Navratilova Inducted into Hall of Fame
N E W P O R T, R.I., July 16, 2000 -- — Martina Navratilova, winner of 18career Grand Slam singles titles and a record 233 tournamenttriumphs, took her place in the International Tennis Hall ofFame Saturday.
Navratilova was ushered into the Hall of Fame along withAustralian Mal Anderson, a former U.S. singles champion andDavis Cup star in the 1950s, and Californian Robert Kelleher, aformer non-playing U.S. Davis Cup captain and an administratorwho played a key role in the advent of the open tennis era.
Anderson, an Australian Davis Cupper in 1954, 1957, 1958 and1973, became the first unseeded player to win the U.S. titlewhen he beat rival Ashley Cooper in the 1957 final.
Anderson, who teamed up with compatriot John Newcombe to winthe 1973 Australian Open doubles at the age of 37, also reachedthe finals of the 1958 U.S. Open and the 1957 and 1958Australian Opens only to lose to Cooper.
Skills and Style Distinguished Her
Navratilova was an irresistible force, who ruled in doublesas well as in singles.
Besides logging 331 weeks as the world number one women’ssingles player, Navratilova compiled 165 career doubles titlesand achieved a doubles Grand Slam sweep with partner Pam Shriverin 1984.
Navratilova, whose athleticism, fitness and dedication toaggressive serve-and-volley tactics set her apart on the women’stour, said the thing about her career that made her most proudwas summed up in the word, “committment.”
Although she turned professional at 17, Navratilova said shedid not become totally serious about her career until the early’80s when she recognized the importance of conditioning.
“I really started late as far as total commitment to thegame and conditioning were concerned,” she said. “The thing Ihave noticed the most in recent tennis is the stress the youngpeople are putting on conditioning.
“Even the coaches are exercising. I was almost 26 when Ireally got going. I’m happy that I finally gave it my bestshot.”
‘Transcends the Sport’
Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1956, Navratilova becamea U.S. citizen in 1981. When she retired from singles in ’94,she had served and volleyed her way to nine Wimbledon titles,including a record six straight. She also won three AustralianOpens, two French Opens and four U.S. singles crowns.
“Winning is great, losing is not often fun — but thebottom line is enjoying the game,” she said.
Navratilova was also set apart by her openly gay lifestyle.She was introduced at the induction ceremonies by transsexual Dr. Rene Richards.
“She transcends the sport more than most — the physical,the mental and the inspirational,” said Richards. “One can notteach courage and intensity. Martina raised the bar for women’stennis.”
Got Tennis Start in Prague
Martina recalled getting her start in tennis from her motherand father in Prague. “My parents taught me the game when I wasseven while they were taking care of the courts. That’s how theygot our club membership.”
As for her decision to leave her homeland, Navratilova said:“It was really no decision. If I wanted to play tennis I had toleave the country. What I regret the most is that I had to leavemy family.”
Navratilova, 43, has not yet quit as a player. She playedboth women’s doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon this yearand still competes in team tennis.
“I’m looking for partners now for the Open,” she said,about the U.S. championships beginning next month. “And if I’min shape, I hope I can play next year.
“The beauty of the sport is the variety. If you take awaythe doubles, you take away a great part of the game. Doublesshould be written about more. The young people should know, ifyou play doubles you can become a better singles player.”
Navratilova admits that because of her sexual orientation,she is “continuing to speak up as long as we don’t have equalrights in the world. We have it pretty well in this country —but there still could be improvement,” she said.