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Martina Navratilova Year end No. 1 ranking: 1978, 1979, 1982-86 Martina Navratilova's career was simply sensational, trophies glittered and records were smashed in a singles career, which dated from 1973 to1994 and a doubles career continuing to this day. Whether it was in singles or doubles - mainly with Pam Shriver - the Czechoslovakian, turned American citizen (July 21st 1981) won 56 major titles: 18 singles, 31 doubles and 7 mixed crowns, making extreme fitness her trademark as she carried the women's game into a new dawn.
It was at Wimbledon that Navratilova spent her proudest moments winning nine singles championships in 1978-79, 1982-87 and 1990, appearing in three further finals 1988-89 and 1994. She also won seven doubles crowns on the Centre Court 1976, 1979, 1981-84, 1986; and three mixed titles in 1985, 1993 and 1995. Wimbledon was her masterpiece of course, but she also won four U.S. (1983-84, 1986-87), three Australian (1981, 1983, 1985) and two French Open (1982, 1984) singles titles. Only one prize a singles Grand Slam eluded her, only just though, in 1983 and 1984. In 1983 she had a match record of 86-1 and in 1984 a win/loss record of 78-2. With Shriver, Navratilova did win a doubles Grand Slam in 1984, combining to win 20 major titles and 79 tournament victories, including 10 season-ending Virginia Slims titles and a 109-match winning streak between 1983 and 1985. In 1987 she won the U.S Open triple by winning the singles, doubles and mixed and helped her adopted national to three Federation Cup triumphs and one Wightman Cup. As her doubles career continues - her most recent victory coming at
the age of 45 in Madrid in May 2002 - her singles career is amazing: winning
1,438, losing 212 matches and collecting an ever-increasing $20,344,061
in career prize money. Grand Slam Record Australian Open Singles winner 1981, 1983, 1985; Singles finalist 1975, 1982, 1987; Doubles winner 1980, 1982-85, 1987-89 French Open Singles winner 1982, 1984; Singles finalist 1975, 1985-87; Doubles winner 1975, 1982, 1984-88; Mixed winner 1974 Wimbledon Singles winner 1978, 1979, 1982-87, 1990; Singles finalist 1988-89, 1994; Doubles winner 1976, 1979, 1981-84, 1986; Mixed winner 1985, 1993, 1995 U.S. Open Singles winner 1983-84, 1986-87; Singles finalist 1981, 1985, 1989, 1991; Doubles winner 1977-78, 1980, 1983-84, 1986-87, 1989-90; Mixed winner 1985, 1987 Tournament Record (inc. Federation Cup & WTA tour) Czechoslovakia Federation Cup team member 1975; winning side 1975 United States Federation Cup team member 1976, 1979, 1981-84, 1986; winning side 1976, 1979, 1981-82, 1986 United States Whitman Cup team member 1983; winning side 1983 WTA Tour Championships Singles winner 1978-79, 1981, 1983-86; Singles finalist 1975, 1980, 1982, 1989, 1991-92; Doubles winner 1977, 1982,86, 1988-89, 1991 Special Honours and Awards WTA Player of the Year 1978-79, 1982-86 WTA Tour Doubles Team of the Year (with Pam Shriver) 1981-89; (with Betty Stove) 1977; (with Billie Jean King) 1978-79 Contributions to the Game WTA Tour Players' Association President 1979-80, 1983-84, 1994-95; Vice President 1993-94 Author of Autobiography: 'Martina', 1985
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