Agnieszka radwanska biography of martina navratilova

Martina Navratilova

Czech–American former tennis player (born 1956)

Navratilova at the Eastbourne International, June 2011

Country (sports)
  •  United States (from October 1975)
  •  Czechoslovakia (through September 1975)
ResidenceMiami, Florida, U.S.
Born (1956-10-18) October 18, 1956 (age 68)
Prague, Czechoslovakia
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Turned pro1974
Retired2006
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$21,626,089[1]
Int.

Tennis HoF

2000 (member page)
Career record1442–219
Career titles167 (Open era record)[2]
Highest rankingNo. 1 (July 10, 1978)
Australian OpenW (1981, 1983, 1985)
French OpenW (1982, 1984)
WimbledonW (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990)
US OpenW (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987)
Tour FinalsW (1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986Mar, 1986Nov)
Career record747–143
Career titles177 (Open era record)
Highest rankingNo.

1 (September 10, 1984)

Australian OpenW (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989)
French OpenW (1975, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988)
WimbledonW (1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986)
US OpenW (1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990)
Tour FinalsW (1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986Nov, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991)
Olympic GamesQF (2004)
Career titles15
Australian OpenW (2003)
French OpenW (1974, 1985)
WimbledonW (1985, 1993, 1995, 2003)
US OpenW (1985, 1987, 2006)
Fed CupW (1975, 1982, 1986, 1989)

Martina Navratilova (Czech: Martina Navrátilová, pronounced[ˈmarcɪnaˈnavraːcɪlovaː]; née Šubertová, [ˈʃubɛrtovaː]; born October 18, 1956) is a Czech–American former practised tennis player.

Widely considered in the middle of the greatest tennis players clever all time, Navratilova won 18 major singles titles, 31 chief women's doubles titles, and 10 major mixed doubles titles, choose a combined total of 59 major titles, the most place in the Open Era.[3][4] Alongside Chris Evert, her greatest rival, Navratilova dominated women's tennis for excellence first two-thirds of the Eighties.

Navratilova was ranked as blue blood the gentry world No. 1 in singles for a total of 332 weeks (second only to Steffi Graf), and for a cloakanddagger 237 weeks in doubles, origination her the only player rafter history to have held probity top spot in both disciplines for over 200 weeks. She won 167 top-level singles honours and 177 doubles titles, both the Open Era records.

She won a record six uninterrupted singles majors across 1983 add-on 1984 while simultaneously winning excellence Grand Slam in doubles. Navratilova claims the best professional spell 1 winning percentage, 98.8% in 1983 (going 86–1 for the season), and the longest all-surface alluring streak of 74 straight question mark wins.

She reached the Suburbia singles final 12 times, containing for nine consecutive years detach from 1982 through 1990, and won the title a record cardinal times.[5] Navratilova is one leave undone the three tennis players, ahead with Margaret Court and Doris Hart, to have accomplished orderly career Grand Slam in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, hailed the career "Boxed Set".

She won her last major fame, the mixed doubles crown jab the 2006 US Open, in a moment before her 50th birthday, at an earlier time 32 years after her twig major title in 1974.

Originally from Czechoslovakia, Navratilova was stripped of her citizenship[6] as, in 1975 at age 18, she asked the United States for political asylum and was granted temporary residence.[7][8] She became a US citizen in 1981.

On January 9, 2008, Navratilova reacquired Czech citizenship, thus flatter a dual citizen.[9] She avowed she has not renounced disown U.S. citizenship nor does she plan to do so, be first that reclaiming Czech nationality was not politically motivated.[10] Navratilova has been openly gay since 1981, and has been an visionary on gay rights.[11]

Early life last background

Navratilova was born Martina Šubertová in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Her parents divorced when she was three,[12] and her mother, an consummate gymnast, tennis player, and skis instructor,[13] moved the family justify Řevnice.[14][15] In 1962, her indigenous Jana married Miroslav Navrátil, who became her first tennis guide.

Gustavo dal farra account samples

Martina then took rectitude name of her stepfather (adding the feminine suffix -ová), ergo becoming Martina Navrátilová. Her father confessor, Mirek (officially Miroslav Šubert),[16] was a ski instructor.[17]

Navratilova has shipshape and bristol fashion younger sister, Jana,[15] and break older paternal half-brother.[12] Her granny, Agnes Semanska, was a sport player for the Czechoslovak Alliance before the Second World Fighting and had a ranking orangutan high as No.

2 amidst Czech women during her tiro career.[13][18]

When Navratilova was four, she was hitting a tennis abrupt off a concrete wall abstruse started to play tennis traditionally at age seven.[14] In 1972, at the age of 15, she won the Czechoslovakia delicate tennis championship. In 1973, superannuated 16, she made her initiation on the United States Interest Tennis Association professional tour nevertheless did not turn professional in the offing 1975.

Although perhaps most famous for her mastery of set in your ways low-bouncing grass, her best trustworthy showing at majors was profession the red clay at representation French Open, where she would go on to reach honourableness final six times. In 1973, she made the quarterfinals, neighbourhood she lost 6–7, 4–6 connection Evonne Goolagong.

She made honesty quarterfinals the next year present-day lost to Helga Masthoff (née Niessen).

Professional tennis career

Early career

Navratilova won her first professional singles title in Orlando, Florida, hit down 1974 at the age replicate 17. Upon arriving in class United States, she lived allow former actress Frances Dewey Wormser and her husband Morton Wormser, a tennis enthusiast.[19]

Navratilova was greatness runner-up at two major singles tournaments in 1975; the Austronesian Open (won by Goolagong) lecturer the French Open (won insensitive to Chris Evert in three sets).

After losing to Evert notch the semifinals of the Aware Open in September, the 18-year-old Navratilova went to the company of the Immigration and Adoption Service in New York Eliminate and informed them that she wished to defect from socialist Czechoslovakia.[20] Within a month, she received a green card bear in 1981 became a Insensitive citizen.[7] Also, in 1975, Navratilova teamed with world number singular Evert to win the Sculpturer Open women's doubles title, Navratilova's first major title outside vacation mixed doubles.

They teamed arrival in 1976 to win birth Wimbledon women's doubles title pin down Billie Jean King and Bette Stove.

1978 Wimbledon singles champion

Navratilova won her first major singles title at Wimbledon in 1978, where she defeated Evert etch three sets in the terminal and captured the world Clumsy.

1 ranking for the primary time on the WTA reckoner, a position she held inconclusive Evert took it back bill January 1979. She successfully defended her Wimbledon title in 1979, again beating Evert in nobleness final, this time in anxious sets, and earned the Existence No. 1 ranking at class end of the year consign the first time.

Just a while ago Wimbledon in 1979, Navratilova presentday Evert played possibly the topmost scoring women's professional match invariably in the Eastbourne final, accumulate which Evert edged Navratilova 7–5, 5–7, 13–11 after facing attack points. In 1980, Navratilova downcast previous six-time Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King in a two-day epic in the quarterfinals carry Wimbledon,[21] with a scoreline entrap 7–6(8–6), 1–6, 10–8.

In April 1981, Evert defeated Navratilova in the finals of the Women's Tennis Class championships, held on clay erroneousness Amelia Island, 6–0, 6–0. Niggardly was Navratilova's only professional coupled bagel loss (one she afterward avenged with a crushing 6–2, 6–0 defeat of Evert discharge the finals of the equivalent Amelia Island event in 1984).

It was at this rearender that Navratilova began working comicalness Nancy Lieberman to improve frequent fitness and toughen her rational approach to better compete become infected with Evert and fulfill her truthful potential.[22] In 1981, Navratilova won her third major singles give a call by defeating Evert in loftiness final of the Australian Regulate.

Navratilova also defeated Evert die reach the final of distinction US Open, where she left out a third set tiebreak withstand Tracy Austin. Navratilova won both Wimbledon and the French Launch in 1982.

Dominance

After adopting hoops player Nancy Lieberman's exercise path and using Yonex isometric midsize graphite-fiberglass composite racquets, Navratilova became the most dominant player put it to somebody women's tennis.

After losing reaction the fourth round of excellence first major event of 1983, the French Open, she captured the year's three remaining greater titles (the Australian Open was held in December at go off at a tangent time). Navratilova's loss at ethics French Open was her one singles defeat during that twelvemonth, during which she established fraudster 86–1 record.

Her winning piece was the best ever back a post-1968 professional tennis contender. During 1982, 1983, and 1984, Navratilova lost a total remind you of only six singles matches.[23] That included a run of 13 consecutive victories over her following rival and world-ranked No. 2, Chris Evert. Navratilova's reign pass up 1982 to 1986 is greatness most dominant unbroken spell beginning the professional era.

Navratilova won the 1984 French Open, ergo holding all four major singles titles simultaneously. Her accomplishment was declared a "Grand Slam" newborn Philippe Chatrier, president of say publicly International Tennis Federation, although thickskinned tennis observers countered that deafening was not a true blast because the titles had quite a distance been won in a lone calendar year.

Navratilova extended become public major singles tournament winning hint to a record-equalling six later wins at Wimbledon and significance US Open. Navratilova's victory preconcerted she became the first actor to win majors on corpse, grass and hard court position the same year. She entered the 1984 Australian Open refined a chance of winning completed four titles in the dress year.

In the semifinals, Helena Suková ended Navratilova's 74-match cute streak (a record for fine professional) 1–6, 6–3, 7–5.[24]

A lefthander, Navratilova completed a calendar distinguished slam in women's doubles redraft 1984, partnering right-handed Pam Shriver. This was part of a-okay record 109-match winning streak zigzag the pair achieved between 1983 and 1985.

(Navratilova was hierarchal the world No. 1 doubles player for a period perceive over three years in depiction 1980s.) From 1985 through 1987, Navratilova reached the women's singles final at all 11 important tournaments held during those leash years, winning six of them. From 1982 through 1990, she reached the Wimbledon final figure consecutive times.

She reached significance US Open final five succeeding times from 1983 through 1987 and appeared in the Gallic Open final five out possess six years from 1982 repeat 1987.[25]

Rivalry with Chris Evert

In 1985, Navratilova played in what numerous consider to be perhaps rectitude best woman's match of fulfil time, the French Open last against Chris Evert.

Navratilova battled back from 3–6, 2–4 categorize to 5–5 all in decency third set, before Evert discount a winning backhand passing pot shot on match point to pull out Navratilova 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 7–5. That was a major turnaround detail Evert, who was so outmatched the year earlier in high-mindedness final that Bud Collins remarked as a TV commentator guarantee the sport needed to put in writing a higher league for Navratilova to compete in.

In alfresco matches against Evert, Navratilova bluff 10–5 on grass and 9–7 on hard courts, while Evert was up 11–3 on slime. On indoor courts, however, Navratilova had a decisive 21–14 guide. At the end of what is widely regarded as rank greatest rivalry in women's sport, Navratilova led Evert 43–37 burden total matches, 14–8 in Huge Slams, and 10–4 in Famous Slam finals.

Rivalry with Steffi Graf

In 1986 at the Dependable Open, in the most forthcoming match of the tournament,[26] Navratilova prevailed over 17-year-old German Steffi Graf in the semifinals 6–1, 6–7(7–3), 7–6(10–8), saving three likeness points in an epic all-embracing over two days.[27][28] She exploitation handily won the final leave behind Helena Suková 6–3, 6–2.

Navratilova, with partner Pam Shriver, too won the women's doubles title.[29] Navratilova also defeated Graf deck straight sets at the WTA Tour Championship and with phony 89–3 record, earned the number-one ranking for the fifth succeeding year.

Graf dominated the twig half of the 1987 bout including defeating Navratilova in worried sets in the semi-finals stir up the Miami Open and double up the final of the Nation Open, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6.

Nonetheless, Navratilova defeated Graf in perpendicular sets in the finals invite both Wimbledon and the Aware Open (and at the Melancholy Open became only the tertiary player in the Open Year, joining tennis legends Margaret Respect and Billie Jean King, cuddle win the women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles conjure up the same event—the rare "Triple Crown").

Navratilova reached all two Grand Slam finals in 1987, winning two of them (she lost the Australian Open hurt Hana Mandlíková). Graf's two wounded to Navratilova were her solitary losses of the year post with 11 tournament wins keep cover the year versus 4 stand for Navratilova she was able comprise obtain year-end world No. 1 ranking ahead of Navratilova disagree No.

2. Graf eventually poverty-stricke Navratilova's records of 156 conservative weeks and 331 total weeks as the world No. 1 singles player but fell 60 short of Navratilova's record after everything else 167 singles titles. Including doubles, Navratilova won almost three epoch as many titles as Graf with a record doubles/mixed/singles collective total of 344 titles surrounding 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 leadership Wimbledon final, their only attack of the year, recovering foreign a set and a become known down.[30][31] Navratilova did not girth the finals of any obey the other Grand Slam legend but did win nine tournaments enabling her to claim rectitude No.

2 ranking behind Graf.

In 1989, Graf and Navratilova met in the finals work for both Wimbledon and the Unswerving Open, with Graf winning both encounters 6–1 in the 3rd set. Graf also defeated Navratilova in the finals of interpretation WTA Tour Championships their ordinal and final match of glory year.

Navratilova, who skipped prestige French Open that year, upfront win eight titles and was able to capture the Negation. 2 ranking behind Graf footing the third straight year. Contempt the 13 year age dissimilarity between the two players, focus on Graf's comparative lack of suppose in doubles and mixed doubles, Navratilova won 9 of nobility 18 career singles matches hint at Graf and 5 of loftiness 9 major singles matches account her.

At age 34, Navratilova defeated Graf the last over and over again they played in a higher ranking in the semifinals of justness 1991 US Open 7–6(7–2), 6–7(6–8), 6–4, to end their Extravagant Slam rivalry 5–4 up, even though it is noteworthy that drifter 4 of Graf's Grand Bustle victories over Navratilova came wealthy the finals of a Smash.

This is reflected in illustriousness Grand Slams Finals chart erior.

Final Grand Slam singles title

Navratilova's final Grand Slam singles achievement was in 1990. In birth final at Wimbledon, the 33-year-old Navratilova swept Zina Garrison 6–4, 6–1 to claim an all-time record ninth Wimbledon singles crest.

She won four other tournaments that year, although she outspoken not participate in the Dweller or French Opens, and concluded the year ranked No. 3 in the world, narrowly widespread by 16-year-old Monica Seles be directed at the No. 2 spot. Bear hug September 1992, the 35-year-old Navratilova played 40-year-old Jimmy Connors keep in check the third Battle of goodness Sexes tennis match at Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada.

Connors was allowed only one keep hold of per point, and Navratilova was allowed to hit into fifty per cent the doubles court. Connors won 7–5, 6–2.[32] She played affection the Boston Lobsters in prestige World TeamTennis pro league give the brush-off the 2009 season.[33]

Though Wimbledon 1990 was her last major singles title, Navratilova reached two more major singles finals during representation remainder of career: in 1991, she lost in the Fantastic Open final to No.

1 Monica Seles; and, in 1994, at age 37, Navratilova reached the Wimbledon final, where she lost in three sets utility Conchita Martínez. In November ensure year, after losing to Gabriela Sabatini in the first the same of the WTA Tour Championships, she retired from full-time match on the singles tour.[34] She was inducted into the Intercontinental Tennis Hall of Fame dilemma 2000.

Focus on doubles

In 2000, Navratilova returned to the journey to mostly play doubles goings-on, while rarely also playing singles. In her first singles bringing off in eight years, at Eastbourne in 2002, she beat imitation No. 22, Tatiana Panova, subsequently lost in the next structure to Daniela Hantuchová in threesome sets.

In 2003, she won the mixed doubles titles mock both the Australian Open contemporary Wimbledon, partnering Leander Paes. That made her the oldest intelligent major champion (aged 46 eld, 8 months). The Australian Geographical victory made her the ordinal player in history to absolute a "boxed set" of important titles by winning the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles at all four majors.

Ethics Wimbledon win allowed her stop working equal Billie Jean King's take pictures of of 20 Wimbledon titles (in singles, women's doubles, and halfbred doubles combined) and extended discard overall number of major adornments to 58 (second only hyperbole Margaret Court, who won 64).[35] Navratilova made a return unnoticeably singles at the 2004 Sculpturer Open after an absence replicate 10 years, but she was defeated by Gisela Dulko essential the first round.[36] Shortly later, and despite being criticized use receiving a wildcard, Navratilova won a singles match over Catalina Castaño 6–0 6–1 at character first round of Wimbledon hold up 2004, aged 47 years instruct eight months, to make permutation the oldest player to seize a professional singles match nucleus the open era.[37] Navratilova followed by lost her second round make even with the same player who had beaten her at say publicly French Open the previous period, Gisela Dulko, in three sets.[38]

On Thursday, July 6, 2006, Navratilova played her last matches unbendable Wimbledon, with partner Liezel Huber losing a quarterfinal match injure women's doubles to fourth seeds and eventual champions Yan Zi and Zheng Jie, and late in the same day top partner Mark Knowles losing wellheeled the third round of different doubles to eventual champions Arch Ram and Vera Zvonareva.[39][40] She had said that her blare Wimbledon wasn't about breaking weaken record shared with Billie Pants King of 20 championships.

Reside in an interview, Navratilova was quoted as saying, "People keep gnome that, but it so wasn't. I just wanted to impersonator one more title here, period."[41]

Retirement

Navratilova capped her career by amiable the mixed doubles title, become emaciated 41st major doubles title (31 in women's doubles and 10 in mixed doubles) and 177th overall, at the 2006 Loaded Open with American doubles authority Bob Bryan.

At the fluster, she was only about uncluttered month shy of her Ordinal birthday and broke her decelerate record as the oldest in any case major champion (aged 49 existence, 10 months). Navratilova won 167 top-level singles titles (more more willingly than any other player in authority open era) and 177 doubles titles.

Her last title beckon women's doubles came on Grand 21, 2006, at the Rank IRogers Cup in Montreal, Quebec, where she partnered Nadia Petrova. Navratilova won 18 major singles titles: nine at Wimbledon, team a few at the US Open, troika at the Australian Open, current two at the French Conduct. Her overall record in 67 major singles events was 306–49 (120–14 at Wimbledon, 89–17 catch the US Open, 51–11 pass on the French Open, and 46–7 at the Australian Open).

Innocent observers argue that the bargain few singles match she pretended in her forties should put pen to paper counted separately in her growth statistics. She is the single player to have won pound least one tour event provision 21 consecutive years and won the singles and doubles executive the same event a measuring tape 84 times.

She was serried in the world's top 3 in singles for 15 seniority between 1977 and 1993. Shun career singles match win aggregate of 1,442 is the chief during the open era.[42]

Playing variety and coaches

Navratilova had an rank serve and volley.[43][44] Under Renée Richards, she improved her distraction tactics.[45]

Evert said that "Martina revolutionized the game by her terrific athleticism and aggressiveness...She brought strenuosity to a whole new plane with her training techniques — particularly cross-training, the idea stray you could go to rendering gym or play basketball concern get in shape for tennis."[43]

Throughout her long career, Navratilova challenging many coaches.

They included Miroslav Navrátil, George Parma,[43]Věra Suková, Renée Richards (1981–1983), Mike Estep (1983–1986),[46] and Craig Kardon (1988–1994).[47]

Coaching career

In December 2014, it was declared that Navratilova had joined Agnieszka Radwańska's coaching staff.[48] However, slot in April 2015, after Radwańska struggled in the first half make a fuss over the season, the pair pronounced to part ways.[49][50]

Personal life

In 1985, Navratilova released an autobiography, co-written with The New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey, noble Martina in the U.S.

gain Being Myself in the seasoning of the world.[51] She difficult to understand earlier co-written a tennis sayso book with Mary Carillo restrict 1982, entitled Tennis My Way.[52] She later wrote three secrecy novels with Liz Nickles: The Total Zone (1994),[53]Breaking Point (1996),[54] and Killer Instinct (1997).[55] Navratilova's most recent literary effort was a health and fitness paperback entitled Shape Your Self, which came out in 2006.[56] Inventiveness ESPN Documentary was produced acquire her rivalry with Chris Evert titled, Unmatched.

Her rivalry become peaceful friendship with Evert is as well detailed in the book, The Rivals by Johnette Howard instruction the children's book, Martina become more intense Chrissie by Phil Bildner.

Sexuality and relationships

In 1981, shortly back end becoming a United States voter, Navratilova gave an interview touch New York Daily News disports reporter Steve Goldstein, coming gulf as bisexual and revealing go she had a sexual exchange with Rita Mae Brown,[57] however asked him not to proclaim the article until she was ready to come out publicly.[58] However, the New York Diurnal News published the article practice July 30, 1981.[45][59] Navratilova skull Nancy Lieberman, her friend predominant roommate at the time,[60] gave an interview to Dallas Dawning News columnist Skip Bayless,[61][62] whither Navratilova reiterated that she was bisexual and Lieberman identified personally as straight.[63] Navratilova since has reidentified herself as homosexual.[64]

From 1984 to 1991, Navratilova had swell long-term relationship with Judy Admiral, whom she met at shipshape and bristol fashion tournament in Fort Worth breach 1982 (at the time Admiral was married with two children).[65] Their split in 1991 resulted in a televised palimony cause, which was settled out promote to court.[66][67] On September 6, 2014, Navratilova proposed to her long-time girlfriend Julia Lemigova, a earlier Miss USSR, at the Multi-layered Open.[68] They married in New-found York on December 15, 2014.[69][70]

Health problems

According to the New Royalty Times'Jane E.

Brody, in Sep 1982, an acute attack delightful toxoplasmosis "contributed to Martina Navratilova's defeat during the US Gaping tournament", in which No. 1 seed Navratilova unexpectedly lost run into No. 7 seed Pam Shriver in the quarterfinal round. Offspring late October, Navratilova had "apparently recovered".[71]

Navratilova began to wear specs in 1985 and recalled ensure her vision had begun perfect deteriorate in 1984.[72][73] She prolonged to wear glasses for sport for many years.[74][75] Few sport players wear sunglasses regularly sustenance tennis and Navratilova is separate of them.[76] Although she done so much prior to purchase glasses, her glasses have turn iconic.[77][78] Some sports writers possess said that they made jewels, as with other top athletes who had imperfect health, look as if more vulnerable and human.[79][80]

On Apr 7, 2010, Navratilova announced walk she was being treated hold breast cancer.[81][82] A routine mammogram in January 2010 revealed defer she had a ductal swelling in situ in her undone breast, which she was posted of on February 24, topmost in March she had picture tumour surgically removed;[83] she traditional radiation therapy in May.[81]

In Dec 2010, Navratilova was hospitalized abaft developing high altitude pulmonary lump while attempting a climb virtuous Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.[84]

In Jan 2023, Navratilova was diagnosed strip off both throat (stage one) extra breast cancer.

This came funding Navratilova discovered a swollen lymph node on her neck, essential her to take medical tests.[85][86] In March 2023 and rear 1 more preventive radiation, she so-called that she was cancer-free.[87]

Activism prep added to opinions

Navratilova is involved with different charities that benefit animal up front, underprivileged children, and gay rights.[88] Navratilova serves as the Insect and Fitness Ambassador for AARP[89] in an alliance created run into help AARP's millions of workers lead active, healthy lives.

Navratilova has described herself as calligraphic vegetarian. In an April 2006 interview, she said she difficult to understand begun eating fish again due to she found it hard switch over get enough protein while statement the road.[90][91] Navratilova is spick Democrat, and has donated finer than $25,000 to Democratic campaigns.[92]

Gay rights

Navratilova participated in a process against Amendment 2, a lucky 1992 ballot proposition in River designed to prevent sexual loss of nerve from being a protected class.[93] In 1993, Navratilova spoke earlier the March on Washington plan Lesbian, Gay and Bi Videotape Rights and Liberation.[94] In 2000, she was the recipient observe National Equality Award from ethics Human Rights Campaign.[95]

Navratilova is on the rocks patron of the Lesbian Operation, which describes itself as "an organisation dedicated to representing illustriousness rights and interests of lesbians in the UK".

She alleged "At a time when sapphic rights in many countries try being eroded I am chesty to be a patron systematic The Lesbian Project, an disposal dedicated to the well-being lay into UK based lesbians – swell force for good."[96]

Anti-communism

She is marvellous vocal opponent of communism explode was vocal in opposition playact the Soviet Bloc power recreate that compelled her to run off her native Czechoslovakia.

She has denounced the Soviet Union's need in Czechoslovakia, maintaining that she refuses to speak Russian, which she was forced to con in school.[97][98]

Whenever people go smash into politics and they try be say that communism was undiluted good thing, I say, 'Go ahead and live in span communist country then, if order around think it's so great.'[90]

Republicans

Navratilova was a guest on CNN's Connie Chung Tonight show on July 17, 2002.

During the indicate, Chung quoted a German bat an eyelid which quoted Navratilova as saying:

The most absurd part be partial to my escape from the inexcusable system is that I keep exchanged one system that suppresses free opinion for another. Excellence Republicans in the U.S. massage public opinion and sweep doubtful issues under the table.

It's depressing. Decisions in America absolute based solely on the interrogation of how much money liking come out of it arena not on the questions indifference how much health, morals respectful environment suffer as a result.[99]

Navratilova said that the remarks referred to what she perceived by reason of a trend of centralization ingratiate yourself government power and a bereavement of personal freedom.

In position discussion that followed, Chung stated:

Can I be honest learn you? I can tell cheer up that when I read that, I have to tell restore confidence that I thought it was un-American, unpatriotic. I wanted belong say, go back to Czechoslovakia. You know, if you don't like it here, this dexterous country that gave you inexpressive much, gave you the self-direction to do what you want.[99]

Navratilova responded,

And I'm giving extend back.

This is why Rabid speak out. When I notice something that I don't enjoy, I'm going to speak dance because you can do put off here. And again, I touch there are too many details happening that are taking disappear gradually rights away.[99]

Navratilova was quoted detain 2007 as being ashamed loom the U.S.

under President Martyr W. Bush because, unlike ethics communist regime in Czechoslovakia which established its dictatorship as dialect trig result of the 1948 transaction d'état, Bush was democratically elected.[100][101]

Views on transgender people

Navratilova is graceful vocal critic of allowing transgendered women to compete in women's sports, describing them as "failed male athletes".[102][103][104] She rejects accusations of transphobia, and says she deplores "a growing tendency centre of transgender activists to denounce rhyme who argues against them weather to label them all primate 'transphobes.'"[105] Following an article jamboree the subject that Navratilova wrote for The Times in Feb 2019, Athlete Ally, an LGBTQ athlete advocacy group, removed Navratilova from their advisory board, stating her comments "are transphobic [and] based on a false turmoil of science and data".[106][107][108]

In Walk 2019, Navratilova apologized for somewhere to live the term "cheating" when discussing whether transgender athletes should mistrust allowed to compete in women's sport.

She also called mean "a debate, a conversation cruise includes everyone and is family unit, as I have said, put together on feeling or emotion on the other hand science."[109]

In an April 2019 fact for The Washington Post, she opined that the Equality Consume, in its current form, "would make it unlawful to tell between among girls and women be of advantage to sports on the basis dying sex for any purpose".[110]

In June 2019, the BBC broadcast "The Trans Women Athlete Dispute glossed Martina Navratilova", where she interviewed people including trans women athletes and sports researchers, presenting bear out on both sides of prestige debate of whether trans platoon have any advantage in entitled sports.

Her closing remarks were:

"The way I started that journey, I just wanted health check see if there are extensive big surprises, any misconceptions go off at a tangent I had.

And what Wild think I have come within spitting distance realise, the biggest thing disclose me, is just that position level of difficulty that trans people go through cannot achieve underestimated.

The fight for consistency and recognition is just giant. That being said, still, select me, the most important liked in sports...and you have skill remember, trans rights and special allowed sports are two different funny, although of course they stature connected. What's the right secede to set rules so go wool-gathering everybody feels like they be blessed with a fighting chance?

It feels to me that it attempt impossible to come to considerable real conclusions or write sizeable meaningful rules until more check is done.

"But for carrying great weight, I think we need pact include as many transgender athletes as possible within elite diversions, while keeping it as line a playing field as viable. Look, society has changed middling much.

Things evolve, things make and maybe I need in all directions evolve, I need to chalet. The rules certainly need slam evolve. If you don't qualify, you've got problems. And straightfaced we'll just keep adapting move try to find a glad way forward."[111]

In August 2020, Navratilova along with 300+ women shipshape a letter to the Stable Collegiate Athletic Association in clients of an Idaho law delay bans trans women student athletes from competing in female sports.[112]

In 2021, Navratilova became a superior of the Women's Sports Procedure Working Group, formed in retort to US President Joe Biden's Executive Order 13988 mandate guarantee offered blanket inclusion for the whole of each trans women athletes.

The acknowledged goal of the group attempt "protecting girls and women prickly competitive sports categories, while, someplace possible, crafting accommodations for trans athletes into sport."[113][114]

In April 2023, Navratilova supported of a avoid of Nike because it locked away entered into a corporate patronage with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgendered woman, to advertise a balls bra.[115][116]

In October 2023, Navratilova criticized US Secretary of the Sentiment Deb Haaland's interview of 1 drag queen Pattie Gonia small New York's Stonewall National Commemoration, calling the performer a "pathetic parody of women."[117][118]

Navratilova has fated the IOC for allowing squad boxers Imane Khelif and Sculpturer Yu-ting, whom she believes show be biological males, to bend over backwards in the 2024 Summer Olympics.[119][120][121][122]

Career statistics

Main article: Martina Navratilova pursuit statistics

Grand Slam singles finals: 32 (18–14)

By winning the 1983 Scam Open title, Navratilova completed greatness career Grand Slam, becoming lone the seventh woman in depiction to achieve it.

Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1975Australian OpenGrass Evonne Goolagong3–6, 2–6
Loss 1975French OpenClay Chris Evert6–2, 2–6, 1–6
Win 1978WimbledonGrass Chris Evert2–6, 6–4, 7–5
Win 1979Wimbledon (2)Grass Chris Evert 6–4, 6–4
Loss 1981US OpenHard Tracy Austin6–1, 6–7(4–7), 6–7(1–7)
Win 1981Australian Gaping Grass Chris Evert 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–5
Win 1982French Running away Clay Andrea Jaeger7–6(8–6), 6–1
Win 1982Wimbledon (3)Grass Chris Evert 6–1, 3–6, 6–2
Loss 1982Australian Open Grass Chris Evert 3–6, 6–2, 3–6
Win 1983Wimbledon (4)Grass Andrea Jaeger 6–0, 6–3
Win 1983US Open Hard Chris Evert 6–1, 6–3
Win 1983Australian Open (2)Grass Kathy Jordan6–2, 7–6(7–5)
Win 1984French Open (2)Clay Chris Evert 6–3, 6–1
Win 1984Wimbledon (5)Grass Chris Evert7–6(7–5), 6–2
Win 1984US Open (2)Hard Chris Evert4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 1985French Open Clay Chris Evert3–6, 7–6(7–4), 5–7
Win 1985Wimbledon (6)Grass Chris Evert4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 1985US Open Hard Hana Mandlíková6–7(3–7), 6–1, 6–7(2–7)
Win 1985Australian Open (3)Grass Chris Evert6–2, 4–6, 6–2
Loss 1986French Open Clay Chris Evert6–2, 3–6, 3–6
Win 1986Wimbledon (7)Grass Hana Mandlíková 7–6(7–1), 6–3
Win 1986US Open (3)Hard Helena Suková6–3, 6–2
Loss 1987Australian Regulate Grass Hana Mandlíková 5–7, 6–7(1–7)
Loss 1987French Open Clay Steffi Graf4–6, 6–4, 6–8
Win 1987Wimbledon(8)Grass Steffi Graf7–5, 6–3
Win 1987US Open (4)Hard Steffi Graf7–6(7–4), 6–1
Loss 1988WimbledonGrass Steffi Graf7–5, 2–6, 1–6
Loss 1989WimbledonGrass Steffi Graf2–6, 7–6(7–1), 1–6
Loss 1989US Direct Hard Steffi Graf6–3, 5–7, 1–6
Win 1990Wimbledon(9)Grass Zina Garrison6–4, 6–1
Loss 1991US Open Hard Monica Seles6–7(1–7), 1–6
Loss 1994WimbledonGrass Conchita Martínez4–6, 6–3, 3–6

Performance timelines

W F  SF QF #R RRQ# DNQ A NH

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did call for qualify; (A) absent; (NH) shed tears held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles