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Martina Navratilova has confirmed that this will be her last Championships after the nine-time singles champion announced that she will retire.
“The decision that this is my last year, that is a definite,” she said. “I probably could do it another five years if I wanted to, but I don't want to.”
Navratilova, who turns 50 in October, first retired in 1995 but came back in 2000 to appear in doubles competitions with some success. In 2003 she took the mixed doubles at the Australian Open with Leander Paes as well as the Wimbledon mixed title.
Navratilova is still competing at this year’s Championships, with Liezel Huber in the ladies’ doubles and Mark Knowles in the mixed doubles. She currently ties Billie Jean King with 20 titles in all events at The Championships and she is focused on winning one last Wimbledon crown before she bows out for the final time.
“I didn't come here for the strawberries and cream,” she said. “I just came here to win, win a title, and we're still in both events. We have a very good shot in both doubles and the mixed. I'm just concentrating on that. I can get sentimental when it's over, not yet.”
On Saturday, Navratilova was honoured for her contribution to Wimbledon and world tennis at a special ceremony on Centre Court with five other all-time greats, Maria Bueno, Margaret Court, Billie Jean King and Steffi Graf. Navratilova was the only one of the five champions to still be active on the professional circuit and although she remains open about her final retirement date, she feels it is the right time to call an end to an illustrious career.
“It’s time. It’s enough,” she said. “I just want to move on to my next life, spend more time with my one and only, my animals and devote more time to my businesses. But, most of all, it's to spend more time at home."
Written by David Bates
The presentation of inscribed Waterford Crystal Lismore bowls to five former Wimbledon Ladies' Champions who between them have won 28 singles titles amongst an overall tally of 202 Grand Slam titles.
