Martina Navratilova (b.1956,) born Martina Šubertová, is a Czech-American tennis player who dominated women’s tennis in the late 1970s and the ’80s.
With her superior athleticism, hard-hitting style, and emotional concentration, Navratilova transformed women’s tennis into a power sport. By the end of her professional career, she had won more singles titles than any other tennis player, male or female, Her foremost successes include nine Wimbledon singles titles (1978–79, 1982–87, 1990,) two world championships (1980, 1984,) and eight successive Grand Slam doubles titles. She retired from competitive tennis after becoming the oldest winner of a Grand Slam championship when she won the 2006 U.S. Open mixed doubles—a month before of her fiftieth birthday.
At the height of her professional success, Navratilova stunned the world by coming out as a lesbian. She has capitalized on her fame to support many social causes, including gay and lesbian rights, and vegetarianism.
Navratilova wrote an autobiography, Martina (1985,) a series of mystery novels, and a health and fitness book Shape Your Self (2006.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Martina Navratilova
The moment of victory is much too short to live for that and nothing else.
—Martina Navratilova
The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are their worst.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: Sports
Whoever said, “It’s not whether you win or lose that counts,” probably lost.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: Loss
The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: Commitment
I came to live in a country I love; some people label me a defector. I have loved men and women in my life; I’ve been labeled “the bisexual defector” in print. Want to know another secret? I’m even ambidextrous. I don’t like labels. Just call me Martina.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: Individuality, Names
Do what you love and love what you do and everything else is detail.
—Martina Navratilova
Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: Identity
Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, you’re needed by someone.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: Disability
I think the key is for women not to set any limits.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: Women
People in the States used to think that if girls were good at sports their sexuality would be affected. Being feminine meant being a cheerleader, not being an athlete. The image of women is changing now. You don’t have to be pretty for people to come and see you play. At the same time, if you’re a good athlete, it doesn’t mean you’re not a woman.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: Sports, Women
Being blunt with your feelings is very American. In this big country, I can be as brash as New York, as hedonistic as Los Angeles, as sensuous as San Francisco, as brainy as Boston, as proper as Philadelphia, as brawny as Chicago, as warm as Palm Springs, as friendly as my adopted home town of Dallas, Fort Worth, and as peaceful as the inland waterway that rubs up against my former home in Virginia Beach.
—Martina Navratilova
Topics: America
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