The greatest ever.
Billie Jean King, former World No. 1 player, said in 2006 that Navratilova is "the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived." In 2005, Tennis magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005. Tennis historian and journalist Bud Collins has called Navratilova "arguably, the greatest tennis player of all time."
Martina is really a living legend. We are talking about a player which started playing in 70s, probably 15-20 years before most of us were even born; she remained active till 2006, just a few weeks before turning 50. To put that in perspective, Sampras and Agassi are still under 45 and most of us haven't seen them play. Martina played when Rod Laver was still playing and she played when Federer/Nadal started playing. And she ended her year on high, winning US Open mixed doubles championship just few weeks shy of 50th birthday.
Statistics wise, there isn't even a player that comes close to her records. 18 singles, record 31 doubles and 10 mixed doubles slams. That sums to whooping 59 slams. She has completed career slam in all three categories. And here we are discussing about Federer and Rafa all the time. Martina was World No. 1 for a total of 332 weeks in singles, and a record 237 weeks in doubles, making her the only player in history to have held the top spot in both singles and doubles for over 200 weeks.
Now will start the scary stats.
Navratilova holds the records for most singles titles (167) and for most doubles titles (177) in the open era. Her record as No.1 in singles (1982–86) is the most dominant in professional tennis. Over five consecutive seasons, she won 428 of 442 singles matches, averaging fewer than 3 losses per year to 87 wins, for a sustained winning percentage of 96.8%. She holds the best season win-loss record for the open era, 86-1 (98.9%) in 1983, and four of the top six open era seasons. She recorded the longest winning streak in the open era (74 consecutive matches) and three of the six longest winning streaks. She is the only professional player to have won six major singles crowns without the loss of a set.
And it all started under soviet ruled Czechoslovakia. She had won some mixed doubled tournament while being resident from Czechoslovakia. But due to undying love for the sport, she defected from her country, paying price of possibly not seeing her close ones, forever. To this day, she is the only well known tennis player that had defected.
Martina has won record 9 Wimbledon. Wimbledon has always been her home. She had very attacking serve and volley technique. Naturally, she was born to play at Wimbledon.
At her best, Martina massacred the field. Her close friend and fierce rival faced her wrath time after time, consecutively 14 times. Now, when you beat your best rival every time, time after time, after time, naturally, there won't be anyone left on the tour. They still remained friends even with such fierce rivalry.
And that too, with her condition, being a former Czec national, big muscular lesbian. Serena at least had millions of American fans supporting her on every corner. Martina had to suffer everything by herself. And under her strong posture, she is very emotional, as Evert mentioned. People thought, Martina as mentally strong person and Evert as weak, but that exactly opposite of what they were.
Slams-wise, yes, Steffi Graph won more slams than her. But Martina won her first slam when she was 22. She became serious player when she was past 25. Steffi on the other hand had won 11 slams before she even turned 22. She took the game where Martina left and sustained that level. Martina is arguably the best women's player to ever hold the racket. But she is without a doubt best doubles player that has ever lived. When you combine all three, there is no one better.
