Martina Navratilova
Navratilova defected from Communist Czechoslovakia to the United States in 1975 at age 18, seeking athletic freedom. A transformed fitness regimen made her a dominant champion, and she became a superstar in 1978 by winning her first Wimbledon singles title. She then ruled women's tennis through the 1980s.
Defection and Freedom
Born in Prague, Navratilova defected to the United States in 1975 to pursue her career without political restrictions. She became an American citizen in 1981 and later regained Czech citizenship as well.
Era of Dominance
Through a rigorous fitness and training program, Navratilova built one of the most dominant runs in tennis. Her rivalry with Chris Evert produced 80 career meetings and defined women's tennis for over a decade.
Trailblazer
One of the first openly gay sports superstars, Navratilova became a prominent activist after her playing days. She also stayed competitive into her late forties, winning mixed doubles majors in 2003 and 2006.
Career Timeline
- 1975Defects from Czechoslovakia to the United States
- 1978Wins her first Wimbledon singles title
- 1981Becomes a naturalized United States citizen
- 1982Begins a stretch of dominant seasons
- 1983Loses only one match all year, going 86-1
- 1984Completes a Grand Slam across 1983 and 1984
- 1987Wins the singles, doubles, and mixed at the US Open
- 1990Wins record ninth Wimbledon singles title
- 1994Retires from full-time singles competition
- 2000Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
Biggest Hits
- Navratilova won 59 total Grand Slam titles, an all-discipline record in the Open Era.
- She reached her final Grand Slam final in mixed doubles in 2006, just shy of her 50th birthday.
Portrait: Andrew Campbell · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons