Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova (* October 18, 1956 in Prague) is a former professional tennis player from the USA.

[edit] Early years and turning pro

At the age of eight, she started to play tennis. Her family did everything to make Martina’s dream of becoming a tennis player happen and her stepfather Miroslav Navrátil became Martina’s first tennis coach. Nonetheless, she had to go to a normal school, take care of her younger sister and do the weekly chores around the house in these days. In 1972 at the age of 15, Navratilova won the Czech national tennis championship. She lived quite a normal life until spending her first year on the USLTA Tour at the age of 16 in 1973. In 1974, she won her first professional singles title in Orlando, Florida (USA) at the age of 17. One year later, Martina turned pro.

Navratilova was a finalist at the 1975 Australian Open (losing to Evonne Goolagong and French Open (losing to Chris Evert). After losing to Evert in the semifinals of that year's US Open, the 18-year-old Czech went to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in New York City and informed them that she would like to emigrate from her Communist home country. Martina received a green card within a month and became a U.S. citizen in 1981.

[edit] Weblinks

• Martina Navratilova Official Website
• Martina Navratilova fanpage

Created by: Tennisfan Last edited by: Premier League