Martina Navrátilová at 70: from defection to 59 Grand Slam titles
When 18-year-old Czechoslovak tennis player Martina Navrátilová sought political asylum in New York during the 1975 US Open, she became overnight a symbol of resistance to communist rule and a rising star of world tennis. She lost her homeland but built an extraordinary career, winning a record 59 Grand Slam titles. Today, Navrátilová celebrates her 70th birthday.
A remarkable talent from the East
The story of one of the greatest female athletes of all time began in what was then Czechoslovakia. A left-handed player with an aggressive serve-and-volley style, Navrátilová quickly outgrew the domestic competition and made her mark internationally at just 16. She fell in love with the grass courts of Wimbledon on her first visit in 1973. Few could have imagined that she would go on to make tennis history there, winning a record nine women’s singles titles.
A fateful decision at the US Open
At 18, Navrátilová had already made an impression at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the US Open. But her progress was hampered by political pressure. Czechoslovakia’s communist authorities restricted her travel to the West, accused her of being “too Americanised” and threatened to put an end to her career.
In September 1975, shortly after losing her US Open semi-final in New York, she took an irreversible step: she went to the immigration authorities and applied for political asylum. The communist regime immediately stripped her of her Czechoslovak citizenship.
She had to wait six years to become an American citizen. During that time, she lived with the constant fear that an emergency landing in the Soviet Union could lead to her deportation. When she finally received her US passport in 1981, the most successful period of her career was about to begin.
An emotional return under a foreign flag
One of the most emotional moments in tennis history came in 1986, when Navrátilová returned to Prague for the first time in 11 years to play in the Federation Cup, now known as the Billie Jean King Cup.
Although she was playing for the United States, and state-controlled communist media refused to mention her by name, the home crowd greeted her with a standing ovation. In the final, she helped the US team defeat Czechoslovakia and lift the trophy. Despite the anger of the Czechoslovak players and communist officials, the entire stadium applauded her.
Record-breaking champion with two passports
With 354 professional titles, including 167 singles titles and 59 Grand Slam crowns, Navrátilová holds a record that remains unmatched. In 2003, at the age of 46, she became the oldest Grand Slam champion in history. She finally brought her remarkable playing career to a close three years later.
A symbolic reconciliation with her homeland came in 2008, when she regained Czech citizenship. Today, holding both Czech and American passports, Navrátilová remains an outspoken commentator on global affairs and an inspiration to millions around the world.
