According to Ryan Gados of FOX News on Monday, tennis icon Martina Navratilova of Prague, Czechoslovakia, who immigrated to the United States in 1975, and became an American citizen in 1981, has been diagnosed with breast cancer and throat cancer.
Navratilova has 18 grand slam career singles titles. She is tied for fifth all-time with Chris Evert of the United States. The all-time leader is Australia’s Margaret Court, who has 24 titles. Serena Williams of the United States is second with 23 titles. She is followed by Steffi Graf of Germany with 22 titles, and Helen Willis Moody of the United States with 19 titles.
Of Navratilova’s 18 grand slam titles, nine have come at Wimbledon (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1990), four have come at the United States Open (1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987), three have come at the Australian Open (1981, 1983, and 1985), and two have come at the French Open (1982, and 1984). Navratilova’s nine Wimbledon titles are the most ever by a man or woman in singles competition.
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Navratilova is one of two high-profile tennis players diagnosed with cancer over the last year. Evert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January of 2022. Both cancer announcements were made immediately prior to the Australian Open, the first grand slam in tennis during the calendar year.
Navratilova has gone to be an integral part of Tennis Channel’s television coverage as a colour-commentator. In 2000, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
According to John Marchesan of City News in Toronto, this is the second time Navratilova has been diagnosed with cancer. The first time was in 2010. After six months, it was determined Navratilova was cancer free following radiation and a lumpectomy.
Where would you rank Navratilova among the greatest tennis players ever? I would say top five for sure.
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