Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova is a tennis legend known for her record-breaking career in singles and doubles, with 59 Grand Slam titles across all disciplines. Navratilova spent her childhood in Prague, Czechoslovakia. After her parents divorced, she took her stepfather’s surname and began playing tennis. She became the top junior player in Czechoslovakia before relocating to the United States in 1975 at age 18.

Navratilova turned pro in 1975 and rose to prominence quickly with her powerful serve-and-volley style. She won her first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon in 1978. Over the course of her career, she won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and over 40 doubles titles. She retired from singles in 1994 and from doubles in 2006 after winning the U.S. Open mixed doubles title.

Navratilova has appeared as a commentator for major tennis networks and made guest appearances on shows like The Real Housewives of Miami. She’s also been featured in sports documentaries such as Gods of Tennis and remains an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and women’s sports.

Navratilova came out as gay in the early 1980s. She married former Russian model Julia Lemigova in 2014 after several years of dating. Lemigova has two daughters from previous relationships, whom Navratilova helps raise. In 2024, the pair adopted two sons.