Martina Navratilova is a Czech-American former professional tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. She dominated women's tennis in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, winning an astonishing 59 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
Martina Navratilova Early Life and Career
Born on October 18, 1956, in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic), Navratilova started playing tennis at a young age under the guidance of her stepfather, Miroslav Navrátil. She won the Czechoslovakia national tennis championship at the age of 15 in 1972 and made her debut on the professional tour in 1973.
Navratilova defected to the United States in 1975, seeking better opportunities for her tennis career. She became a U.S. citizen in 1981 and went on to dominate the sport throughout the 1980s.
Dominance and Records
Navratilova's career was marked by numerous records and achievements. She won an incredible 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 9 Wimbledon singles championships. She also won 31 major women's doubles titles and 10 major mixed doubles titles, bringing her total Grand Slam title count to an unmatched 59.
From 1982 to 1986, Navratilova won an astonishing 6 consecutive Grand Slam singles titles, a feat unmatched in the Open Era. She held the World No. 1 ranking for a total of 332 weeks, which was a record until Steffi Graf surpassed it.
Navratilova's rivalry with Chris Evert was one of the most celebrated in tennis history, with the two players facing each other in 80 matches, including 14 Grand Slam finals.
Legacy and Retirement
Navratilova was a trailblazer in many ways, becoming one of the first openly gay athletes in professional sports. She was an active advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
After a remarkable career spanning over three decades, Navratilova retired from professional tennis in 2006 at the age of 49, after winning the mixed doubles title at the US Open. Her career totals included an astounding 167 singles titles and 177 doubles titles, cementing her status as one of the greatest players in tennis history.
Martina Navratilova Factsheet 2024
