History of Martina Navratilova in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 12, 2026

Martina Navratilova is widely considered one of the greatest tennis players in history. Born in Czechoslovakia, she defected to the United States in 1975, later becoming a U.S. citizen. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she secured a record-breaking 59 Grand Slam titles, including 18 singles, 31 doubles, and 10 mixed doubles championships. Her dominance at Wimbledon, where she won nine singles titles, remains a legendary feat in the sport. Known for her aggressive serve-and-volley style and exceptional athleticism, she revolutionized women’s tennis through her intense focus on fitness and nutrition. Beyond her on-court achievements, Navratilova is a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and social equality. Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000, her legacy persists through her continued influence as a commentator, coach, and activist, cementing her status as a global icon of both sports and social progress.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

October 18, 1956: Birth of Martina Navratilova

On October 18, 1956, Martina Navratilova (née Šubertová) was born, eventually becoming a legendary Czech-American professional tennis player who would set numerous Open Era records in the sport.

1962: Adoption of Stepfather's Surname

In 1962, following her mother Jana's marriage to Miroslav Navrátil, Martina changed her surname to Navrátilová. Her stepfather also became her inaugural tennis coach during this time.

1968: Beginning of the Professional Era

The year 1968 serves as the benchmark for the modern professional era in tennis, against which Navratilova's 1983 winning percentage is compared.

1972: Czechoslovakia National Tennis Championship Win

In 1972, at the age of 15, Martina Navratilova achieved a significant career milestone by winning the Czechoslovakia national tennis championship.

1973: Professional Tour Debut and French Open Performance

In 1973, at age 16, Navratilova made her debut on the United States Lawn Tennis Association professional tour and reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.

1974: First Major Title Win

In 1974, Martina Navratilova secured the first major title of her professional career, setting the stage for a 32-year span of major victories that would conclude in 2006.

1974: First professional singles title win

In 1974, at the age of 17, Martina Navratilova achieved a significant career milestone by winning her first professional singles tennis title in Orlando, Florida.

1975: Transition to Professional Tennis

After gaining experience on the professional tour in previous years, Navratilova officially turned professional in 1975.

1975: 1975 Competitive Season and Defection

In 1975, Martina Navratilova reached the finals of the Australian Open and French Open, won the French Open women's doubles title alongside Chris Evert, and made the life-changing decision in September 1975 to defect from communist Czechoslovakia while in New York City.

1975: Political Asylum and Loss of Citizenship

In 1975, Martina Navratilova requested political asylum in the United States, which resulted in the Czechoslovakian government stripping her of her citizenship.

1976: Wimbledon Women's Doubles Victory

In 1976, Martina Navratilova teamed up once again with Chris Evert to secure the Wimbledon women's doubles title, defeating competitors Billie Jean King and Bette Stove.

1978: First Major Singles Title and World No. 1 Ranking

In 1978, Martina Navratilova secured her first major singles championship at Wimbledon by defeating Chris Evert in a three-set match, subsequently earning the world No. 1 ranking on the WTA computer for the first time.

January 1979: Loss of World No. 1 Ranking

In January 1979, Martina Navratilova lost the world No. 1 ranking she had held since 1978 when Chris Evert reclaimed the top position.

1980: Wimbledon Quarterfinal Victory Over Billie Jean King

In 1980, Martina Navratilova defeated six-time Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King during a challenging two-day quarterfinal match at Wimbledon with a score of 7–6(8–6), 1–6, 10–8.

April 1981: WTA Championships Loss and Fitness Training

In April 1981, Navratilova suffered a rare double-bagel loss to Chris Evert at the Women's Tennis Association championships in Amelia Island; following this, she began working with Nancy Lieberman to enhance her fitness and mental toughness.

1981: United States Citizenship and Public Coming Out

During 1981, Navratilova officially became a United States citizen and also publicly identified as openly gay, beginning her journey as a prominent activist for gay rights.

1981: Becoming a US Citizen

Following her defection from Czechoslovakia years earlier, Martina Navratilova officially became a United States citizen in 1981.

1982: Start of Dominant Reign

Beginning in 1982, Martina Navratilova entered a period of unprecedented dominance in professional women's tennis that lasted through 1986.

1982: Wimbledon and French Open Titles

During the 1982 tennis season, Navratilova achieved major success by winning the singles titles at both the Wimbledon and the French Open tournaments.

1982: Start of Wimbledon Final Streak

In 1982, Martina Navratilova began an unprecedented streak of reaching the Wimbledon singles final for nine consecutive years, a run that lasted until 1990.

1983: Commencement of 109-Match Winning Streak

Beginning in 1983, Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver embarked on an unprecedented 109-match winning streak that extended through 1985.

1983: Record-Breaking 1983 Season

During the 1983 season, Martina Navratilova achieved a professional tennis record by winning 98.9% of her matches, finishing the year with an 86-1 record, and began a streak of winning six consecutive singles majors.

1984: Continued Match Dominance

By the end of 1984, Navratilova had maintained a historic level of play, losing only six total singles matches across the 1982, 1983, and 1984 seasons.

1984: Martina Navratilova's 1984 Tennis Achievements

In 1984, Martina Navratilova achieved a significant milestone by holding all four major singles titles simultaneously after winning the French Open. Although ITF president Philippe Chatrier labeled this a "Grand Slam," some critics disputed the title because the wins did not occur within a single calendar year. Navratilova also tied a record with six consecutive major tournament wins across Wimbledon and the US Open, becoming the first player to win on clay, grass, and hard courts in one year. However, her historic 74-match winning streak was finally broken by Helena Suková during the semifinals of the 1984 Australian Open.

1984: Calendar Grand Slam in Women's Doubles

In 1984, Martina Navratilova and her partner Pam Shriver successfully completed a calendar Grand Slam in women's doubles tennis.

1984: Amelia Island Event Victory

In 1984, Navratilova avenged her previous loss at Amelia Island by defeating Chris Evert with a score of 6–2, 6–0 in the tournament finals.

1984: Completion of Consecutive Singles Majors

In 1984, Navratilova concluded her record-breaking run of six consecutive singles major tournament victories, a streak that had begun in 1983, while simultaneously maintaining dominance by winning the Grand Slam in doubles.

1985: 1985 French Open Final against Chris Evert

In 1985, Martina Navratilova competed in the French Open final against Chris Evert in a match frequently cited as the greatest in women's tennis history. Despite a strong comeback attempt, Navratilova lost to Evert 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 7–5, marking a significant turn in their iconic rivalry.

1985: Conclusion of Winning Streak and Major Final Appearances

The 109-match winning streak for Navratilova and Shriver concluded in 1985, a year that also marked the start of a three-year period where Navratilova reached the women's singles final at every major tournament.

1986: US Open Triumph and Year-End Success

In 1986, Martina Navratilova achieved significant success by winning the US Open women's singles title after a dramatic semifinal victory against Steffi Graf and a final win over Helena Suková. Additionally, in 1986, she secured the women's doubles title with Pam Shriver, defeated Graf at the WTA Tour Championship, and finished the year ranked number one for the fifth year in a row with a record of 89–3.

1986: Conclusion of Unbroken Spell

The year 1986 marked the end of an unbroken five-year span of dominance for Navratilova, considered the most significant period in the professional tennis era.

1987: End of Major Final Streak

By 1987, Navratilova completed a streak of reaching the women's singles final at 11 consecutive major tournaments, winning six of those titles.

1987: Martina Navratilova's 1987 Tennis Season Highlights

During the 1987 season, Martina Navratilova achieved significant success, including winning the Wimbledon and US Open singles titles, and completing a 'Triple Crown' at the US Open by winning the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. Despite losing to Steffi Graf in the French Open and Hana Mandlíková in the Australian Open, she reached all four Grand Slam finals that year and concluded the season with an impressive career total of titles across all formats.

1988: Wimbledon Final Against Steffi Graf

In 1988, Martina Navratilova was defeated by Steffi Graf in the Wimbledon singles final with a score of 5–7, 6–2, 6–1. Despite losing this match, Navratilova maintained a successful 1988 season by winning nine other tournaments and securing the world No. 2 ranking.

1990: Conclusion of Nine-Year Wimbledon Final Streak

In 1990, Martina Navratilova concluded her historic run of reaching nine consecutive Wimbledon singles finals, a streak that had spanned from 1982.

2006: Final Major Title at US Open

In 2006, shortly before turning 50, Martina Navratilova won her final major title in the mixed doubles competition at the US Open, marking 32 years since her first major win.