Fifty-eight Grand Slams and going strong for more! Surely, Martina Navratilova does not have too many regrets in life.
The victories though didn't mean much to the crowd in the early years of her career. The 48 year old took 20 years on court to turn into a people's champion. She was a defiant prodigy, coming from Communist Czechoslovakia to play the American game. A left-hander amidst a right-handed world; an antithesis to the accepted women's tennis player image, glossed by the graceful Chris Evert and one of the first celebrities to publicly accept being a lesbian.
Navratilova fought her battles without being bitter and finally emerged triumphant.
She played her last Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 1994 and officially retired from the tour the same year. It still wasn't until 2000 that the tennis world found her worthy of being inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
"I only regret leaving Czechoslovakia and my family behind. Other than that I have no regrets," declared Navratilova in Hyderabad, where she is participating in the doubles event of the WTA Hyderabad Open.
Also read: The making of Sania Mirza
It is the team game that has kept her in contention in the major tournaments. In 2003, she won the Australian Open along with Leander Paes and became the oldest winner of a Grand Slam at 46 years and three months.
"It's a shame not many of the top players are playing doubles now. I understand it is their individual decision and there is too much tennis nowadays, but playing in doubles can only help their game.
"It's almost like playing practice. It helps you improve the reflexes. I only missed on the doubles event in five tournaments that I have played so far," said the winner of 31 major doubles and nine mixed doubles titles.
How long does she intend playing at the top level?
"I think I am fit enough even now to play on the tennis circuit and hope that the body holds up for another four, five years."
During the first three days of her stay in India, Navratilova also got to witness the adulation Sania Mirza has been attracting. The legendary player had some words of encouragement for the Indian teenage sensation.
"Sania hits the ball very hard and goes for her shots, so either she wins the point or loses it."
And though her popularity with the Hyderabad crowd has not permitted her to go around the place, she says she enjoyed the few outings she's been on so far.
"I visited the Golconda Fort and the Falluknuma Palace and it was really lovely. I would like to see the place more personally; walk around instead of seeing it from the car. But it is impossible to do so. Maybe, I could get away wearing a sari and a black wig."
Could she? Disguise has never been one of her many assets.
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