a good thing, I say, 'Go ahead and live in a Communist country then, if you think it's so great.' "[61]

Navratilova was a guest on CNN's Connie Chung Tonight show on July 17, 2002. During the show, Chung quoted a German newspaper which quoted Navratilova as saying: "The most absurd part of my escape from the unjust system is that I have exchanged one system that suppresses free opinion for another. The Republicans in the U.S. manipulate public opinion and sweep controversial issues under the table. It's depressing. Decisions in America are based solely on the question of how much money will come out of it and not on the questions of how much health, morals or environment suffer as a result."[63]

Navratilova said that the remarks referred to what she perceived as a trend of centralization of government power and a loss of personal freedom. In the discussion that followed, Chung stated: "Can I be honest with you? I can tell you that when I read this, I have to tell you that I thought it was un-American, unpatriotic. I wanted to say, go back to Czechoslovakia. You know, if you don't like it here, this a country that gave you so much, gave you the freedom to do what you want."[63]

Navratilova responded, "And I'm giving it back. This is why I speak out. When I see something that I don't like, I'm going to speak out because you can do that here. And again, I feel there are too many things happening that are taking our rights away."[63]

Navratilova was quoted in 2007 as being ashamed of the US under President George W. Bush because unlike the communist regime in Czechoslovakia, Bush was elected.[64][65]

Career statistics

Grand Slam Singles Finals: 32 (18–14)

By winning the 1983 US Open title, Navratilova completed the Career Grand Slam. She became only the seventh female player in history to achieve this.

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Runner-up1975Australian OpenGrassAustralia Evonne Goolagong3–6, 2–6
Runner-up1975French OpenClayUnited States Chris Evert6–2, 2–6, 1–6
Winner1978Wimbledon (1)GrassUnited States Chris Evert2–6, 6–4, 7–5
Winner1979Wimbledon (2)GrassUnited States Chris Evert6–4, 6–4
Runner-up1981US OpenHardUnited States Tracy Austin6–1, 6–7(4–7), 6–7(1–7)
Winner1981Australian Open (1)GrassUnited States Chris Evert6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–5
Winner1982French Open (1)ClayUnited States Andrea Jaeger7–6(8–6), 6–1
Winner1982Wimbledon (3)GrassUnited States Chris Evert6–1, 3–6, 6–2
Runner-up1982Australian OpenGrassUnited States Chris Evert3–6, 6–2, 3–6
Winner1983Wimbledon (4)GrassUnited States Andrea Jaeger6–0, 6–3
Winner1983US Open (1)HardUnited States Chris Evert6–1, 6–3
Winner1983Australian Open (2)GrassUnited States Kathy Jordan6–2, 7–6(7–5)
Winner1984French Open (2)ClayUnited States Chris Evert6–3, 6–1
Winner1984Wimbledon (5)GrassUnited States Chris Evert7–6(7–5), 6–2
Winner1984US Open (2)HardUnited States Chris Evert4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Runner-up1985French OpenClayUnited States Chris Evert3–6, 7–6(7–4), 5–7
Winner1985Wimbledon (6)GrassUnited States Chris Evert4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Runner-up1985US OpenHardCzechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková6–7(3–7), 6–1, 6–7(2–7)
Winner1985Australian Open (3)GrassUnited States Chris Evert6–2, 4–6, 6–2
Runner-up1986French OpenClayUnited States Chris Evert6–2, 3–6, 3–6
Winner1986Wimbledon (7)GrassCzechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková7–6(7–1), 6–3
Winner1986US Open (3)HardCzechoslovakia Helena Suková6–3, 6–2
Runner-up1987Australian OpenGrassCzechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková5–7, 6–7(1–7)
Runner-up1987French OpenClayWest Germany Steffi Graf4–6, 6–4, 6–8
Winner1987Wimbledon (8)GrassWest Germany Steffi Graf7–5, 6–3
Winner1987US Open (4)HardWest Germany Steffi Graf7–6(7–4), 6–1
Runner-up1988WimbledonGrassWest Germany Steffi Graf7–5, 2–6, 1–6
Runner-up1989WimbledonGrassWest Germany Steffi Graf2–6, 7–6(7–1), 1–6
Runner-up1989US OpenHardWest Germany Steffi Graf6–3, 5–7, 1–6
Winner1990Wimbledon (9)GrassUnited States Zina Garrison6–4, 6–1
Runner-up1991US OpenHardSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles6–7(1–7), 1–6
Runner-up1994WimbledonGrassSpain Conchita Martínez4–6, 6–3, 3–6

Performance timeline

Key
W  F  SF QF R# RR Q# A NH
(W) Won tournament; reached (F) final, (SF) semifinal, (QF) quarterfinal; (R#) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; competed at a (RR) round-robin stage; reached a (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; or (NH) tournament not held.

Singles

Czechoslovakia United States
Tournament19731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995–20032004
Australian Open A A F A A A A A SF W F W SF W – F SF QF A A A A A A A
French Open QF QF F A A A A A QF W 4R W F F F 4R A A A A A 1R A 1R
Wimbledon 3R 1R QF SF QF W W SF SF W W W W W W F F W QF SF SF F A 2R
US Open 1R 3R SF 1R SF SF SF 4R F QF W W F W W QF F 4R F 2R 4R A A A

Records

Awards

Recognition

In 2005, Tennis magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005, directly over Steffi Graf .[68] Billie Jean King, a former World No. 1 player, said in 2006 that Navratilova is "the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived."[69] In 2008, tennis historian and journalist Bud Collins called Navratilova "arguably, the greatest player of all time."[70]

In 2006, Martina Navratilova was named by Equality Forum as one of their 31 Icons of the LGBT History Month.[71]

Tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century (1999), named her as the second best female player of the 20th century, directly behind [Steffi Graf].[72]

In June 2011, she was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by Time.[73]

In March 2012, The Tennis Channel named Navratilova as the second greatest female tennis player of all times, behind Steffi Graf, in their list of 100 greatest tennis players of all times.[74]

On August 2, 2013, Navratilova was among the first class of inductees into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.[75]

On 12 May 2016, Navratilova was made an honorary fellow of Lucy Cavendish College of the University of Cambridge.[76]

Media

In 1996, Navratilova was featured with American football player Art Monk in an endorsement for PowerBook in an ad series "What's on Your PowerBook?"[77] In November 2008, Martina Navratilova appeared on the UK's ITV series Series 8 of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!; she finished runner-up to Joe Swash.[78] In February 2012 Navratilova was announced as a cast member on the 14th season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Tony Dovolani, but they were the first pair eliminated.[79] Navratilova guest-starred as a dissatisfied Yelp reviewer in episode three of the third season of absurdist comedy Portlandia.[80]

See also

Notes

  • a A Career Boxed Set entails winning all 4 Majors in singles, same sex doubles and mixed doubles.
  • b Doris Hart also holds these records; however, she attained these in the pre-Open Era.
  • c "Combined" refers to singles, same sex doubles and mixed doubles titles.
  • d Margaret Court holds 62 titles; however, she attained part of these in the pre-Open Era.
  • e The Australian Open was held in December, so although Navratilova won 6 straight majors from Wimbledon 1983, she did not technically complete the calendar-year Grand Slam.
  • f Chris Evert reached 34 consecutive Grand Slam singles semifinals from the 1971 US Open to the 1983 French Open, but this was attained in non-consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. She skipped 14 Grand Slam tournaments during her streak.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kettmann, Steve (April 18, 2000). "Martina Navratilova". Salon. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ Adams, Susan B. (September 3, 1984). "Navratilova's Not-So-Silent Partner Is Tough Coach Mike Estep". People. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  3. ↑ Bricker, Charles (August 21, 1994). "Martina Done With U.s. Open, But Not With N.y.". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5114430/title/13-women-have-passed-%2420-million-now
  5. ↑ Lincicome, Bernie (July 8, 1990). "A Natural Ninth For Navratilova". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  6. ↑ open era records
  7. 1 2 3 Schwartz, Larry. "Martina was alone on top". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  8. ↑ Justin McCurry (March 11, 2008). "Navratilova Czechs in with homeland | World news". theguardian.com. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "40 Important Women's Moments: 1975, Martina Defects to the West". WTA.
  10. ↑ "Martina Defects for Love Set", St. Petersburg Independent, September 8, 1975, page 1-C.
  11. ↑ Tim Reid (March 12, 2008). "Martina Navratilova gets passport on rebound". The Times (United Kingdom).
  12. ↑ "I love my birth country and the fact that it is now a free country and a true democracy. But my home is here, in the US. I have lived in America since 1975 and I intend to always live here. This is my home and it feels almost gratuitous to me that I have to affirm my love for the USA. I live here, I vote here, I pay my taxes here and yes, I will do my jury duty ... any reports stating I am leaving and most of all, denouncing my U.S. citizenship are simply not true and quite frankly, insulting." Martina Navratilova (March 25, 2008). "My Dual Citizenship: Why Did the Media Get It So Wrong?". Huffington Post. USA.
  13. ↑ Martina Navratilova. "My Dual Citizenship: Why Did the Media Get It So Wrong?". Martina Navratilova. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009.
  14. 1 2 "MARTINA : Returning to Homeland, It Hits Her That She Now Is Truly an American - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. June 27, 2001. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Woolum, Janet (1998). Outstanding Women Athletes: Who They Are and How They Influenced Sports In America. Greenwood. p. 198. ISBN 978-1573561204.
  16. ↑ "ESPN Classic - Navratilova owned Wimbledon's Center Court". Espn.go.com. November 19, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Martina Navratilova - Tennis Player". BBC. April 17, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  18. ↑ "'Martina will win I'm a Celebrity...' says her controversial ex-lover who was on the other end of the tennis star's savage 'divorce'". Mail Online. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  19. ↑ Rebecca Hardy (April 9, 2010). "Martina Navratilova swears she will conquer breast cancer - just like every other opponent | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Martina Navratilova: 10 things you need to know about the tennis legend". The Daily Mirror. April 7, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Frances Dewey Wormser 1903–2008". Santa Paula Times. February 6, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
  22. ↑ Bonk, Thomas (July 31, 1994). "Jumping Into Retirement : Martina Navratilova Will Go Out at the End of the Year Still Near the Top of the Hill, but It Has Been Quite a Climb". The Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Martina was alone on top". ESPN.
  24. ↑ "Upset Snaps Navratilova's Streak". The New York Times.
  25. ↑ "WTA Records". Tennis Bios.
  26. ↑ Pye, Stephen (June 25, 2014). "Remembering Edberg, Graf, and British disappointment at Wimbledon 1988". The Guardian UK. The Guardian. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Wimbledon legends: Martina Navratilova". BBC. May 26, 2004.
  28. ↑ "NO.1 SPOTLIGHT: MARTINA NAVRATILOVA". WTA Tennis.
  29. ↑ JimAsian1. "1992 Tennis Jimmy Connors Martina Navratilova B". YouTube. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  30. ↑ "SERENA WILLIAMS TOPS ALL-STAR LIST IN ADVANTA WORLD TEAMTENNIS PRO LEAGUE MARQUEE PLAYER DRAFT". Mylan WTT.
  31. ↑ Jennings, Jay (June 12, 2005). "'The Rivals': Women in White". The New York Times. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  32. 1 2 Tignor, Steve (April 29, 2013). "Martina's Moment". Tennis.com. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  33. ↑ Radwanska's New Coach: Navratilova, WTA Official Website, December 9, 2014
  34. ↑ Tandon, Kamakshi (24 April 2015). "Navratilova no longer working with Radwanska". tennis.com. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  35. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/apr/24/martina-navratilova-stands-down-agnieszka-radwanska-coach
  36. ↑ Vecsey, George; Navratilova, Martina (1985). Martina. New York: Knopf. ISBN 0-394-53640-1.
  37. ↑ Bowden, Mary Ellen; Navratilova, Martina (1983). Tennis My Way. New York: Scribner. ISBN 0-684-18003-0.
  38. ↑ Nickles, Elizabeth; Navratilova, Martina (1994). The Total Zone. New York: Villard Books. ISBN 0-345-38867-4.
  39. ↑ Navratilova, Martina (1997). Breaking Point. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-38868-2.
  40. ↑ Navratilova, Martina (1995). Killer Instinct. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-47268-3.
  41. ↑ Navratilova, Martina (2006). Shape Your Self. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 0-316-73296-6.
  42. ↑ Sachs, Andrea (March 18, 2008). "Rita Mae Brown: Loves Cats, Hates Marriage". Time. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  43. ↑ Kaki Flynn (April 12, 2005). "Athlete, Author, Activist". Outsports.
  44. ↑ "Martina Fears Avon's Call If She Talks". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  45. ↑ http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/did/did_20120708-1200a.mp3
  46. ↑ Hegde, Prajwal (July 6, 2013). "Courting the closet". The Times of India. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  47. ↑ Bayless, Skip (August 1, 1981). "Millionairess In Search Of Happiness". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  48. ↑ Howard, Johnette (2005). The Rivals: Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova Their Epic Duels and Extraordinary Friendship. Crown Archetype. pp. 179–180. ISBN 978-0767918848.
  49. ↑ Howard, Johnette (2005). The Rivals: Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova Their Epic Duels and Extraordinary Friendship. Crown Archetype. p. 181. ISBN 978-0767918848.
  50. ↑ Reed, Susan (July 8, 1991). "Love Match No More". People. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  51. ↑ "WTA Players". On Tennis.
  52. ↑ "The Sweet Story Behind Martina Navratilova's Marriage Proposal". People.
  53. ↑ "Martina Navratilova Marries Julia Lemigova". People.
  54. 1 2 "Tennis great Martina Navratilova 'has breast cancer'". BBC News. April 7, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  55. ↑ "Martina Navratilova diagnosed with breast cancer". Telegraph. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  56. ↑ Harvey Araton (December 12, 2010). "Navratilova Leaves Hospital After Kilimanjaro Attempt". The New York Times.
  57. ↑ "Navratilova joins suit over gay-rights law". The Pueblo Chieftain.
  58. ↑ "Gay History Month: Exclusive article by Martina Navratilova". PrideSource: Between the Lines.
  59. ↑ "Martina Navratilova, Fitness Expert, Healthy Living". AARP.org. October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  60. ↑ Belge, Kathy "Martina Navratilova", lesbianlife.about.com
  61. 1 2 "Shape Up!: Fitness tips from Martina Navratilova". The Leonard Lopate Show. WNYC Radio. April 3, 2006.
  62. ↑ Navratilova, M. (2008). "Champion on Fair Play". In Newkirk, I.E. One Can Make a Difference. Adams Media. pp. 172–73. I advocate eating nutritious food (I'm a vegetarian), working out, being in top form mentally and physically...
  63. 1 2 3 "Navratilova Sets the Record Straight "-Transcript, Connie Chung Tonight, (CNN), Aired July 17, 2002
  64. ↑ "Martina Navratilova is now Czech again". The Daily Telegraph. March 11, 2008.
  65. ↑ "Disillusioned with the US, Navratilova defects again". The Independent. March 12, 2008.
  66. ↑ "WTA Players Stats Martina Navratilova". wtatennis.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  67. ↑ "Players". WTA Tennis English. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  68. ↑ "40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era". Tennis. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
  69. ↑ Bonnie DeSimone (September 11, 2006). "Act II of Navratilova's career ends with a win". ESPN. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  70. ↑ Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York, N.Y: New Chapter Press. p. 600. ISBN 0-942257-41-3.
  71. ↑ "Martina Navratilova". Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  72. ↑ "Exclusive Interview with Steve Flink about the career of Chris Evert". ChrisEvert.net. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  73. ↑ William Lee Adams (June 22, 2011). "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future – Martina Navratilova". Time. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  74. ↑ "The list". tennischannel.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  75. ↑ "National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame's Inaugural Class Announced | Out Magazine". Out.com. June 18, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  76. ↑ Harrison, Sam (13 May 2016). "Lucy Cavendish appoints Martina Navratilova honorary fellow". The Cambridge Student. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  77. ↑ "12 Important Moments In The History Of Apple Advertising". Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  78. ↑ "I'm a Celebrity: Robert Kilroy-Silk is Martina Navratilova's 'hero'". Telegraph. November 21, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  79. ↑ "Tony Dovolani 'Destroyed' over Martina Navratilova's Dancing with the Stars Elimination". people.com. March 28, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  80. ↑ Locker, Melissa (January 9, 2013). "Portlandia - Martina Navratilova gives the feminist bookstore a bad Yelp review on this episode of Portlandia". IFC. Retrieved September 7, 2014.

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