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© Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum |
Navratilova won a record number of nine singles titles,
spanning three decades and involving some of the fiercest
rivalries in women’s tennis history. Generation-hopping
with such success is difficult to achieve.
And she entered a fourth decade at the 2003 Championships
when she become the oldest ever Grand Slam champion at 46
years 261 days after winning the Mixed Doubles title with
Leander Paes. Earlier in the year she become the first player
in the Open era to win every Slam event available when she won
the 2003 Australian Open Mixed Doubles title also with Leander
Paes (ie. Ladies' Singles, Ladies' Doubles and Mixed Doubles
in all four Grand Slam events). In total she has won 58
Grand Slam titles.
Navratilova's victory at the 2003 Championships alongside
Paes also meant that she equalled Billie Jean King's record
number of 20 Wimbledon titles.
But what makes Navratilova “greatness” are
less tangible factors. She has humility, honesty and vulnerability.
People can relate to those traits which are often disguised
or discarded by other superstars. She is an approachable
icon with a smile that lights up a court or a room.
Navratilova has had to come through personal trauma. The
Czech defected from her native land to settle in the United
States as a sensitive teenager, a little heartbroken, a
little lonely. A junk food diet and the effect it had on
her body reflected her inner turmoil. Later, she came under
pressure concerning her sexuality.
But she has been able to hold the negatives at bay and
combine her pragmatic side with her passion as a player.
Her fitness regimes alone revolutionised women's tennis
as she developed a powerful attacking game, full of variety
and just about perfect for Wimbledon. It was certainly enough
to overtake American rival Chris Evert.
She is a doer and is committed to the sport that has made
her a household name. Navratilova served on the WTA and
promotes her sport, offers encouragement to younger players
and loves the game.
She said after her doubles triumph with Paes: "I didn't
think about winning when I first started playing, I just
wanted to play. I just thought about competing, see how
good I can still play." That's pure Navratilova.
The late Ted Tinling, the famous dress designer and ambassador
for tennis, saw other women’s tennis greats Margaret
Court, Maureen Connolly and, in the 1920s, Suzanne Lenglen.
He said of Navratilova: "I never thought I would ever
see anyone who could replace Suzanne Lenglen as the greatest
player and personality in my lifetime... but now I have."
Written by Mike Donovan
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA
Singles Champion: 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986,
1987, 1990
Singles Runner-up: 1988, 1989, 1994
Doubles Champion: 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
Doubles Runner-up: 1977, 1985
Mixed Doubles Champion: 1985, 1993, 1995, 2003
Mixed Doubles Runner-up: 1986
