Martina Navratilova at 70: From Defection to 59 Grand Slam Titles

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova reflects on a historic career spanning 59 Grand Slam titles, political asylum, and dual citizenship.

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, Martina Navratilova quickly outgrew domestic competition and made her mark internationally at just 16 years old. She fell in love with the grass courts of Wimbledon during her first visit in 1973, eventually winning a record nine women’s singles titles at the tournament.

At 18, Navratilova faced mounting political pressure from Czechoslovakia’s communist authorities, who restricted her travel to the West, accused her of being overly Americanized, and threatened her career. In September 1975, shortly after losing her US Open semi-final in New York, she applied for political asylum and was subsequently stripped of her Czechoslovak citizenship. She waited six years before receiving a US passport in 1981, living in constant fear of deportation during that period.

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An emotional return to Prague occurred in 1986 during the Federation Cup, where she competed for the United States. Although state-controlled media refused to mention her by name, the home crowd welcomed her with a standing ovation, and she ultimately helped the US team defeat Czechoslovakia in the final. A symbolic reconciliation took place in 2008 when she regained Czech citizenship, leaving her with both Czech and American passports today.

With 354 professional titles, including 167 singles titles and 59 Grand Slam crowns, Navratilova holds a record that remains unmatched in tennis history. In 2003, at the age of 46, she became the oldest Grand Slam champion in history before officially bringing her playing career to a close three years later. Today, she remains an outspoken commentator on global affairs and an enduring inspiration worldwide.

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