Martina Navratilova: Difference between revisions
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==Recognition== |
==Recognition== |
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''[[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis]]'' magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tennis.com/features/40greatest/index.aspx |work=[[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis]] |title=40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era |accessdate=April 21, 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090226164217/http://www.tennis.com/features/40greatest/index.aspx|archivedate=February 26, 2009}}</ref> Tennis historian and journalist [[Bud Collins]] has called Navratilova "arguably, the greatest player of all time."<ref>{{cite book |author=Collins, Bud |title=The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book |publisher=New Chapter Press |location=New York, N.Y |year=2008 |page=600 |isbn=0-942257-41-3 |oclc= |accessdate=October 11, 2008}}</ref> |
''[[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis]]'' magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tennis.com/features/40greatest/index.aspx |work=[[Tennis (magazine)|Tennis]] |title=40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era |accessdate=April 21, 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090226164217/http://www.tennis.com/features/40greatest/index.aspx|archivedate=February 26, 2009}}</ref> Tennis historian and journalist [[Bud Collins]] has called Navratilova "arguably, the greatest player of all time."<ref>{{cite book |author=Collins, Bud |title=The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book |publisher=New Chapter Press |location=New York, N.Y |year=2008 |page=600 |isbn=0-942257-41-3 |oclc= |accessdate=October 11, 2008}}</ref> |
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In October of 2006, Equality Forum highlighted Navratilova as an LGBT month icon for her determination, bravery, and contribution to the LGBT community.<ref>http://www.lgbthistorymonth.com/martina-navratilova</ref> |
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Tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book ''The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century'', named her as the second best female player of the 20th century, directly behind [[Steffi Graf]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chrisevert.net/flink.html |work=ChrisEvert.net |title=Exclusive Interview with Steve Flink about the career of Chris Evert |accessdate=February 14, 2007}}</ref> |
Tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book ''The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century'', named her as the second best female player of the 20th century, directly behind [[Steffi Graf]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chrisevert.net/flink.html |work=ChrisEvert.net |title=Exclusive Interview with Steve Flink about the career of Chris Evert |accessdate=February 14, 2007}}</ref> |
Revision as of 15:56, 14 January 2014
This article's lead section may be too long. (November 2013) |
Country (sports) | Czechoslovakia (1956–1975) United States (1975–present) Czech Republic (2008-present) |
---|---|
Residence | Sarasota, Florida, USA |
Born | Prague, Czechoslovakia | October 18, 1956
Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Turned pro | 1975 |
Retired | 1994–1999, 2006 |
Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $21,626,089 (6th of all-time) |
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) |
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) |
Martina Navratilova (Template:Lang-cs pronounced [ˈmartɪna ˈnavraːtɪlovaː]; born Martina Šubertová pronounced [ˈmartɪna ˈʃubɛrtovaː]; October 18, 1956) is a retired Czech American tennis player and coach. Billie Jean King, former World No. 1 player, said in 2006 that Navratilova is "the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived."[1]
Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 major women's doubles titles (an all-time record), and 10 major mixed doubles 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. She and King each won 20 Wimbledon titles, an all-time record. Navratilova is one of just three women to have accomplished a career Grand Slam in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles (called the Grand Slam "boxed set") a record she shares with Margaret Court and Doris Hart. She holds the open era record for most singles titles (167) and doubles titles (177). She recorded the longest winning streak in the open era (74 consecutive matches) and three of the six longest winning streaks in the women's open era. 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. In women's doubles, Navratilova and Pam Shriver won 109 consecutive matches and won all four major titles in 1984, i.e. the Grand Slam. Also 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. In addition she won the season ending WTA Tour Championships a record 8 times and made the finals a record 14 times and won the doubles title a record 11 times. Navratilova is the only person of either sex to have won eight different tournaments at least seven times.[2] Navratilova 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.
Originally from Czechoslovakia, she was stripped of her citizenship[3] when, in 1975 at the age of 18, she asked the United States for political asylum and was granted temporary residency.[4] At the time, Navratilova was told by the Czechoslovakian Sports Federation that she was becoming too Americanized and that she should go back to school and make tennis secondary.[5] Navratilova became a US citizen in 1981, and on January 9, 2008, she had her Czech citizenship restored.[6] She stated she has not renounced her U.S. citizenship nor does she plan to do so and that the restoration of her Czech citizenship was not politically motivated.[7][8]
Navratilova is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy. She also serves as the Health and Fitness Ambassador for AARP[9] in an alliance created to help AARP's millions of members lead active, healthy lives.
Navratilova is involved with various charities that benefit animal rights, underprivileged children, and gay rights.
Early life and tennis career
Navratilova was born Martina Šubertová in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Her parents divorced when she was three,[10] 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 (Czech pronunciation: [ˈmarcɪna ˈnavraːcɪlovaː] ). Her father Mirek[11] remarried and divorced. When she was eight, he committed suicide.[12] In 2008, Navratilova's mother died of emphysema, aged 75.[13] Navratilova has a sister, Jana, and an older paternal half-brother.[10]
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 her career is largely defined by her mastery of fast low-bouncing grass, her best earliest showing at majors was on the red clay at the French Open. 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.[14]
Navratilova was the runner-up at two major singles tournaments in 1975. She lost in the final of the Australian Open to Evonne Goolagong Cawley and in the final of the French Open to Chris Evert. 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.[4] 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, 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, 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 won 7-5, 5-7, 13-11. In April 1981, Evert whipped Navratilova in the finals of the Women's Tennis Association championships, 6-0, 6-0. It was Navratilova's only professional double bagel loss. It was at this point that Navratilova began working with Nancy Lieberman to improve her fitness to better compete with Evert. In 1981, Navratilova won her third major singles title by defeating Evert in the final of the Australian Open. Navratilova also reached 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 racquets, Navratilova became the most dominant player in women's tennis. Interestingly, she initially argued against the legalization of such "giant" racquets, saying that they made the game too easy. 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.[citation needed]
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. Some tennis observers, however, 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. 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.[citation needed]
A left-hander, Navratilova completed a calendar grand slam in women's doubles in 1984, partnering with 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.[citation needed]
In 1985, Navratilova played in what many consider to be 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. Racquet technology may have had a significant impact, as only the losing player in both matches used a racquet with power-dissipating fiberglass in it. In outdoor matches against Evert, Navratilova was up 10 - 5 on grass and 8 - 7 on hardcourts. But, Evert was up 11 - 3 on clay and 23 to 21 overall in outdoor matches.
17-year old German player Steffi Graf emerged on the scene in 1987 when she beat Navratilova in the final of the French Open. Navratilova defeated Graf 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). 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 did not break Navratilova's record 167 singles titles, as Graf reached 107. In terms of doubles, Navratilova won 177 women's doubles titles and 15 mixed titles to Graf's 11 and 0, respectively. In 1988, Graf won all four major singles titles, beating Navratilova 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 in the Wimbledon final along the way.[citation needed]
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 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.
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 a record-breaking 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 after defeating Graf in a semifinal. 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 play doubles events, while rarely 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). 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 won at least one tour event for 21 consecutive years and won the singles and doubles at the same event a record 84 times. Her career singles match win total of 1,442 is the most during the open era.[citation needed]
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.[15] She played for the Boston Lobsters in the World TeamTennis pro league through the 2009 season.[citation needed]
Personal life
In 1981, shortly after becoming a United States citizen, Navratilova came out publicly about her sexual orientation through a column written by Skip Bayless. During the early 1980s, she was involved with author Rita Mae Brown. From 1984 to 1991, Navratilova had a long-term relationship with Judy Nelson. 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.[citation needed]
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.[16] She had earlier co-written a tennis instruction book with Mary Carillo in 1982, entitled Tennis My Way.[17] She later wrote three mystery novels with Liz Nickles: The Total Zone (1994),[18] Breaking Point (1996),[19] and Killer Instinct (1997).[20] Navratilova's most recent literary effort was a health and fitness book entitled Shape Your Self, which came out in 2006.[21]
On April 7, 2010, Navratilova announced that she was being treated for breast cancer.[22] 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;[23] she received radiation therapy in May.[22]
In December 2010, Navratilova was hospitalized after developing high altitude pulmonary edema while attempting a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.[24]
Activism and politics
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 1992 ballot proposition in Colorado designed to deny gays and lesbians legal protection from discrimination.[25] In 1993, she spoke before the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.[26]
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.[27]
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;[28] which would make her a pescetarian rather than a vegetarian; nevertheless in 2008 she described herself as vegetarian.[29]
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 she believes 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.' "[28]
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."[30]
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."[30]
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."[30]
Martina 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.[31][32]
Career statistics
Records
- These are Open Era tennis records.
- Records in bold indicate peer-less achievements.
Time span | Selected Grand Slam tournament records | Players matched |
---|---|---|
1974 French Open — 2003 Australian Open |
Career Boxed Set[a] | Margaret Court[b] |
1974 French Open — 2006 US Open |
59 combined titles[c] | Stands alone[d] |
1974 French Open — 2006 US Open |
41 combined doubles titles (same sex & mixed) | Stands alone |
1975 French Open — 1990 US Open |
31 doubles titles (same sex) | Stands alone |
1975 French Open — 1990 US Open |
7+ doubles titles at all four Majors | Stands alone |
1983 Wimbledon — 1990 Wimbledon |
6 titles won without losing a set | Stands alone |
1983 Wimbledon — 1984 US Open |
6 consecutive wins in Grand Slam finals | Margaret Court |
1983 Wimbledon — 1988 Australian Open |
19 consecutive singles semifinals[d] | Stands alone |
1978 Wimbledon — 1990 Wimbledon |
Winner of Grand Slam singles titles in three decades | Serena Williams |
1974 French Open — 2006 US Open |
Winner of Grand Slam titles (singles, doubles and mixed) in four decades | Stands alone |
1983 Wimbledon — 1983 US Open |
2 titles won without losing a set in the same calendar year | Billie Jean King Steffi Graf Martina Hingis Serena Williams Venus Williams Justine Henin |
Grand Slam tournaments | Time Span | Records at each Grand Slam tournament | Players matched |
---|---|---|---|
French Open | 1984–1987 | 4 consecutive singles finals | Chris Evert Steffi Graf |
Wimbledon | 1978–1990 | 9 singles titles overall | Stands alone |
Wimbledon | 1982–1987 | 6 consecutive singles titles | Stands alone |
Wimbledon | 1976–1990 | 7+ titles overall in both singles and doubles | Stands alone |
Wimbledon | 1976–2003 | 20 titles overall (singles, doubles and mixed) | Billie Jean King |
Wimbledon | 1978–1994 | 12 singles finals overall | Stands alone |
Wimbledon | 1982–1990 | 9 consecutive singles finals | Stands alone |
Wimbledon | 1983–1984, 1986, 1990 |
4 titles won without losing a set | Stands alone |
US Open | 1987 | Singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at same Grand Slam event (triple crown) |
Margaret Court[b] |
Time span | Other selected records | Players matched |
---|---|---|
1978–1992 | 8 WTA Tour Championships titles overall | Stands alone |
1984, 1985 | 2 Tour Championships titles without losing a set | Stands alone |
1978–1992 | 14 Tour Championships finals overall | Stands alone |
1975–1992 | 16 Tour Championships semifinals | Stands alone |
1974–1993 | 60 Tour Championships match wins | Stands alone |
1974–1994 | 21 Tour Championships appearances | Stands alone |
1975–1996 | 5 US Indoors singles titles | Stands alone |
1974–1994 | 167 singles titles[33] | Stands alone |
1974–2006 | 177 doubles titles | Stands alone |
1974–2006 | 359 combined titles | Stands alone |
1974–2006 | 1442 matches won | Stands alone |
1974–1993 | 93 career indoor titles | Stands alone |
1984 | 13 consecutive titles in 1 season | Stands alone |
1975–1995 | 21 consecutive years winning 1+ title [34] | Stands alone |
1983–1984 | 23 consecutive finals | Stands alone |
1974–2006 | 390 career tournaments played | Stands alone |
1975–2006 | 305 grass court match wins | Stands alone |
1973–1994 | 516 carpet court match wins | Stands alone |
1983 | 98.9% (86–1) single season match winning percentage | Stands alone |
1984 | 74 consecutive matches won | Stands alone |
1975–2006 | 86.66% (305–39) grass court match winning percentage | Stands alone |
1973–1994 | 89.99% (576–58) carpet court match winning percentage | Stands alone |
1973–1994 | 61 singles finals against same player (Chris Evert, 36–25) | Chris Evert |
1973–1994 | 80 matches against same player (Chris Evert, 43–37) | Chris Evert |
1982–1986 | 5 consecutive years ended at No. 1 (singles) | Stands alone |
1973–1994 | 18 match wins against No. 1 ranked player | Stands alone |
1978–1993 | 16 years with winning percentage 80%+ | Stands alone |
1978–1993 | 16 consecutive years with winning percentage 80%+ | Stands alone |
Awards
- ITF World Champion 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986.
- WTA Player of the Year 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986.
Recognition
Tennis magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005.[35] Tennis historian and journalist Bud Collins has called Navratilova "arguably, the greatest player of all time."[36]
In October of 2006, Equality Forum highlighted Navratilova as an LGBT month icon for her determination, bravery, and contribution to the LGBT community.[37]
Tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century, named her as the second best female player of the 20th century, directly behind Steffi Graf.[38]
In June 2011, she was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by Time.[39]
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.[40]
On August 2, 2013, Navratilova was among the first class of inductees into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.[41]
Media
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.[42] 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.[43] Navratilova guest-starred as a dissatisfied Yelp reviewer in episode three of the third season of absurdist comedy Portlandia.
See also
- Evert–Navratilova rivalry
- Graf–Navratilova rivalry
- List of Eastern Bloc defectors
- Homosexuality in sports in the United States
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 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
- ^ Bonnie DeSimone (September 11, 2006). "Act II of Navratilova's career ends with a win". ESPN. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- ^ open era records
- ^ Justin McCurry (March 11, 2008). "Navratilova Czechs in with homeland | World news". theguardian.com. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ a b "40 Important Women's Moments: 1975, Martina Defects to the West". WTA.
- ^ "Martina Defects for Love Set", St. Petersburg Independent, September 8, 1975, page 1-C.
- ^ Tim Reid (March 12, 2008). "Martina Navratilova gets passport on rebound". The Times (United Kingdom).
- ^ "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.
- ^ Martina Navratilova. "My Dual Citizenship: Why Did the Media Get It So Wrong?". Martina Navratilova. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009.
- ^ "Martina Navratilova, Fitness Expert, Healthy Living". AARP.org. October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "ESPN Classic - Navratilova owned Wimbledon's Center Court". Espn.go.com. November 19, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ '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'
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Frances Dewey Wormser 1903–2008". Santa Paula Times. February 6, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
- ^ JimAsian1. "1992 Tennis Jimmy Connors Martina Navratilova B". YouTube. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Vecsey, George; Navratilova, Martina (1985). Martina. New York: Knopf. ISBN 0-394-53640-1.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Bowden, Mary Ellen; Navratilova, Martina (1983). Tennis My Way. New York: Scribner. ISBN 0-684-18003-0.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Nickles, Elizabeth; Navratilova, Martina (1994). The Total Zone. New York: Villard Books. ISBN 0-345-38867-4.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Navratilova, Martina (1997). Breaking Point. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-38868-2.
- ^ Navratilova, Martina (1995). Killer Instinct. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-47268-3.
- ^ Navratilova, Martina (2006). Shape Your Self. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 0-316-73296-6.
- ^ a b "Tennis great Martina Navratilova 'has breast cancer'". BBC News. April 7, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
- ^ "Martina Navratilova diagnosed with breast cancer". Telegraph. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ Harvey Araton (December 12, 2010). "Navratilova Leaves Hospital After Kilimanjaro Attempt". The New York Times.
- ^ "Navratilova joins suit over gay-rights law". The Pueblo Chieftan.
- ^ "Gay History Month: Exclusive article by Martina Navratilova". PrideSource: Between the Lines.
- ^ Belge, Kathy "Martina Navratilova", lesbianlife.about.com
- ^ a b "Shape Up!: Fitness tips from Martina Navratilova". The Leonard Lopate Show. WNYC Radio. April 3, 2006.
- ^ a b c "Navratilova Sets the Record Straight "-Transcript, Connie Chung Tonight, (CNN), Aired July 17, 2002
- ^ "Martina Navratilova is now Czech again". The Daily Telegraph. 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Disillusioned with the US, Navratilova defects again". The Independent. 12 March 2008.
- ^ "WTA Players Stats Martina Navratilova". wtatennis.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
- ^ "Players". WTA Tennis English. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era". Tennis. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ 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.
{{cite book}}
:|access-date=
requires|url=
(help) - ^ http://www.lgbthistorymonth.com/martina-navratilova
- ^ "Exclusive Interview with Steve Flink about the career of Chris Evert". ChrisEvert.net. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- ^ William Lee Adams (June 22, 2011). "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future – Martina Navratilova". Time. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ "The list". tennischannel.com. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
- ^ "National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame's Inaugural Class Announced | Out Magazine". Out.com. June 18, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "I'm a Celebrity: Robert Kilroy-Silk is Martina Navratilova's 'hero'". Telegraph. November 21, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "Tony Dovolani 'Destroyed' over Martina Navratilova's Dancing with the Stars Elimination". people.com. March 28, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
Further reading
- Blue, Adrianne (1995). Martina: The Lives and Times of Martina Navratilova. Carol Publishing Corporation. ISBN 1-55972-300-9.
- Howard, Johnette (2006). The Rivals: Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova: Their Epic Duels and Extraordinary Friendship. New York: Broadway. ISBN 0-7679-1885-1.
- Nelson, Judy; Faulkner, Sandra (1993). Love Match: Nelson Vs. Navratilova. Carol Publishing Corporation. ISBN 1-55972-157-X.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Video
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2011) |
Wimbledon 1978 Final – Navratilova vs. Evert (2003) starring: Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: August 16, 2005, Run Time: 102 minutes, ASIN: B000A343R8
External links
- Official website
- Martina Navratilova at the Women's Tennis Association
- Martina Navratilova at the Billie Jean King Cup
- Martina Navratilova at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Martina Navratilova at IMDb
- Template:Worldcat id
- Martina Navratilova collected news and commentary at The Guardian
- Martina Navratilova collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- "Wimbledon legends: Martina Navratilova" BBC profile
- "Martina was alone on top" ESPN
- outsports.com "Athlete, Author, Activist Martina Navratilova on Coming Out, the 'L Word,' Playing Hockey and Doing Your Part". Outsports
- Martina Navratilova's Health and Fitness Articles for AARP
- Martina Navratilova Video produced by Makers: Women Who Make America
- 1956 births
- American female tennis players
- American people of Czech descent
- Australian Open champions
- Breast cancer survivors
- Czech female tennis players
- Czechoslovak defectors
- Czechoslovak emigrants to the United States
- Czechoslovak female tennis players
- French Open champions
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (UK) contestants
- International Tennis Hall of Fame inductees
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- LGBT sportspeople from the United States
- LGBT people from the Czech Republic
- Living people
- Olympic tennis players of the United States
- Participants in American reality television series
- People from Sarasota, Florida
- People with cancer
- Recipients of Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)
- Sportspeople from Prague
- Tennis commentators
- Tennis people from Florida
- Tennis players at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- US Open (tennis) champions
- Wimbledon champions
- World No. 1 tennis players
- Lesbian sportswomen
- LGBT tennis players
- Czech anti-communists
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in women's singles
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in women's doubles
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in mixed doubles
- Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series) participants