Navratilova still Lobster luminary
She keeps hand in and helps team win
MIDDLETON - Despite her retirement two years ago from professional tennis, and her countless records, honors, and achievements, Martina Navratilova still plays with the Boston Lobsters because it gives her a certain satisfaction.
"It's kind of a fix," she said.
It's hard to believe the 51-year-old's fix wasn't satisfied during a career in which she won 59 major titles, including 20 Wimbledon crowns, and 344 titles (167 singles, 177 doubles), more than any other man or woman.
But last night, Navratilova rejoined the Lobsters to help defeat the Springfield Lasers, 23-19, in overtime in front of 1,348 at Ferncroft Country Club. She played the final two events (women's doubles, mixed doubles) as the Lobsters improved to 4-5.
Navratilova will again be with the team for Saturday's home match against the Newport Beach Breakers. Her final match with the Lobsters this season will be Monday at Newport Beach.
"She's one of the greatest players ever," said Amir Hadad, who teamed with Navratilova in the match-deciding mixed doubles. "She still plays better than most of the men and women in doubles."
Navratilova, who lives in Sarasota, Fla., first played with the Lobsters in 1978 and has played four seasons with the team - '78, 2005, '06, and '08. She has played a record 19 seasons in World TeamTennis.
"I tried to play in '75, but the Czech federation wouldn't let me," said Navratilova, who defected to the United States in '75.
She won the WTT Female Rookie of the Year award in 1978, the same year she won her first Wimbledon title, beating Chris Evert, as well as her first year she reached No. 1 in the world rankings.
"She's such a wonderful lady," said Lobsters owner Bahar Uttam. "She's a great player and the fans love her."
Navratilova said she enjoys WTT because of the team element it provides, as well as its equality.
"Everybody can contribute," she said. "Doesn't matter the gender. Doesn't matter how much you play. You may only substitute for three games, but even those three games, they may be the difference between winning and losing the whole match."
Navratilova said she plays ice hockey in Florida and Colorado to "really get my juices going," but it's not as if her lifestyle has slowed since her retirement. She helped create Art Grand Slam, in which she soaks tennis balls in paint and hits them at a canvas. She also started working as a commentator for the Tennis Channel last year during the Australian Open, and joined the channel for all of this year's Grand Slam events.
So, she's around the game, but it's not enough to just be around the game for someone who has won virtually every tennis honor. She still has to play.
"It's a nice way to stay in shape and it's a nice way to stay with the game, and to keep a pulse on the game," she said. "It's one thing to be commentating, it's another thing to still be competing."
