Navratilova Blasts Wimbledon and Grunting

Martina Navratilova wants a ban on grunting and blasted Wimbledon for not giving her an appropriate venue for her farewell.

What do you think? To ban or not to ban? The shrieks these days do seem pretty ridiculous and I agree that it puts the opponent at a disadvantage by handicapping her ability to read the ball.

Navratilova Out of Wimbledon

She lost in the doubles and mixed doubles today to put the cap on her WImbledon career. The BBC has a nice farewell in pictures.

Navratilova Calls it Quits

Navratilova says this is final year on tour
'It's time. It’s enough. I just, you know, want to move on to my next life'

I'll miss grandma; what a fabulous run she's had.

Navratilova Blasts British Tennis

Living legend Martina Navratilova blasted the state of women's tennis in Britain and pushed her new fitness book after withdrawing from Birmingham with a swollen knee.

Choice quote:

"I've only been here for a few days and maybe there's some beautiful young talent on the horizon - but I don't see it. It seems that young players get to a certain level and then stagnate, and that is a reflection of the system, not the players."

Navratilova's Wimbledon Trophies Sold Without Her Knowledge

I don't know what to be more surprised at - the fact that Martina Navratilova has managed to lose some of her Wimbledon trophies, or that a well-known auction house like Lelands would be stupid enough to auction them off without ever contacting her people.

From the USA Today: Navratilova 'very upset' after learning her Wimbledon trophies were sold in online auction

Two months after Bjorn Borg stunned the tennis world with plans to auction off five Wimbledon singles trophies for "financial security," Martina Navratilova learned this week that some of her Wimbledon hardware had been sold via online auction.

The items — her 1979 Wimbledon doubles trophy won with Billie Jean King and two semifinal singles medallions — fetched more than $39,000 last week on Lelands.com, a sports memorabilia auction house based in Seaford, N.Y.

"I'm very upset," the nine-time Wimbledon singles champion said from Warsaw, where she was competing in doubles at a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event. "I have no idea how any of my trophies could end up on an auction site. I am missing a couple of semifinal medallions from 1976 and 1980, and also a few things have gotten lost over the years, but I don't remember giving any of my trophies to anyone, especially Grand Slam trophies. I would never give away a Grand Slam trophy."...

Navratilova Will Play Full Doubles Schedule This Year

From the AP: Navratilova, turning 50, plans full schedule with Slams

Even as she approaches her 50th birthday and recovers from knee surgery, Martina Navratilova plans to play a full schedule of doubles tournaments in 2006, including the Grand Slams, and might take another stab at singles.

"I just feel like I'm not quite done yet," Navratilova said Wednesday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press from her home in Sarasota, Fla. "When I feel like I'm done, then I'm done. And I don't know when that will happen."...

Navratilova Makes Unannounced Appearance

From the Rocky Mountain News: Navratilova serves dogs on tennis court, in shelter

Throughout her impressive career, Aspenite Martina Navratilova was accustomed to playing among the big dogs of tennis.

But the nine-time Wimbledon champ gave a new meaning to that when she went mano-a-mano against Lakewood's Big Dogs amateur tennis league during a surprise doubles match Monday night.

"She gave the Big Dogs a whole new meaning Monday night," said Meadow Creek Tennis and Fitness Club owner Adam Kahn. "(Colorado tour player) Jeff Salzenstein said he thought he was going to be the big dog, and then he looked over at the court next to me and saw Martina and said, 'I knew I was being upstaged.' "

Martina Navratilova Interview

From Inside Tennis: Just the Beginning

IT: This game is so simple. It’s just played on a rectangle. So what is it that you love most about tennis?
MN: The evolution of it. I mean I now hold the racket differently. My stroke production is completely different. And now, even in doubles, you have to play differently because they’re not coming to the net. It’s just the evolution of it, having to adapt, having to change and learn new things. Forever having to be an apprentice of the game. It’s magic.

IT: What is the greatest fear the American culture has of gay culture, the biggest misunderstanding?
MN: It’s fear of the unknown. It goes back to what they always said: “You’re going to convert our children.” But I say, when was the last time a gay person knocked on your door and said, “Would you be interested in being a homosexual?” No, it’s the Christians that knock on your door and ask, “Would you like to belong to our church? Would you like to convert?” No, no, no. It really cracks me up.

Navratilova Played for Free

From the Boston Globe: Navratilova offers service with no charge

On the subject of artistic compensation, French operatic soprano Lily Pons put it bluntly: ''Only the birds sing for nothing."

That's why Bahar Uttam was floored when his bluebird of happiness, Martina Navratilova -- artist with tennis racket -- volunteered to wing it for free for the resurrected Boston Lobsters in the climactic match of the regular season.

''Not a cent. Just transportation to New York," said the incredulous Uttam, the new kid on our town's sporting block as reviver and proprietor of the Lobsters of World Team Tennis. Because of her unheard-of gesture, the Lobsters are one of four teams in the playoffs today and tomorrow at Sacramento.

Martina vs. Martina

The first of the big name WTT matchups was last night when Martina Navratilova faced off against Martina Hingis.  Hingis had no trouble beating Navratilova, but a good time was had by all.

From the Boston Herald: Navratilova still won't slow down

All over the world, countless young girls were inspired to play tennis after watching Martina Navratilova, arguably the greatest women's player of all time.

Some, like Martina Hingis, were even named after her.

Hingis, of course, meticulously followed Navratilova's career path, and grew up to be the top-ranked player in the world. While their careers crossed paths on the circuit for a little more than a decade, remarkably they had never played a meaningful point against each other.

Until last night...

It had an odd dream-like quality to it, until they actually got on the court and the 24-year age difference hit you over the head like one of Johnny Damon's water balloons dropped from the top floor of the Ritz.

"That's the best I've played, and I still got whooped,'' sighed Navratilova, who didn't win a game in their singles match.