More About Martina Navratilova

Over a spectacular career that has spanned four decades, Martina Navratilova won an unprecedented 59 Grand Slam titles, including four at the US Open, nine Wimbledon, the French Open twice, and three Australian Opens. But it wasn’t just singles that she excelled in, she won 31 Grand Slams in the doubles, and 10 in the mixed doubles, as well as over 160 top-level singles and 170 double titles across the tour.

Martina was ranked as the world number one in women’s singles for an amazing 332 weeks, only bettered by Steffi Graf with 377 weeks, as well as number one in doubles for 237 weeks. What is even more amazing is that, given the average retirement age for tennis players is just 27, Martina didn’t hang up her racket until she was 50.

Over her impressive career, she was distinguished as the WTA Tour Player of the Year seven times, and the ITF World Champion six times. In 2003 she was presented with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Czech Sport Legend Award in 2006. She was named the Associated Press’s Female Athlete of the Year, and Sport Illustrated named her one of the Top Forty Athletes of All Time.

Martina’s career hasn’t been straightforward though; originally playing under her home nation of Czechia (then Czechoslovakia), but after the country’s government tried to limit her tennis playing, she was stripped of citizenship and she became a U.S citizen in 1981.

Part of Martina’s appeal was in the friendly rivalries she had with fellow players Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, and Steffi Graf.

Martina Navratilova | Retirement

Since her retirement from tennis, Martina has become a popular and highly respected commentator and broadcaster. And as one of the first openly gay sports figures, she has been a vocal advocate for equal rights in sport and the wider community.

She is a familiar voice on the Tennis Channel’s coverage of grand slams, as well as on the BBC for Wimbledon, and Amazon Prime Video for the US Open. She has also appeared on programmes including I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here (2008), and Dancing With the Stars (2012),

She has published a number of non-fiction books, including:

– Tennis My Way (1984)

– Being Myself (1985)

– Martina (1986)

– Shape Yourself: My 6 Step Diet and Fitness Plan to Achieve the Best Shape of Your Life (2006)

– Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay in America (2008)

She is also the co-writer of a trilogy of novels alongside Liz Nickles – The Total Zone (1994), Breaking Point (1996), and Killer Instinct (1997).

Martina Navratilova | Advocate

As one of the first openly gay athletes at the time, she has become an inspiring and vocal advocate for equal rights and is a strong support of many LGBTQ+ charities. Throughout her career she has faced setbacks and discrimination because of her sexuality, and she had to show an incredible amount of human endurance to continue competing in the sport that she loved.

She has spoken at the march on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation in 1993, and in 2000 she was awarded the National Equality Award for her advocacy to the community.

Martina is a patron of the Lesbian Project, an organisation that is dedicated to representing the rights and interests of lesbians in the UK.

Martina Navratilova | Health

In 2010, Martina announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram, which led to the tumour being removed and a course of radiotherapy. Later that same year, she was hospitalised with a high-altitude pulmonary edema whilst climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Sadly in 2023 she announced she had been diagnosed with throat cancer and a relapse of breast cancer. But after treatment she declared she was cancer-free once more.

Martina Navratilova | Corporate Work

Martina is a highly sought-after motivational speaker, and her experience and enthusiasm and passion inspires audiences of all sizes and backgrounds. With an ability to resonate with anyone, her speeches have been inspiring generations of tennis fans as well as the wider community.

The content of her speeches are tailored to the client, but her speaking topics often include:

– Gender Equality in the Workplace

– LGBTQ+ Rights

– Inspiring Leadership

– Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

– Tennis/Elite Sport

Keynote Topics

– What it Takes to Become a Champion

– Setting and Achieving Goals

– Healthy Lifestyle and Fitness

– Overcoming Adversity

– High-Performance Teams

– Human Rights

– The Winning Mindset

Martina Navratilova | Clients Include…

Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, The Financial Times, Goldman Sachs, Google, HSBC, the Singapore Tourist Board, Société Génerale.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Martina Navratilova for your next corporate event.  Contact us.