June 22, 2004

Victory for the aged : It was her first singles competition here in a decade, and it was as if she never left.

"When people say, 'Why are you doing it?' I guess the answer is: 'Because I still can.' Bottom line," said Navratilova, whose 18 Grand Slam singles titles include a record nine at Wimbledon.

read story | posted by justgary to Tennis at 12:21 AM CDT (8 comments total)

10 Navratilova's couldn't beat McEnroe, though. Even if she had the Williams sisters to help her.

Comment icon posted by Fat Buddha at 9:55 AM CDT on June 22

From Jon Wertheim's recently launched "blog":

This was one of those occasions that had everyone flipping through their media guides for perspective. Navratilova was the oldest player to win a singles match since 1922. Only a handful of players in the draw were alive when Navratilova made her debut in 1973. ("It was like playing my mom," lamented Castano.) Navratilova's last singles match at Wimbledon came in 1994. Perhaps most surreal: 23-year-old Martina Hingis, who has been retired for more than a year, provided the commentary for her namesake's match. ...

Comment icon posted by jason streed at 11:35 AM CDT on June 22

"It was like playing my mom," lamented Castano.

Riiiight. Except that your mom wouldn't have handed you your ass on a plate 6-1, 6-0.

47-yr-old drubs 24-yr old. Brilliant!

Go-go, Martina!

Comment icon posted by worldcup2002 at 12:54 PM CDT on June 22

It seems someone got the wrong idea when Navratilova expressed a desire to lick the opposition...

Comment icon posted by salmacis at 1:09 PM CDT on June 22

Go-go, Martina!

We are all cheering for her when she drubs someone, but we'll be the same people cringing in embarrassment when someone with skill dumps her 6-0, 6-1 in the next week.

Comment icon posted by grum@work at 2:38 PM CDT on June 22

That said, I'm still cheering for her.

Comment icon posted by grum@work at 2:43 PM CDT on June 22

Except that your mom wouldn't have handed you your ass on a plate 6-1, 6-0.

That made my day. Thanks.

Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 5:39 PM CDT on June 22

She's already won. Even if she gets bageled at some point (and she won't, not for another round or two anyway), she has already more than justified her inclusion in the draw and given tennis a great story. Oh yeah right, and added to her already unsurpassed legend.

Everyone who sees her play this week will tell their grandkids about it. Good on her. No one I've ever seen or heard about in tennis is smarter or is more committed to the sport or their role in it than Martina Navratilova.

She never stopped playing doubles at the highest levels, so it's not like she was ever out of competitive shape. But jesus. I hope to be alive at 47, let alone continue to be able to do what I do best at the highest levels.

Comment icon posted by chicobangs at 8:33 PM CDT on June 22

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