Calcutta: At 59, most people think of retirement. But Martina Navratilova is still going strong. Though it has been a few years since her complete domination of the tennis scene till the middle of the 1990s, she has never really slowed down.
It came as a surprise to many, including Martina, when she made a comeback in doubles and won the Australian Open and Wimbledon mixed doubles in 2003, partnering none other than Leander Paes. She was 47 then.
“It was special, since I did not expect to win really,” said Martina here on Wednesday, after taking part in the Calcutta leg of the Tennis Masters. Here, too, her partner was Paes, but the duo lost to Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza 5-7, 5-7.
But the very fact that Martina made no bones about playing a match hours after reaching the city, having flown all the way from the US, shows exactly what a champion she is. And flashes of her brilliance was evident during the match at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. One of her deft lobs in the third game of the first set actually prompted Leander to bow on court, much to the delight of the crowd.
Later, Martina was gracious, saying she was “delighted to be at the birthplace of Leander, my mixed doubles partner.”
Tennis, they say, is a lonely game, and no one must know that better than Martina, who has 18 Grand Slam singles titles under her belt. “I love playing doubles. At least you have someone to talk to on court. Otherwise, in singles, if you talk to yourself on court, people may think you are mad,” she said with a laugh.
Asked what keeps her going (she plays legends matches now, in the absence of a proper seniors Tour for women), she said: “It’s my love for the game. And, also, the fact, that I have been blessed with a fantastic body. I have at best had a toe operation in recent years, while people around me are having knee replacements, hip replacements and stuff like that. It is the passion that I have for the game helps me to carry on. I still enjoy myself.
“With new types of racquets coming up every now and then, I am still learning. Billie Jean King had once said that no two balls come over the net in the same fashion. That is what keeps me going. You learn everyday.”
With her vast knowledge and experience, Martina has had a very short stint with coaching. She coached Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska for a few months. Would she like to be a coach on a more regular basis? “At this time no. I’m spending time with my wife (Julia Lemigova) and family. I have a great family and children to take care of. Then of course, I do commentary for TV. I do speak about various women’s issues around the world. I speak on LGBT rights. I give motivational speeches. I have a lot on my plate right now. But eventually, yes, I would like to pass on the knowledge and coaching is something that I would like to do.”
For someone who has achieved everything that a professional tennis player can dream of, does she have any regrets? “Having to leave my country,” she answered. Born in erstwhile Czechoslovakia, she had to leave her country at the age of 18, seeking “freedom.” “Democracy came 15 years too late for me,” she said. “My country is beautiful, always was. It was just the wrong kind of regime,” she said.
“Till I was 18, I sacrificed nothing for tennis. I was an ordinary girl and played tennis whenever I wanted. But after I had to leave my country and my family I sacrificed everything for tennis, to achieve what I did,” she added.
Asked, of her singles Grand Slam titles, which was most precious to her, she said: “The first Wimbledon that I won. It will always be very special. And then the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with Leander in 2003. That was special because I never expected to win it.”
About Wednesday’s match, she said: “I was the most frustrated player on court out there today. I could not play as well as I can. I hope I can play better in the next two matches (in Bangalore and New Delhi). I can always improve”
She got rich tributes on Wednesday. Sania said: “It is an honour to be with Martina. She is someone who has achieved everything that a tennis player can dream of. I have learnt from her to be patient, to never give up and to continue to play with passion.”
Paes’s one statement summed up his admiration for his one-time mixed doubles partner. “She is magic,” he beamed.
