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| Professional tennis careerEarly career Martina Navratilova in 1980
Navratilova won her first professional singles title in Orlando,
Florida in 1974 at the age of 17. Upon arriving in the United States,
she lived with former actress Frances Dewey Wormser and her husband Morton Wormser, a tennis enthusiast.[19]
Navratilova was the runner-up at two major singles tournaments in 1975; the Australian Open (won by Goolagong) and the French Open (won by Chris Evert in three sets). After losing to Evert in the semifinals of the US Open in September, 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.[20] Within a month, she received a green card and in 1981 became a US citizen.[7] Also, in 1975, Navratilova teamed with world number one Evert to win the French Open women's doubles title, Navratilova's first major title outside of mixed doubles. They teamed again in 1976 to win the Wimbledon women's doubles title over Billie Jean King and Bette Stove.
1978 Wimbledon singles championNavratilova won her first major singles title at Wimbledon in 1978,
where she defeated Evert in three sets in the final and captured the
world No. 1 ranking for the first time on the WTA computer, a position
she held until Evert took it back in January 1979. She successfully
defended her Wimbledon title in 1979, again beating Evert in the final,
this time in straight sets, and earned the World No. 1 ranking at the
end of the year for the first time. Just before Wimbledon in 1979,
Navratilova and Evert played possibly the highest scoring women's
professional match ever in the Eastbourne
final, in which Evert edged Navratilova 7–5, 5–7, 13–11 after facing
match points. In April 1981, Evert defeated Navratilova in the finals of
the Women's Tennis Association championships, held on clay at Amelia
Island, 6–0, 6–0. It was Navratilova's only professional double bagel
loss (one she later avenged with a crushing 6–2, 6–0 defeat of Evert in
the finals of the same Amelia Island
event in 1984). It was at this point that Navratilova began working
with Nancy Lieberman to improve her fitness and toughen her mental
approach to better compete with Evert and fulfill her true potential.[21]
In 1981, Navratilova won her third major singles title by defeating
Evert in the final of the Australian Open. Navratilova also defeated
Evert to reach the final of the US Open, where she lost a third set
tiebreak to Tracy Austin. Navratilova won both Wimbledon and the French Open in 1982.
Martina Navratilova and Betty Stöve during a match in 1980
DominanceAfter adopting basketball player Nancy Lieberman's exercise plan and using Yonex
isometric midsize graphite-fiberglass composite racquets, Navratilova
became the most dominant player in women's tennis. After losing in the
fourth round of the first major event of 1983, the French Open,
she captured the year's three remaining major titles (the Australian
Open was held in December at that time). Navratilova's loss at the
French Open was her only singles defeat during that year, during which
she established an 86–1 record. Her winning percentage was the best ever
for a post-1968 professional tennis player. During 1982, 1983, and
1984, Navratilova lost a total of only six singles matches.[22]
This included a run of 13 consecutive victories over her closest rival
and world-ranked No. 2, Chris Evert. Navratilova's reign from 1982 to
1986 is the most dominant unbroken spell in the professional era.
Navratilova won the 1984 French Open, thus holding all four major
singles titles simultaneously. Her accomplishment was declared a "Grand
Slam" by Philippe Chatrier, president of the International Tennis Federation,
although some tennis observers countered that it was not a true slam
because the titles had not been won in a single calendar year.
Navratilova extended her major singles tournament winning streak to a
record-equalling six following wins at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Navratilova's victory meant she became the first player to win majors on
clay, grass and hard court on the same year. She entered the 1984
Australian Open with a chance of winning all four titles in the same
year. In the semifinals, Helena Suková ended Navratilova's 74-match winning streak (a record for a professional) 1–6, 6–3, 7–5.[23]
A left-hander, Navratilova completed a calendar grand slam in women's doubles in 1984, partnering right-handed Pam Shriver.
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.[24]
Rivalry with Chris EvertIn
1985, Navratilova played in what many consider to be perhaps the best
woman's match of all time, the French Open final against Chris Evert.
Navratilova battled back from 3–6, 2–4 down to 5–5 all in the third
set, before Evert hit a winning backhand passing shot on match point to
defeat Navratilova 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 7–5. This was a major turnaround for Evert, who was so outmatched the year earlier in the final that Bud Collins
remarked as a TV commentator that the sport needed to create a higher
league for Navratilova to compete in. In outdoor matches against Evert,
Navratilova led 10–5 on grass and 9–7 on hard courts, while Evert was up
11–3 on clay. On indoor courts, however, Navratilova had a decisive
21–14 lead. At the end of what is widely regarded as the greatest
rivalry in women's tennis, Navratilova led Evert 43–37 in total matches,
14–8 in Grand Slams, and 10–4 in Grand Slam finals.
Rivalry with Steffi GrafIn 1986 at the U.S. Open, Navratilova prevailed over 16-year-old German Steffi Graf in a semi-final 6–1, 6–7(7–3), 7–6(10–8),[25]
before handily winning the final over Helena Suková 6–3, 6–2.
Navratilova, with partner Pam Shriver, also won the women's doubles
title.[26]
Navratilova also defeated Graf in straight sets at the WTA Tour
Championship and with an 89–3 record, earned the number-one ranking for
the fifth consecutive year.
Graf dominated the first half of the 1987 season including defeating Navratilova in straight sets in the semi-finals of the Miami Open
and in the final of the French Open, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6. However,
Navratilova defeated Graf in straight sets in the finals of both
Wimbledon and the US Open (and at the US Open became only the third
player in the Open Era, joining tennis legends Margaret Court and Billie
Jean King, to win the women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles at the same event—the rare "Triple Crown"). Navratilova reached all four Grand Slam finals in 1987, winning two of them (she lost the Australian Open
to Hana Mandlíková). Graf's two losses to Navratilova were her only
losses of the year and with 11 tournament wins over the year versus 4
for Navratilova she was able to obtain year-end world No. 1 ranking
ahead of Navratilova at No. 2. Graf eventually broke Navratilova's
records of 156 consecutive weeks and 331 total weeks as the world No. 1
singles player but fell 60 short of Navratilova's record of 167 singles
titles. Including doubles, Navratilova won almost three times as many
titles as Graf with a record doubles/mixed/singles combined total of 344
titles to Graf's 118.
In 1988, Graf won all four major singles titles, beating the
31-year-old Navratilova 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 in the Wimbledon final, their only
match of the year, recovering from a set and a break down.[27][28]
Navratilova did not reach the finals of any of the other Grand Slam
events but did win nine tournaments enabling her to claim the No. 2
ranking behind Graf.
In 1989, Graf and Navratilova met in the finals of both Wimbledon
and the US Open, with Graf winning both encounters 6–1 in the third
set. Graf also defeated Navratilova in the finals of the WTA Tour Championships
their third and final match of the year. Navratilova, who skipped the
French Open that year, did win eight titles and was able to capture the
No. 2 ranking behind Graf for the third straight year. Despite the 13
year age difference between the two players, and Graf's comparative lack
of investment in doubles and mixed doubles, Navratilova won 9 of the 18
career singles matches with Graf and 5 of the 9 major singles matches
with her. At age 34, Navratilova defeated Graf the last time they played
in a major in the semifinals of the 1991 US Open 7–6(7–2), 6–7(6–8),
6–4, to end their Grand Slam rivalry 5–4 up, although it is noteworthy
that all 4 of Graf's Grand Slam victories over Navratilova came in the
finals of a Slam. This is reflected in the Grand Slams Finals chart
below.
Navratilova and Suková playing doubles
Final Grand Slam singles titleNavratilova's final Grand Slam singles triumph was in 1990. In the final at Wimbledon, the 33-year-old Navratilova swept Zina Garrison
6–4, 6–1 to claim an all-time record ninth Wimbledon singles crown. She
won four other tournaments that year, although she did not participate
in the Australian or French Opens, and finished the year ranked No. 3 in
the world, narrowly edged by 16-year-old Monica Seles for the No. 2 spot.
In September 1992, the 35-year-old Navratilova played 40-year-old Jimmy Connors in the third Battle of the Sexes
tennis match at Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada. Connors was allowed
only one serve per point, and Navratilova was allowed to hit into half
the doubles court. Connors won 7–5, 6–2.[29] She played for the Boston Lobsters in the World TeamTennis pro league through the 2009 season.[30]
Though Wimbledon 1990 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 No. 1
Monica Seles; and, in 1994, at age 37, Navratilova reached the Wimbledon
final, where she lost in three sets to Conchita Martínez. In November that year, after losing to Gabriela Sabatini in the first round of the WTA Tour Championships, she retired from full-time competition on the singles tour.[31] She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.
Focus on doublesIn
2000, Navratilova returned to the tour to mostly play doubles events,
while rarely also playing singles. In her first singles performance in
eight years, at Eastbourne in 2002, she beat world No. 22, Tatiana Panova, then lost 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 64).[32] Navratilova made a return to singles at the 2004 French Open after an absence of 10 years, but she was defeated by Gisela Dulko in the first round.[33] Shortly afterwards, and 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.[34]
Navratilova then lost her second round match with the same player who
had beaten her at the French Open the previous month, Gisela Dulko, in
three sets.[35]
On Thursday, July 6, 2006, Navratilova played her last matches at
Wimbledon, with partner Liezel Huber losing a quarterfinal match in
women's doubles to fourth seeds and eventual champions Yan Zi and Zheng Jie, and later in the same day with partner Mark Knowles losing in the third round of mixed doubles to eventual champions Andy Ram and Vera Zvonareva.[36][37]
She had said that her last Wimbledon wasn't about breaking her record
shared with Billie Jean King of 20 championships. In an interview,
Navratilova was quoted as saying, "People keep saying that, but it so
wasn't. I just wanted to win one more title here, period."[38]
RetirementNavratilova
capped her career by winning the mixed doubles title, her 41st major
doubles title (31 in women's doubles and 10 in mixed doubles) and 177th
overall, at the 2006 US Open with American doubles specialist Bob Bryan.
At the time, she was only about a month shy of her 50th birthday and
broke her own record as the oldest ever major champion (aged 49 years,
10 months).
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, Quebec, 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 (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
match she played in her forties should be counted separately in her
career statistics. She is the only player to have won at least one tour
event for 21 consecutive years and won the singles and doubles at the
same event a record 84 times. She was ranked in the world's top 3 in
singles for 15 years between 1977 and 1993. Her career singles match win
total of 1,442 is the most during the open era.[39]
Playing style and coachesNavratilova had an attacking serve and volley.[40][41] Under Renée Richards, she improved her game tactics.[42]
Evert said that "Martina revolutionized the game by her superb
athleticism and aggressiveness...She brought athleticism to a whole new
level with her training techniques — particularly cross-training, the
idea that you could go to the gym or play basketball to get in shape for
tennis."[40]
Throughout her long career, Navratilova had many coaches. They included Miroslav Navrátil, George Parma,[40] Věra Suková, Renée Richards (1981–1983), Mike Estep (1983–1986),[43] and Craig Kardon (1988–1994).[44]
Coaching careerIn December 2014, it was announced that Navratilova had joined Agnieszka Radwańska's coaching staff.[45] However, in April 2015, after Radwańska struggled in the first half of the season, the pair decided to part ways.[46][47]
Personal lifeIn 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.[48] She had earlier co-written a tennis instruction book with Mary Carillo in 1982, entitled Tennis My Way.[49] She later wrote three mystery novels with Liz Nickles: The Total Zone (1994),[50] Breaking Point (1996),[51] and Killer Instinct (1997).[52] Navratilova's most recent literary effort was a health and fitness book entitled Shape Your Self, which came out in 2006.[53] An ESPN Documentary was produced about her rivalry with Chris Evert titled, Unmatched. Her rivalry and friendship with Evert is also detailed in the book, The Rivals by Johnette Howard and the children's book, Martina and Chrissie by Phil Bildner.
Sexuality and relationshipsIn 1981, shortly after becoming a United States citizen, Navratilova gave an interview to New York Daily News sports reporter Steve Goldstein, coming out as bisexual and revealing that she had a sexual relationship with Rita Mae Brown,[54] but asked him not to publish the article until she was ready to come out publicly.[55] However, the New York Daily News published the article on July 30, 1981.[42][56] Navratilova and Nancy Lieberman, her friend and roommate at the time,[57] gave an interview to Dallas Morning News columnist Skip Bayless,[58][59] where Navratilova reiterated that she was bisexual and Lieberman identified herself as straight.[60] Navratilova since has reidentified herself as a lesbian.[61]
From 1984 to 1991, Navratilova had a long-term relationship with Judy Nelson, whom she met at a tournament in Fort Worth in 1982 (at the time Nelson was married with two children).[62] Their split in 1991 resulted in a televised palimony lawsuit, which was settled out of court.[63][64] On September 6, 2014, Navratilova proposed to her long-time girlfriend Julia Lemigova, a former Miss USSR, at the US Open.[65] They married in New York on December 15, 2014.[66][67]
Health problemsAccording to the New York Times' Jane E. Brody, in September 1982, an acute attack of toxoplasmosis "contributed to Martina Navratilova's defeat during the United States Open tennis tournament",
in which No. 1 seed Navratilova unexpectedly lost to No. 7 seed Pam
Shriver in the quarterfinal round. By late October, Navratilova had
"apparently recovered".[68]
Navratilova began to wear glasses in 1985 and recalled that her vision had begun to deteriorate in 1984.[69][70] She continued to wear glasses for tennis for many years.[71][72] Few tennis players wear sunglasses regularly for tennis and Navratilova is one of them.[73] Although she achieved so much prior to using glasses, her glasses have become iconic.[74][75]
Some sports writers have said that they made her, as with other top
athletes who had imperfect health, seem more vulnerable and human.[76][77]
On April 7, 2010, Navratilova announced that she was being treated for breast cancer.[78][79] 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;[80] she received radiation therapy in May.[78]
In December 2010, Navratilova was hospitalized after developing high altitude pulmonary edema while attempting a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.[81]
In January 2023, Navratilova was diagnosed with both throat
(stage one) and breast cancer. This came after Navratilova discovered a
swelled lymph node on her neck, leading her to take medical tests.[82][83] In March 2023 and after more preventative radiation, she stated that she was cancer-free.[84]
Activism and opinionsNavratilova is involved with various charities that benefit animal rights, underprivileged children, and gay rights.[85]
Navratilova has described herself as a vegetarian. In an April 2006
interview, she said she had begun eating fish again because she found it
hard to get enough protein while on the road.[86][87] Navratilova is a Democrat, and has donated more than $25,000 to Democratic campaigns.[88]
LGBT rightsNavratilova participated in a lawsuit
against Amendment 2, a successful 1992 ballot proposition in Colorado
designed to prevent sexual orientation from being a protected class.[89] In 1993, Navratilova spoke before the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.[90] Navratilova serves as the Health and Fitness Ambassador for AARP[91]
in an alliance created to help AARP's millions of members lead active,
healthy lives. In 2000, she was the recipient of National Equality Award
from the Human Rights Campaign.[92]
Navratilova in September 2011
CommunismShe is a vocal opponent of communism and was vocal in opposition to the Soviet Bloc
power structure that compelled her to flee her native Czechoslovakia.
She has denounced the Soviet Union's rule in Czechoslovakia, maintaining
that she refuses to speak Russian, which she was forced to learn in school.[93][94]
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.'[86]
RepublicansNavratilova 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.[95]
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.[95]
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.[95]
Navratilova was quoted in 2007 as being ashamed of the U.S. under President George W. Bush because, unlike the communist regime in Czechoslovakia which established its dictatorship as a result of the 1948 coup d'état, Bush was democratically elected.[96][97]
Transgender athletesNavratilova is critical of allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports, describing them as "failed male athletes".[98][99][100]
She rejects accusations of transphobia, and says she deplores "a
growing tendency among transgender activists to denounce anyone who
argues against them and to label them all as 'transphobes.'"[101] Following an article on the subject that Navratilova wrote for The Times in February 2019, Athlete Ally,
an LGBTQ athlete advocacy group, removed Navratilova from their
advisory board, stating her comments "are transphobic [and] based on a
false understanding of science and data".[102][103][104]
In March 2019, Navratilova apologized for using the term
"cheating" when discussing whether transgender athletes should be
allowed to compete in women's sport. She also called for "a debate, a
conversation that includes everyone and is based, as I have said, not on
feeling or emotion but science."[105]
In an April 2019 article for The Washington Post, she opined that the Equality Act,
in its current form, "would make it unlawful to differentiate among
girls and women in sports on the basis of sex for any purpose".[106]
In June 2019, the BBC broadcast "The Trans Women Athlete Dispute with
Martina Navratilova", where she interviewed people including trans women
athletes and sports researchers, presenting evidence on both sides of
the debate of whether trans women have any advantage in elite sports.
Her closing remarks were "The way I started this journey, I just wanted to see if there are any big surprises, any misconceptions that I had.
And what I think I have come to realise, the biggest thing for
me, is just that the level of difficulty that trans people go through
cannot be underestimated. The fight for equality and recognition is just
huge. That being said, still, for me, the most important thing in
sports...and you have to remember, trans rights and elite sports are two
different things, although of course they are connected. What's the
right way to set rules so that everybody feels like they have a fighting
chance? It feels to me that it is impossible to come to any real
conclusions or write any meaningful rules until more research is done.
"But for now, I think we need to include as many transgender athletes as
possible within elite sports, while keeping it as level a playing field
as possible. Look, society has changed so much. Things evolve, things
change and maybe I need to evolve, I need to change. The rules certainly
need to evolve. If you don't adapt, you've got problems. And so we'll
just keep adapting and try to find a happy way forward."[107]
In August 2020, Navratilova along with 300+ women signed a letter to
the National Collegiate Athletic Association in support of an Idaho law
that bans trans women student athletes from competing in female sports.[108]
In 2021, Navratilova became a leader of the Women's Sports Policy Working Group, formed in response to President Joe Biden's Executive Order 13988
mandate that offered blanket inclusion for all trans women athletes.
The stated goal of the group is protecting girls and women in
competitive sports categories, while, wherever possible, crafting
accommodations for trans athletes into sport.[109][110]
In April 2023, Navratilova re-Tweets her support of a Nike
boycott because the sporting giant entered into a corporate sponsorship
with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney to advertise a sports bra.[111][112]
Career statisticsMain article: Martina Navratilova career statistics
Grand Slam singles finals: 32 (18–14)By winning the 1983 US Open title, Navratilova completed the career Grand Slam, becoming only the seventh woman in history to achieve it.
Score
|
Loss |
1975 |
Australian Open |
Grass |
Evonne Goolagong |
3–6, 2–6
|
Loss |
1975 |
French Open |
Clay |
Chris Evert |
6–2, 2–6, 1–6
|
Win |
1978 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Chris Evert |
2–6, 6–4, 7–5
|
Win |
1979 |
Wimbledon (2) |
Grass |
Chris Evert |
6–4, 6–4
|
Loss |
1981 |
US Open |
Hard |
Tracy Austin |
6–1, 6–7(4–7), 6–7(1–7)
|
Win |
1981 |
Australian Open |
Grass |
Chris Evert |
6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–5
|
Win |
1982 |
French Open |
Clay |
Andrea Jaeger |
7–6(8–6), 6–1
|
Win |
1982 |
Wimbledon (3) |
Grass |
Chris Evert |
6–1, 3–6, 6–2
|
Loss |
1982 |
Australian Open |
Grass |
Chris Evert |
3–6, 6–2, 3–6
|
Win |
1983 |
Wimbledon (4) |
Grass |
Andrea Jaeger |
6–0, 6–3
|
Win |
1983 |
US Open |
Hard |
Chris Evert |
6–1, 6–3
|
Win |
1983 |
Australian Open (2) |
Grass |
Kathy Jordan |
6–2, 7–6(7–5)
|
Win |
1984 |
French Open (2) |
Clay |
Chris Evert |
6–3, 6–1
|
Win |
1984 |
Wimbledon (5) |
Grass |
Chris Evert |
7–6(7–5), 6–2
|
Win |
1984 |
US Open (2) |
Hard |
Chris Evert |
4–6, 6–4, 6–4
|
Loss |
1985 |
French Open |
Clay |
Chris Evert |
3–6, 7–6(7–4), 5–7
|
Win |
1985 |
Wimbledon (6) |
Grass |
Chris Evert |
4–6, 6–3, 6–2
|
Loss |
1985 |
US Open |
Hard |
Hana Mandlíková |
6–7(3–7), 6–1, 6–7(2–7)
|
Win |
1985 |
Australian Open (3) |
Grass |
Chris Evert |
6–2, 4–6, 6–2
|
Loss |
1986 |
French Open |
Clay |
Chris Evert |
6–2, 3–6, 3–6
|
Win |
1986 |
Wimbledon (7) |
Grass |
Hana Mandlíková |
7–6(7–1), 6–3
|
Win |
1986 |
US Open (3) |
Hard |
Helena Suková |
6–3, 6–2
|
Loss |
1987 |
Australian Open |
Grass |
Hana Mandlíková |
5–7, 6–7(1–7)
|
Loss |
1987 |
French Open |
Clay |
Steffi Graf |
4–6, 6–4, 6–8
|
Win |
1987 |
Wimbledon (8) |
Grass |
Steffi Graf |
7–5, 6–3
|
Win |
1987 |
US Open (4) |
Hard |
Steffi Graf |
7–6(7–4), 6–1
|
Loss |
1988 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Steffi Graf |
7–5, 2–6, 1–6
|
Loss |
1989 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Steffi Graf |
2–6, 7–6(7–1), 1–6
|
Loss |
1989 |
US Open |
Hard |
Steffi Graf |
6–3, 5–7, 1–6
|
Win |
1990 |
Wimbledon(9) |
Grass |
Zina Garrison |
6–4, 6–1
|
Loss |
1991 |
US Open |
Hard |
Monica Seles |
6–7(1–7), 1–6
|
Loss |
1994 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Conchita Martínez |
4–6, 6–3, 3–6
|
Performance timelines
Key
W
|
F
|
SF
|
QF
|
#R
|
RR
|
Q#
|
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 not qualify; (A)
absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L)
win–loss record.
Singles
|
Czechoslovakia
|
United States
|
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 |
SR |
W–L |
Win %
|
Australian Open
|
A
|
A
|
F
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
SF
|
W
|
F
|
W
|
SF
|
W
|
NH
|
F
|
SF
|
QF
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
3 / 10
|
46–7
|
87%
|
French Open
|
QF
|
QF
|
F
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
QF
|
W
|
4R
|
W
|
F
|
F
|
F
|
4R
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
1R
|
A
|
1R
|
2 / 13
|
51–11
|
82%
|
Wimbledon
|
3R
|
1R
|
QF
|
SF
|
QF
|
W
|
W
|
SF
|
SF
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
F
|
F
|
W
|
QF
|
SF
|
SF
|
F
|
A
|
2R
|
9 / 23
|
120–14
|
90%
|
US Open
|
1R
|
3R
|
SF
|
1R
|
SF
|
SF
|
SF
|
4R
|
F
|
QF
|
W
|
W
|
F
|
W
|
W
|
QF
|
F
|
4R
|
F
|
2R
|
4R
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
4 / 21
|
89–17
|
84%
|
Win–loss
|
5–3
|
5–3
|
17–4
|
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
|
18 / 67
|
306–49
|
86%
|
Doubles
Tournament |
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
1980 |
1981 |
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996–99 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
SR |
Win %
|
Australian Open
|
A
|
A
|
1R
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
W
|
F
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
NH
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
8 / 10
|
80%
|
French Open
|
QF
|
SF
|
W
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
SF
|
W
|
A
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
3R
|
A
|
A
|
3R
|
1R
|
1R
|
3R
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
7 / 15
|
47%
|
Wimbledon
|
1R
|
1R
|
QF
|
W
|
F
|
QF
|
W
|
SF
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
F
|
W
|
QF
|
3R
|
SF
|
QF
|
SF
|
SF
|
A
|
SF
|
A
|
A
|
QF
|
QF
|
2R
|
QF
|
SF
|
SF
|
QF
|
7 / 28
|
25%
|
US Open
|
1R
|
QF
|
SF
|
A
|
W
|
W
|
F
|
W
|
SF
|
SF
|
W
|
W
|
F
|
W
|
W
|
SF
|
W
|
W
|
3R
|
SF
|
A
|
A
|
2R
|
A
|
3R
|
QF
|
3R
|
F
|
QF
|
SF
|
QF
|
9 / 27
|
33%
|
Mixed doubles
Tournament |
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
1980–83 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997–99 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
SR |
Win %
|
Australian Open
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
NH
|
SF
|
F
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
W
|
F
|
SF
|
A
|
1 / 5
|
20%
|
French Open
|
A
|
W
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
W
|
QF
|
QF
|
SF
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
3R
|
A
|
A
|
2R
|
2R
|
A
|
2R
|
2R
|
F
|
SF
|
2 / 12
|
17%
|
Wimbledon
|
QF
|
3R
|
SF
|
2R
|
SF
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
QF
|
W
|
F
|
A
|
QF
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
W
|
A
|
W
|
QF
|
A
|
1R
|
2R
|
2R
|
W
|
3R
|
QF
|
3R
|
4 / 19
|
21%
|
US Open
|
A
|
2R
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
SF
|
A
|
A
|
W
|
F
|
W
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
F
|
A
|
QF
|
A
|
A
|
2R
|
1R
|
2R
|
A
|
SF
|
QF
|
W
|
3/ 13
|
23%
|
Records- These are Open Era tennis records.
- Records in bold indicate peer-less achievements.
Time span
|
Selected Grand Slam tournament records
|
Players matched
|
Grand Slam tournaments
|
Time span
|
Records at each Grand Slam tournament
|
Players matched
|
Time span
|
Other selected records
|
Players matched
|
AwardsAP Female Athlete of the Year 1983 and 1984
- ITF World Champion 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986.
- WTA Player of the Year 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986.
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award 2003
- Czech Sport Legend Award 2006
- BBC's 100 women 2013[113]
RecognitionNavratilova is considered one of the best female tennis players of all time and in 2005, Tennis magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005, directly over Steffi Graf.[3][4][114][115][116][117] Billie Jean King, a former World No. 1 player, said in 2006 that Navratilova is "the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's eve
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