Women who changed sport: Martina Navratilova 'led a revolution' in women's tennis that reverberated beyond
Her career spanned some four decades and includes hundreds of titles in both singles and doubles. But Navratilova's outsized impact reaches well beyond the court.
Tennis
With 167 career singles titles, no one has won more in modern tennis than Martina Navratilova.
But the legend's impact on her sport doesn't just live on in the history books, it also exists in the shape of the current generation - and many more still to come. Many credit Navratilova with how tennis stars train today, her trailblazing approach in her off-court excellence helping to set her apart on court.
"She has led a revolution," the New York Times wrote of Navratilova in 1984, calling out Olympians who had followed in her fitness-first footsteps, including athletics star Evelyn Ashford and gymnast Mary Lou Retton.
Navratilova, now 67, led the charge in other ways, too: By coming out as an open lesbian at the height of her career, speaking her mind and heart while doing so, and via a once-in-a-generation rivalry with Chris Evert, the two facing off some 80 times - 14 of them in major finals.
She also did so with her longevity, returning to the doubles court in 2000 after retiring full time in 1995, reaching the US Open final in 2003 and winning three mixed doubles majors - as well as making her lone Olympic appearance, advancing to the quarterfinals of Athens 2004 alongside Lisa Raymond.
It's hard to imagine another tennis star approaching her overall numbers, including that 34-year span on the pro tour: In all, Navratilova added another 177 doubles titles to her CV, 15 mixed doubles majors and four Fed Cup (now known as the Billie Jean King Cup) wins - including three for the USA after defecting from her native Czechia.
Martina Navratilova: Longevity is just the beginning
Navratilova won her first major title at Wimbledon in 1978, where she would triumph a total of nine times - an all-time record that still exists today, with Roger Federer hoisting the trophy at the All-England Club eight times.
It was in that '78 finale on Centre Court that she and Evert met in a Grand Slam championship match for just a second time, with both women eventually capturing 18 majors in singles, a number toppled only by Serena Williams on the women's side in the Open Era.
Navratilova's net-rushing game in the 70s, 80s and 90s blended the sport's early serve-and-volley tradition while simultaneously modernising it with her levelled-up athleticism. The results spoke for themselves: Navratilova held the No.1 ranking in singles for 337 weeks and doubles for 237 weeks, making her the only woman to go 200+ at both No.1 spot ever.
Having won the French Open mixed doubles crown as her first major in 1974, she won her 59th and final at the aforementioned US Open in 2006 - just weeks prior to her 50th birthday.
"I could play another five years," she told reporters then with a smile. "But I've had enough... it's time to move on and do other things. It's nice to be able to leave on my terms playing the best tennis that I have [since my comeback]."
But that's what Navratilova has always does: Operated on her own terms.
And that mindset gave tennis one of its best of all time, and an athlete that helped change the way modern sport is played.
Navratilova by the numbers
There are too many numbers to list to encapsulate Navratilova's greatness, though we've mentioned plenty above. Here's a few more from her legendary career:
- Navratilova went 1,442-219 in singles in her career, registering a 86.8 winning percentage
- She played in 32 major singles finals, second only to Evert (34) and Serena Williams (33) in women's tennis all-time
- Navratilova reached the final at every major 11 times in a row from the French Open 1985 to the US Open in 1987, a mark only topped by Steffi Graf (13)
- Her 120 match wins in singles at Wimbledon remains a tournament record
- She won the Chicago WTA Tour stop 12 times between 1978 and 1992, more than any other woman at any tournament in the Open Era
- Navratilova and longtime doubles partner Pam Shriver swept the Grand Slams in doubles in 1984. They also won 109 matches in a row from 1983 to 85
- Her 86-1 mark in singles in 1983 is the best season by win percentage (98.8%) in the Open Era