History of Martina Navratilova in Timeline

Martina Navratilova, a Czech-American former professional tennis player, is considered one of the greatest of all time. She held the world No. 1 ranking in singles for 332 weeks and in doubles for a record 237 weeks. Navratilova amassed an Open Era record of 59 major titles: 18 in singles, 31 in women's doubles, and 10 in mixed doubles, along with 167 top-level singles titles and 177 doubles titles. Her nine Wimbledon singles titles remain an all-time record. She, alongside Chris Evert, dominated women's tennis during the 1980s.

Sections (7)

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

1948: Coup d'état in Czechoslovakia

In 2007, Martina Navratilova made reference to the 1948 coup d'état in Czechoslovakia when discussing her feelings about the U.S. under George W. Bush.

October 18, 1956: Birth of Martina Navratilova

On October 18, 1956, Martina Navratilova, née Šubertová, was born in Czechoslovakia. She would become a Czech-American professional tennis player.

1962: Stepfather as First Tennis Coach

In 1962, Martina Navratilova's mother married Miroslav Navrátil, who became her first tennis coach. Martina then took the name of her stepfather (adding the feminine suffix -ová), thus becoming Martina Navrátilová.

1965: Greatest Female Tennis Player Recognition

In 2005, Tennis magazine recognized Martina Navratilova as the greatest female tennis player from 1965 through 2005.

1968: Best Winning Percentage

In 1983, Martina Navratilova had the best winning percentage ever for a post-1968 professional tennis player.

1972: Won Czechoslovakia National Tennis Championship

In 1972, at the age of 15, Martina Navratilova won the Czechoslovakia national tennis championship.

1973: Debut on United States Lawn Tennis Association Professional Tour

In 1973, at the age of 16, Martina Navratilova made her debut on the United States Lawn Tennis Association professional tour.

1974: First Major Title

In 1974, Martina Navratilova won her first major title. It was 32 years before she won her last one in 2006.

1974: First Professional Singles Title

In 1974, Martina Navratilova won her first professional singles title in Orlando, Florida, at the age of 17.

1975: Runner-up at Major Singles Tournaments and Defection to the U.S.

In 1975, Martina Navratilova was the runner-up at the Australian Open and the French Open. After losing to Chris Evert in the US Open semifinals in September 1975, she defected from communist Czechoslovakia. Also, in 1975, Navratilova teamed with world number one Evert to win the French Open women's doubles title.

1975: Sought Political Asylum in the United States

In 1975, at the age of 18, Martina Navratilova, originally from Czechoslovakia, sought political asylum in the United States and was granted temporary residence.

1975: Turned Professional

Martina Navratilova turned professional in 1975.

1976: Wimbledon Women's Doubles Title

In 1976, Martina Navratilova teamed with Chris Evert to win the Wimbledon women's doubles title over Billie Jean King and Bette Stove.

1977: Ranked in World's Top 3

From 1977 to 1993, Martina Navratilova was ranked in the world's top 3 in singles for 15 years.

1978: First Major Singles Title at Wimbledon

In 1978, Martina Navratilova won her first major singles title at Wimbledon, defeating Chris Evert in three sets in the final and capturing the world No. 1 ranking.

January 1979: Lost the World No. 1 ranking

In January 1979, Chris Evert took back the World No. 1 ranking from Martina Navratilova.

1979: Defended Wimbledon Title and Earned World No. 1 Ranking

In 1979, Martina Navratilova successfully defended her Wimbledon title, again beating Chris Evert in the final, and earned the World No. 1 ranking at the end of the year for the first time.

1980: Defeated Billie Jean King at Wimbledon

In 1980, Martina Navratilova defeated previous six-time Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King in a two-day epic in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, with a scoreline of 7–6, 1–6, 10–8.

April 1981: Double Bagel Loss to Evert

In April 1981, Chris Evert defeated Martina Navratilova in the finals of the Women's Tennis Association championships, held on clay at Amelia Island, 6–0, 6–0.

July 30, 1981: Coming Out as Bisexual

On July 30, 1981, the New York Daily News published an article where Martina Navratilova came out as bisexual, revealing a relationship with Rita Mae Brown. The article was published despite Navratilova's request to wait until she was ready to come out publicly.

1981: Became a U.S. Citizen

In 1981, Martina Navratilova became a U.S. citizen.

1981: Won Australian Open

In 1981, Martina Navratilova won her third major singles title by defeating Chris Evert in the final of the Australian Open.

1981: Coaching by Renée Richards

In 1981, Renée Richards became one of Martina Navratilova's coaches. Richards coached Navratilova from 1981 to 1983.

September 1982: Acute Toxoplasmosis Attack

In September 1982, Martina Navratilova experienced an acute attack of toxoplasmosis which, according to The New York Times, contributed to her defeat during the US Open tournament against Pam Shriver.

1982: Reached Wimbledon Final

From 1982 through 1990, Martina Navratilova reached the Wimbledon final nine consecutive times.

1982: Start of Dominant Reign

From 1982, Martina Navratilova began a period of dominance in women's tennis. From 1982, 1983, and 1984, Navratilova lost a total of only six singles matches.

1982: Co-authored Tennis Instruction Book

In 1982, Martina Navratilova co-wrote a tennis instruction book with Mary Carillo titled "Tennis My Way".

Tennis My Way

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1982: Met Judy Nelson

In 1982, Martina Navratilova met Judy Nelson, whom she would begin a long-term relationship with, at a tournament in Fort Worth.

1982: Wimbledon and French Open Wins

In 1982, Martina Navratilova won both Wimbledon and the French Open.

1982: Won Wimbledon and the French Open

In 1982, Martina Navratilova won both Wimbledon and the French Open.

1983: Career Grand Slam

By winning the 1983 US Open title, Martina Navratilova completed the career Grand Slam, becoming only the seventh woman in history to achieve it.

1983: Start of 109-Match Winning Streak in Doubles

From 1983, Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver achieved a record 109-match winning streak in doubles between 1983 and 1985.

1983: Appearance in Hart to Hart

In 1983, Martina Navratilova and Vijay Amritraj appeared as themselves in the Hart to Hart episode "Love Game."

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1983: Dominant Season and Grand Slam in Doubles

In 1983, Martina Navratilova had a dominant professional season, achieving a winning percentage of 98.9% with a record of 86-1. Also, in 1983, she simultaneously won the Grand Slam in doubles.

1983: Dominant Season and Three Major Titles

In 1983, after losing in the fourth round of the French Open, Martina Navratilova captured the year's three remaining major titles. Her only singles defeat during that year, establishing an 86–1 record.

1983: Coaching by Renée Richards and Mike Estep

In 1983, both Renée Richards and Mike Estep coached Martina Navratilova. Richards coached Navratilova from 1981 to 1983, while Estep coached from 1983 to 1986.

1983: AP Female Athlete of the Year

Martina Navratilova was named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1983.

1984: Start of Dominant Reign

From 1984, Martina Navratilova continued a period of dominance in women's tennis. From 1982, 1983, and 1984, Navratilova lost a total of only six singles matches.

1984: Defeated Evert at Amelia Island Event

In 1984, Martina Navratilova avenged her double bagel loss by crushing Chris Evert 6-2, 6-0 in the finals of the Amelia Island event.

1984: Long Term Relationship with Judy Nelson

In 1984, Martina Navratilova began a long term relationship with Judy Nelson, which lasted until 1991.

1984: Calendar Grand Slam in Women's Doubles

In 1984, Martina Navratilova completed a calendar grand slam in women's doubles, partnering with Pam Shriver.

1984: Record Six Consecutive Singles Majors

In 1984, Martina Navratilova won a record six consecutive singles majors. Also, in 1984, she simultaneously won the Grand Slam in doubles.

1984: Grand Slam and Winning Streak

In 1984, Martina Navratilova won the French Open, holding all four major singles titles simultaneously and being declared a "Grand Slam" winner. Also in 1984 she became the first player to win majors on clay, grass and hard court on the same year. In the semifinals of the 1984 Australian Open, Helena Suková ended Navratilova's 74-match winning streak.

1984: Vision Deterioration

In 1984, Martina Navratilova's vision began to deteriorate, leading her to start wearing glasses in 1985.

1984: AP Female Athlete of the Year

Martina Navratilova was named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1984.

1985: Start of 109-Match Winning Streak in Doubles

From 1985, Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver achieved a record 109-match winning streak in doubles between 1983 and 1985.

1985: Started Wearing Glasses

In 1985, Martina Navratilova began wearing glasses, noting that her vision had started to deteriorate in 1984. Her glasses became iconic.

1985: French Open Final Against Chris Evert

In 1985, Martina Navratilova played in what many consider to be perhaps the best woman's match of all time, the French Open final against Chris Evert, where Evert defeated Navratilova 6–3, 6–7, 7–5.

1985: Release of Autobiography

In 1985, Martina Navratilova released her autobiography, co-written with George Vecsey, titled "Martina" in the U.S. and "Being Myself" elsewhere.

Martina

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1986: US Open Victory and Number One Ranking

In 1986 at the US Open, Martina Navratilova prevailed over Steffi Graf in the semifinals and won the final over Helena Suková. Navratilova and Pam Shriver also won the women's doubles title. With an 89–3 record, Martina earned the number-one ranking for the fifth consecutive year.

1986: Coaching by Mike Estep

In 1986, Mike Estep was one of Martina Navratilova's coaches. Estep coached her from 1983 to 1986.

1986: End of Dominant Reign

Martina Navratilova's reign from 1982 to 1986 is the most dominant unbroken spell in the professional era.

1987: Major Finals Streak

From 1985 through 1987, Martina Navratilova reached the women's singles final at all 11 major tournaments held during those three years, winning six of them.

1987: Wins at Wimbledon and US Open

In 1987, Martina Navratilova defeated Steffi Graf in the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open. She reached all four Grand Slam finals in 1987, winning two of them.

1988: Coaching by Craig Kardon

In 1988, Craig Kardon became one of Martina Navratilova's coaches. Kardon coached her from 1988 to 1994.

1988: Loss to Graf in Wimbledon Final

In 1988, Steffi Graf won all four major singles titles, including beating Martina Navratilova in the Wimbledon final. Navratilova did not reach the finals of any of the other Grand Slam events but did win nine tournaments.

1989: Rivalry with Graf

In 1989, Martina Navratilova faced Steffi Graf in the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, losing both matches in three sets. Graf also won their match in the WTA Tour Championships finals. Despite not playing in the French Open, Navratilova won eight titles and was ranked No. 2 behind Graf for the third consecutive year.

1990: Reached Wimbledon Final

From 1982 through 1990, Martina Navratilova reached the Wimbledon final nine consecutive times.

1990: Ninth Wimbledon Singles Crown

In 1990, Martina Navratilova won her final Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, defeating Zina Garrison 6–4, 6–1 to secure her record-breaking ninth Wimbledon singles crown. She also won four other tournaments in 1990 and finished the year ranked No. 3 in the world.

1991: US Open Final Loss

In 1991, Martina Navratilova lost in the US Open final to Monica Seles.

1991: Split from Judy Nelson

In 1991, Martina Navratilova split from Judy Nelson, resulting in a televised palimony lawsuit that was settled out of court.

1991: Defeated Graf in US Open Semifinals

In 1991, at the age of 34, Martina Navratilova defeated Steffi Graf in the semifinals of the US Open with a score of 7–6, 6–7, 6–4. This victory ended their Grand Slam rivalry with Navratilova leading 5–4.

September 1992: Battle of the Sexes Match

In September 1992, Martina Navratilova, aged 35, participated in the third Battle of the Sexes tennis match against 40-year-old Jimmy Connors at Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada. Connors, with adjusted rules, won the match 7–5, 6–2.

1992: Lawsuit against Amendment 2

In 1992, Martina Navratilova participated in a lawsuit against Amendment 2, a ballot proposition in Colorado designed to prevent sexual orientation from being a protected class.

1992: Mention in Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon

Though a homage rather than an appearance, in 1992 Martina Navratilova was mentioned by the titular character in episode 14 of the anime Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon.

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1993: Ranked in World's Top 3

From 1977 to 1993, Martina Navratilova was ranked in the world's top 3 in singles for 15 years.

1993: Spoke at March on Washington

In 1993, Martina Navratilova spoke before the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.

1994: Coaching by Craig Kardon

In 1994, Craig Kardon was one of Martina Navratilova's coaches. Kardon coached her from 1988 to 1994.

1994: Publication of The Total Zone

In 1994, Martina Navratilova co-authored the mystery novel "The Total Zone" with Liz Nickles.

The Total Zone

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1994: Wimbledon Final and Retirement

In 1994, at age 37, Martina Navratilova reached the Wimbledon final, losing to Conchita Martínez. In November 1994, after losing in the first round of the WTA Tour Championships, she retired from full-time singles competition.

1996: Publication of Breaking Point

In 1996, Martina Navratilova co-authored the mystery novel "Breaking Point" with Liz Nickles.

1996: Endorsement for PowerBook

In 1996, Martina Navratilova was featured with American football player Art Monk in an endorsement for PowerBook in the ad series "What's on Your PowerBook?"

1997: Publication of Killer Instinct

In 1997, Martina Navratilova co-authored the mystery novel "Killer Instinct" with Liz Nickles.

1999: Second Best Female Player

In 1999, tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century, named Martina Navratilova as the second best female player of the 20th century, behind Steffi Graf.

The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century by Steve Flink (1999-12-01)

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2000: Appearance on Will & Grace

In 2000 Martina Navratilova appeared as herself on Will & Grace "Lows in the Mid-Eighties" as one of Karen Walker's (Megan Mullally) paramours in a flashback sequence.

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2000: Member of Laureus Sports Foundation's Academy

In 2000, Martina Navratilova became a member of the Laureus Sports Foundation's Academy.

2000: Return to the Tour

In 2000, Martina Navratilova returned to the tour, primarily playing doubles events with occasional singles appearances.

2000: Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

In 2000, Martina Navratilova was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

2000: Received National Equality Award

In 2000, Martina Navratilova was the recipient of the National Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign.

July 17, 2002: Guest on CNN's Connie Chung Tonight

On July 17, 2002, Martina Navratilova appeared as a guest on CNN's Connie Chung Tonight show.

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2002: Singles Performance at Eastbourne

In 2002, Martina Navratilova played her first singles match in eight years at Eastbourne, defeating world No. 22 Tatiana Panova before losing to Daniela Hantuchová in the next round.

2003: Mixed Doubles Titles at Australian Open and Wimbledon

In 2003, Martina Navratilova, partnering with Leander Paes, won the mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. At 46 years and 8 months, she became the oldest major champion. The Australian Open victory completed her "boxed set" of major titles.

2004: Return to Singles at French Open and Wimbledon

In 2004, Martina Navratilova returned to singles at the French Open after a 10-year absence, losing in the first round. At Wimbledon in 2004, she won a singles match, becoming the oldest player to win a professional singles match in the open era, but lost in the second round.

2005: Greatest Female Tennis Player

In 2005, Tennis magazine selected Martina Navratilova as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005.

April 2006: Resumed Eating Fish

In April 2006, Martina Navratilova stated in an interview that she had started eating fish again as she found it difficult to obtain sufficient protein while traveling as a vegetarian.

July 6, 2006: Last Matches at Wimbledon

On July 6, 2006, Martina Navratilova played her last matches at Wimbledon. She and partner Liezel Huber lost a quarterfinal match in women's doubles. Later that day, she and partner Mark Knowles lost in the third round of mixed doubles.

August 21, 2006: Last Title in Women's Doubles

On August 21, 2006, Martina Navratilova secured her last title in women's doubles at the Tier I Rogers Cup in Montreal, Quebec, partnering with Nadia Petrova.

2006: Billie Jean King's Acclaim

In 2006, Billie Jean King called Martina Navratilova "the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived."

2006: Publication of Shape Your Self

In 2006, Martina Navratilova released a health and fitness book titled "Shape Your Self".

Shape Your Self: My 6-Step Diet and Fitness Plan to Achieve the Best Shape of Your Life

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2006: LGBT History Month Icon

In 2006, Martina Navratilova was named by Equality Forum as one of their 31 Icons of the LGBT History Month.

2006: Last Major Title at US Open

In 2006, Martina Navratilova won her last major title, the mixed doubles crown at the US Open, shortly before her 50th birthday.

2007: Criticism of the U.S. under George W. Bush

In 2007, Martina Navratilova was quoted as being ashamed of the U.S. under President George W. Bush due to his democratically elected status, contrasting it with the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

January 9, 2008: Reacquired Czech Citizenship

On January 9, 2008, Martina Navratilova reacquired her Czech citizenship, becoming a dual citizen. She stated she has not renounced her U.S. citizenship nor does she plan to do so, and that reclaiming Czech nationality was not politically motivated.

November 2008: I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! Appearance

In November 2008, Martina Navratilova appeared on the UK's ITV series Series 8 of I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!; she finished runner-up to Joe Swash.

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2008: Bud Collins' Assertion

In 2008, tennis historian Bud Collins called Martina Navratilova "arguably, the greatest player of all time."

2009: Plays for Boston Lobsters

In 2009, Martina Navratilova played for the Boston Lobsters in the World TeamTennis pro league, marking the end of her tenure with the team.

2009: Philippe Chatrier Award

In 2009, Martina Navratilova was awarded the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award, for her contributions to tennis on and off the court.

January 2010: Mammogram Revealed Breast Cancer

In January 2010, a routine mammogram revealed that Martina Navratilova had a ductal carcinoma in situ in her left breast.

April 7, 2010: Announced Breast Cancer Diagnosis

On April 7, 2010, Martina Navratilova announced that she was being treated for breast cancer, which was discovered during a routine mammogram in January 2010.

December 2010: Hospitalized with Pulmonary Edema

In December 2010, Martina Navratilova was hospitalized after developing high altitude pulmonary edema while attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

June 2011: 30 Legends of Women's Tennis

In June 2011, Martina Navratilova was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by Time.

February 2012: Dancing with the Stars Appearance

In February 2012, Martina Navratilova was a cast member on the 14th season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Tony Dovolani, but they were the first pair eliminated.

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March 2012: Second Greatest Female Tennis Player

In March 2012, The Tennis Channel named Martina Navratilova as the second greatest female tennis player of all times, behind Steffi Graf, in their list of 100 greatest tennis players of all times.

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August 2, 2013: Induction into National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame

On August 2, 2013, Martina Navratilova was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame as part of the first class of inductees.

September 6, 2014: Proposed to Julia Lemigova

On September 6, 2014, Martina Navratilova proposed to her long-time girlfriend Julia Lemigova at the US Open.

December 15, 2014: Married Julia Lemigova

On December 15, 2014, Martina Navratilova married Julia Lemigova in New York.

December 2014: Joined Radwańska's Coaching Staff

In December 2014, Martina Navratilova joined Agnieszka Radwańska's coaching staff.

April 2015: Parted Ways with Radwańska

In April 2015, Martina Navratilova and Agnieszka Radwańska decided to part ways after Radwańska faced struggles in the first half of the season.

May 12, 2016: Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College

On May 12, 2016, Martina Navratilova was made an honorary fellow of Lucy Cavendish College of the University of Cambridge.

2018: Documentary in Development

In 2018, it was reported that Glenn Greenwald was developing a feature-length documentary about Martina Navratilova with Reese Witherspoon's production company, Hello Sunshine.

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February 2019: Controversy over Transgender Athletes

In February 2019, Martina Navratilova wrote an article for The Times expressing her criticism of allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports, leading to Athlete Ally removing her from their advisory board.

March 2019: Apology for Using the Term "Cheating"

In March 2019, Martina Navratilova apologized for using the word "cheating" when discussing the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. She also advocated for open debate rooted in scientific evidence.

April 2019: Op-ed on the Equality Act

In April 2019, Martina Navratilova wrote an article for The Washington Post, expressing her opinion that the Equality Act, in its current form, would eliminate sex-based differentiation in women's sports.

June 2019: BBC Broadcast on Transgender Athletes

In June 2019, the BBC broadcast "The Trans Women Athlete Dispute with Martina Navratilova," where Navratilova presented evidence from both sides of the debate of whether trans women have any advantage in elite sports.

2019: Recurring Role in The Politician

In 2019, Martina Navratilova had a recurring role portraying Brigitte, a horse trainer, in the Netflix series, The Politician.

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August 2020: Signed Letter Supporting Idaho Law

In August 2020, Martina Navratilova, along with over 300 women, signed a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association supporting Idaho's law to ban transgender women student-athletes from women's sports.

2021: Leader of Women's Sports Policy Working Group

In 2021, Martina Navratilova became a leader of the Women's Sports Policy Working Group, which was formed in response to US President Joe Biden's Executive Order 13988, to protect women in sports while accommodating trans athletes where possible.

January 2023: Diagnosed with Throat and Breast Cancer

In January 2023, Martina Navratilova was diagnosed with both throat (stage one) and breast cancer after discovering a swollen lymph node on her neck.

March 2023: Declared Cancer-Free

In March 2023, after undergoing preventive radiation, Martina Navratilova announced that she was cancer-free.

April 2023: Support for Nike Boycott

In April 2023, Martina Navratilova supported a boycott of Nike because they entered into a corporate sponsorship with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender woman, to advertise a sports bra.

October 2023: Criticism of Deb Haaland and Pattie Gonia

In October 2023, Martina Navratilova criticized US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland's interview with the drag queen Pattie Gonia, calling her a "pathetic parody of women."

2024: Documentary Filming

During an interview at the Salesforce World Tour London 2024 event, Martina Navratilova confirmed in 2024 that a documentary was currently being filmed with her and Chris Evert.

2024: Condemnation of IOC

In 2024, Martina Navratilova repeatedly condemned the International Olympic Committee for allowing Imane Khelif to box in the 2024 Summer Olympics, because Navratilova believes that Khelif is male, not female.