Martina Navratilova

Martina Navrátilová (born October 18 1956, in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a former World No. 1 woman tennis player. She is generally considered one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time.

Originally from Czechoslovakia, she defected to the United States in 1975 and became a U.S. citizen in 1981. During her career she won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and 40 Grand Slam doubles titles (31 women's doubles and 9 mixed doubles). She won the women's singles title at Wimbledon a record 9 times. She is also well known as openly being lesbian, in a time when admitting sexual orientation was not as common as today.

Tennis career

Navrátilová was born Martina Šubertová in 1956. Her parents divorced when she was three, and 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 .

In 1972 at the age of 15, Navrátilová won the Czechoslovakian national tennis championship. In 1973, aged 16, she turned professional. She won her first professional singles title in Orlando, Florida in 1974.

A left-handed serve-and-volleyer with superb volleying skills, Navrátilová raised the women’s game to new levels with her power and aggression. She struggled with her weight in the early years of her career and was at one point unflatteringly labelled the “Great Wide Hope” by the journalist Bud Collins. However, her determination to reach the top of the game saw her embark on a punishing routine to get herself into shape that eventually made extreme levels of fitness and conditioning a hallmark of her game.

Navrátilová finished runner-up at two of the Grand Slams in 1975 - losing in the final of the Australian Open to Evonne Goolagong and the French Open to Chris Evert. After losing to Evert in the semi-finals of that year's U.S. Open, the 18-year-old Navrátilová 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.

Navrátilová won her first Grand Slam 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. She beat Evert in the final again to successfully defend her Wimbledon title in 1979.

In 1981, Navrátilová won her third Grand Slam singles title by defeating Evert in the final of the Australian Open. Navrátilová also reached the final of the U.S. Open, where she lost a third set tie-breaker to Tracy Austin. Navrátilová won both Wimbledon and the French Open in 1982.

The mid-1980s were the most dominant period of Navrátilová’s career. After losing in the fourth round of the first Grand Slam event of 1983 - the French Open - she captured the year's three remaining Grand Slam titles (the Australian Open was held in December at that time). Navrátilová’s loss at the French Open was her only singles defeat during that amazing season, during which she established an 86-1 record. Her winning percentage that year is the best ever for a professional tennis player. During 1982, 1983, and 1984, Navrátilová lost a total of only six singles matches.

Navrátilová won the 1984 French Open, enabling her to hold all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously. This was extended to a record-equalling six consecutive Grand Slams following wins at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. She entered the 1984 Australian Open with a chance of winning all four titles in the same year. However in the semi-finals, Helena Suková ended a 74-match winning streak (a record for a professional) by beating Navrátilová 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Navrátilová succeeded in winning all four Grand Slam women’s doubles titles in 1984, partnering Pam Shriver. This was part of a record 109-match winning streak that the pair achieved between 1983 and 1985. (Navrátilová was ranked the World No. 1 doubles player for a period of over three years in the 1980s.)

In the three years from 1985 to 1987, Navrátilová reached the women’s singles final at all 11 Grand Slam tournaments she entered, winning six of them (and extending her run of triumphs at Wimbledon to a record six consecutive).

A new threat to Navrátilová’s dominance, in the form of the young German player Steffi Graf, emerged on the scene in 1987 when she beat Navrátilová in the final of the French Open, whipping both relentless forehand and deft, sliced backhand passing shots out of Navrátilová’s reach. Navrátilová beat Graf in the 1987 Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals (and at the U.S. 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). But Graf’s consistent play throughout 1987 allowed her to obtain the World No. 1 before the end of the year. (Graf eventually went on to break Navrátilová’s records of 156 consecutive weeks and 331 total weeks as the World No. 1 singles player, but never came close to breaking Navrátilová's record 167 singles titles as Graf topped out at 107). In 1988, Graf won all four Grand Slam singles titles, beating Navrátilová 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 in the Wimbledon final along the way. In 1989, Graf and Navrátilová met in the finals of the both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, with Graf winning both encounters in three sets.

But Navrátilová was to have one final Grand Slam singles triumph, in 1990. Graf was knocked-out in the Wimbledon semi-finals that year by Zina Garrison. In the final, the 33-year old Navrátilová blew Garrison away 6-4, 6-1 to claim a record-breaking ninth Wimbledon singles crown. Though that was her last Grand Slam singles title, Navrátilová made two further major finals in the years that followed. In 1991, she lost in the U.S. Open final to the new World No. 1 Monica Seles. And then in 1994, at the age of 37, Navrátilová reached the Wimbledon final one last time where she lost valiantly in three sets to Conchita Martinez.

In 1994, Navrátilová retired from the singles tour. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.

Since 2000, Navrátilová has returned to the tour to play doubles events, while occasionally also playing singles. In 2003, she won the mixed doubles titles at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon partnering Leander Paes. This makes her the oldest ever Grand Slam champion (aged 46 years, 8 months). The Australian Open victory made her only the third player in history to complete a “boxed set” of Grand Slam titles by winning the women’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles at all four Slams. The Wimbledon win allowed her to equal Billie Jean King’s record of 20 Wimbledon titles (in singles and double combined) and extended her overall number of Grand Slam titles to 58 (second only to Margaret Court, who won 62). Navrátilová won a singles match at the first round of Wimbledon in 2004, aged 47 years and 8 months, to make her the oldest player to win a professional singles match in the Open Era.

Over the course of her career, Navrátilová won 167 top-level singles titles (more than any other player in the Open Era) and 176 doubles titles. Her most recent title came on May 27, 2006, at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in Strasbourg, France, where she won the women's doubles event partnering Liezel Huber. Her last Tier I title came on August 21, 2005, at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, where she won the women's doubles event partnering Anna-Lena Groenefeld. Navrátilová won 18 Grand Slam singles titles during her career: 9 at Wimbledon, 4 at the U.S. Open, 3 at the Australian Open, and 2 at the French Open. Her overall record in 67 Grand Slam events was 306-49 .862 (120-14 at Wimbledon, 89-17 at the U.S. Open, 51-11 at the French Open, and 46-7 at the Australian Open).

On July 5, 2006, Navrátilová announced that this Wimbledon would be her last, and by the end of the 2006 season she would retire from doubles play. On July 6, 2006, Navrátilová played her last ever match at Wimbledon, losing in the mixed doubles to Israel's Andy Ram and Russia's Vera Zvonareva in the third round of the mixed event. Earlier on the same day Navrátilová lost her women's doubles quarter final match against Chinese fourth seeds Zi Yan and Jie Zheng.

Personal life

According to Mike W. Martin, author of Everyday Morality, Navrátilová labels herself "bisexual", not lesbian, although she says that she thinks the label sounds "creepy". Moreover, she admits that, as an adult, she has been attracted primarily to other women.

In her autobiography, Martina, Navrátilová says that she had romantic crushes on teachers of both sexes and, later, felt strongly attracted to other female tennis players, but she didn't realize that these attractions had a sexual dimension until she was 18 years old, when she was seduced by another, older woman, and had her first overtly homosexual relationship, which she describes in her autobiography: "When it finally happened, I said, this is easy and right. . . . I was in love, just like in the story books, and everything felt great."

However, her parents--especially her father--were disturbed by the news of her bisexuality, which her father characterized as her "sickness." During one of the many arguments that ensued Navrátilová's coming out, her father remarked that he'd preferred that she'd been a prostitute rather than a lesbian.

According to Martin, Navrátilová feared that her bisexuality might disrupt her application for American citizenship following her defection from Czechoslovakia, a country in which, Martin points out, "gays were sent to insane asylums and lesbians never came out of the closet."

In 1981, shortly after being granted U.S. citizenship, Navrátilová took the bold step of coming out publicly about her sexual orientation. In response to media speculation about her relationship with the author Rita Mae Brown, Navrátilová became one of the first major sports stars to announce that she was a lesbian.

Navrátilová’s openness about her sexuality almost certainly cost her millions in endorsement opportunities.

From 1983 to 1991, Navrátilová had a long-term relationship with partner Judy Nelson. Their split in 1991 was messy and included a much-publicized legal wrangle.

When not playing tennis, Navrátilová is involved with various charities that benefit animal rights, underprivileged children and gay rights. She released an autobiography, simply entitled Martina, in 1985, and also co-wrote three mystery novels in the 1990s.

A vegetarian, Navrátilová has appeared in ad campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In an April 2006 interview, she said she had recently begun eating fish again because she found it hard to get enough protein while on the road.

Navrátilová also made a humorous guest appearance on the gay-themed NBC sitcom Will & Grace in a 2000 episode in which a flashback revealed that she had been a heterosexual until a 1985 relationship with Karen Walker turned her gay .

Trivia

The character Martina Zoana Mel Navrátilová from the animé series Slayers was named after her.

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (18)

Chris Evert || 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 Chris Evert-Lloyd || 6-4, 6-4 Chris Evert-Lloyd || 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 Andrea Jaeger || 7-6, 6-1 Chris Evert-Lloyd || 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 Andrea Jaeger || 6-0, 6-3 Chris Evert-Lloyd || 6-1, 6-3 Kathy Jordan || 6-2, 7-6 Chris Evert-Lloyd || 6-3, 6-1 Chris Evert-Lloyd || 7-6, 6-2 Chris Evert-Lloyd || 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 Chris Evert-Lloyd ||4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Chris Evert-Lloyd || 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 Hana Mandliková || 7-6, 6-3 Helena Suková || 6-3, 6-2 Steffi Graf || 7-5, 6-3 Steffi Graf || 7-6, 6-1 Zina Garrison-Jackson || 6-4, 6-1

'''Year

'''Championship

'''Opponent in Final

'''Score in Final

Runner-ups (14)

'''Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final 1975 Australian Open Evonne Faye Goolagong 6-3, 6-2 1975 French Open Christine Marie Evert 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 1981 U.S. Open Tracy Ann Austin 1-6, 7-6, 7-6 1982 Australian Open Christine Marie Evert Lloyd 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 1985 French Open Christine Marie Evert Lloyd 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 1985 U.S. Open Hana Mandliková 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 1986 French Open Christine Marie Evert Lloyd 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 1987 Australian Open Hana Mandliková 7-5, 7-6 1987 French Open Stefanie Maria Graf 6-4, 4-6, 8-6 1988 Wimbledon Stefanie Maria Graf 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 1989 Wimbledon Stefanie Maria Graf 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 1989 U.S. Open Stefanie Maria Graf 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 1991 U.S. Open Moanica Seles 7-6, 6-1 1994 Wimbledon Concepcion Martinez Bernat 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Tournament	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	2003	2004	Career
Australian Open	-	-	F	-	-	-	-	SF	W	F	W	SF	W	-	F	SF	QF	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
French Open	QF	QF	F	-	-	-	-	-	QF	W	4r	W	F	F	F	4r	-	-	-	-	-	1r	-	-	1r	2
Wimbledon	3r	1r	QF	SF	QF	W	W	SF	SF	W	W	W	W	W	W	F	F	W	QF	SF	SF	F	-	-	2r	9
U.S. Open	1r	3r	SF	1r	SF	SF	SF	4r	F	QF	W	W	F	W	W	QF	F	4r	F	2r	4r	-	-	-	-	4
Grand Slam Win-Loss	5-3	5-3	16-4	5-2	9-2	11-1	11-1	11-3	19-3	20-2	23-1	25-1	25-2	20-1	25-2	18-4	16-3	10-1	10-2	6-2	8-2	6-2	-	-	1-2	305-49

Grand Slam doubles titles

Women's doubles titles (31)

'''Year Championship Partner 1975 French Open Christine Marie (Chris) Evert 1976 Wimbledon Christine Marie (Chris) Evert 1977 U.S. Open Betty Stove 1978 U.S. Open Billie Jean Moffitt King 1979 Wimbledon Billie Jean Moffitt King 1980 U.S. Open Billie Jean Moffitt King 1980 Australian Open (Dec.) Betsy Nagelsen 1981 Wimbledon Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1982 French Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1982 Wimbledon Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1982 Australian Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1983 Wimbledon Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1983 U.S. Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1983 Australian Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1984 French Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1984 Wimbledon Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1984 U.S. Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1984 Australian Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1985 French Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1985 Australian Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1986 French Open Andrea Temesvari 1986 Wimbledon Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1986 U.S. Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1987 Australian Open (Jan.) Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1987 French Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1987 U.S. Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1988 Australian Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1988 French Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1989 Australian Open Pamela Howard (Pam) Shriver 1989 U.S. Open Hana Mandliková 1990 U.S. Open Beatriz Cristina (Gigi) Fernandez

Mixed doubles titles (9)

'''Year Championship Partner 1974 French Open Ivan Molina 1985 French Open Heinz Gunthardt 1985 Wimbledon Paul McNamee 1985 U.S. Open Heinz Gunthardt 1987 U.S. Open Emilio Sanchez 1993 Wimbledon Mark Woodforde 1995 Wimbledon Jonathan Stark 2003 Australian Open Leander Paes 2003 Wimbledon Leander Paes

Singles Titles (167)

1974
- Orlando

1975
- Washington D.C., Boston, Denver, Charlotte

1976
- Houston, Sydney

1977
- Washington D.C., Houston, Minnesota, Detroit, Edinburgh, Charlotte

1978
- Wimbledon, Virginia Slims Championships, Washington, D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Detroit, Kansas City, Eastbourne, Phoenix

1979
- Wimbledon, Avon Championships, Oakland, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Richmond, Atlanta, Phoenix, Brighton

1980
- Colgate Series Championships, Kansas City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, Dallas, Amelia Island, Orlando, Montreal, Richmond, Tokyo

1981
- Australian Open, Avon Championships, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Dallas, Chicago, Orlando, U.S. Indoors, Tampa, Tokyo Cup

1982
- French Open, Wimbledon, Toyota Championships, Eastbourne, Canadian Open, Filderstadt, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, Sydney, Hilton Head, Orlando, Brighton

1983
- Australian Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, Virginia Slims Championships, Eastbourne, Canadian Open, Tampa, Filderstadt, Tokyo Cup, Hilton Head, Washington, D.C., Houston, Chicago, Dallas, Orlando, Los Angeles

1984 (all in 74-match winning streak)
- French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, Virginia Slims Championships ^*, Amelia Island, Eastbourne, U.S. Indoors, Sydney, Orlando, Newport, Mahwah, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans

1985
- Australian Open, Wimbledon, Virginia Slims Championships ^*, Miami, Eastbourne, Sydney, Washington, D.C., Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Brisbane

1986
- Wimbledon, U.S. Open, Virginia Slims Championships Virginia Slims Championships ^*," target="_blank" >New England [Nov

1987
- Wimbledon, U.S. Open, Filderstadt, Chicago

1988
- Dallas, Oakland, Washington, D.C., New England, Chicago, Hilton Head, Amelia Island, Eastbourne, Filderstadt

1989
- Los Angeles, Dallas, New England, Sydney, Tokyo Pacific, Birmingham, Eastbourne, Canadian Open

1990
- Wimbledon, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Indian Wells, Hilton Head, Eastbourne

1991
- Chicago, Palm Springs, Birmingham, Eastbourne, Oakland

1992
- Chicago, U.S. Hardcourts, Los Angeles, Filderstadt

1993
- Tokyo Pacific, Paris Indoors, Eastbourne, Los Angeles, Oakland

1994
- Paris Indoors

References

External links

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