Navratilova, Martina (1956–)
Navratilova, Martina (1956–)
Czech-born tennis player. Born Martina Subertova, Oct 18, 1956, in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic); dau. of Jana (Semanska) Subert Navratil and Miroslav Kamil Subert; stepdaughter of Miroslav Navratil.
At 13, was the youngest player on the Czech national tennis team (1969); allowed by Communist government then in power to compete on US Tennis Association circuit (1973); during another US tour, defected and sought American citizenship (1975), which was granted (1981); during years of professional play, won 167 singles events, including 9 Wimbledon titles and 4 US Open titles, 165 doubles championships, and 55 mixed-doubles championships; was one of the 1st women to use rigorous strength training to bring a highly aggressive and physically demanding style to the women's circuit; by the time of retirement from singles play (1994), had won a record-setting $20 million in prize money; made a lively comeback in singles play (2004), winning 4 out of 6 tournament matches to the delight of tennis fans; though career was complicated by her public candor about her sexuality, continues to act as a well-known speaker for gay and women's rights. Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport (2000).
See also (autobiography) with George Vecsey, Martina (Knopf, 1985); Adrienne Blue, Martina Unauthorized (Gollancz, 1995); and Women in World History.