Martina Navratilova's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Martina Navratilova. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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: AP Female Athlete of the Year

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

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: 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: 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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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: Member of Laureus Sports Foundation's Academy

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

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.

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.

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: 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.

2008: Bud Collins' Assertion

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

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.

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.

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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