Martina Navratilova inaugurated his record in Majors precisely in Wimbledonstarting a story of reciprocated love that would extend during his fruitful career when he proclaimed himself in nine editions over nine seasons to establish itself as the greatest historical champion.
With only 16 yearsborn in Prague, Czech Republic, stepped onto the London lawn for the first time when she appeared in 1973when she surpassed the local Christine Janes and the American Laura Dupont to access the third roundyielding to the North American Patricia Hogan.
After a failed debut in 1974, the unrepeatable left-hander would return for quick revenge in 1975opportunity in which it would arrive as second favoritea product of the finals added at the Australian Open and Roland Garros in the same season, convincingly winning in straight sets against the Australian Wendy Turnbull, the host Sue Mappin, the South African Greer Stevens and the Soviet Natasha Chmyreva, before falling 6- 3 and 6-4 versus the emblematic Margaret Court, fifth seed.
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Despite falling in the quarterfinals in 1976 and in the semifinals in 1977, the already naturalized Americansecond in the ranking and hot on the heels of the oceanic Chris Evert (1), he would take advantage of the experience accumulated in previous editions to go for his first important medal, in 1978seeing off Julie Anthony, Pam Whytcross, Barbara Jordan, Tracy Austin, Marise Kruger and Evonne Goolagong, dropping just two sets, to reach a Grand Slam final for the third time.
However, the aforementioned Evert was waiting for her on the other side of the net to provide another contest, in one of the most special rivalries that tennis has had in its long history, which would suffer the talent and grit of Navratilova, who would sign a 2-6, 6-4 y 7-5 for debut at the top of the rankinga position he would hold for 332 weeks.
The following year, in 1979, would successfully defend the crownadding again in the definition before Evertthis time for a doble 6-4 to begin a long reign, which would suffer a slight interruption in the semifinals of 1980 and 1981 when she succumbed to Evert and the Czech Hana Mandlikova, respectively.
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However, the already champion at the Australian Open and Roland Garros would tighten the screws in 1982giving another exhibition by defeating Evert 6-1, 3-6 and 6-2, to start a huge streak of six consecrations in a row that would stretch up 1988when the young German Steffi Graf would mark the field by recovering from the decisive defeat in 1987 and shaping his dream season, which would culminate with the Golden Slam, composed of the big four and the gold medal at the Seoul Olympic Games.
In 1990Navratilova, 33, would be reunited with victory in La Catedral to conclude the love story with nine titles on London soil, establishing herself as the greatest historical champion of the competition, heading a list made up of Roger Federer (8), Helen Wills (8), Pete Sampras (7), Novak Djokovic (7), Steffi Graf (7), Serena Williams (7), Billie Jean King (6), Venus Williams (5) and Bjorn Borg (5).
2024-06-30 20:01:49
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