What Happened to Martina Navratilova?

Martina Navratilova, born Martina Šubertová in Prague, Czechoslovakia, on October 18, 1956, rose to become one of the most dominant figures in tennis history. Her career was marked by an aggressive serve-and-volley style that revolutionized women's tennis. In 1975, at the age of 18, she famously defected from communist Czechoslovakia to the United States, seeking the freedom to pursue her career without political interference. She became a U.S. citizen in 1981 and, that same year, publicly came out as gay, becoming one of the first openly lesbian sports superstars and a vocal advocate for gay rights.

Navratilova's on-court achievements are staggering, including a record nine Wimbledon singles titles and a total of 59 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She held the World No. 1 ranking in singles for 332 weeks and in doubles for a record 237 weeks. Her intense rivalry with Chris Evert defined an era, with Navratilova winning 43 of their 80 matches. Even after retiring from singles in 1994, she continued to compete in doubles, winning her final Grand Slam title in mixed doubles at the 2006 US Open, just shy of her 50th birthday, making her the oldest major champion in history.

Beyond her playing career, Navratilova has remained a prominent public figure. In April 2010, she was diagnosed with a non-invasive form of breast cancer, which she successfully overcame after six months of treatment. She married her long-time girlfriend, Julia Lemigova, in New York in December 2014, after proposing at the US Open. Navratilova has also engaged in various media roles, including a stint on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2012, and has consistently used her platform to advocate for human rights, animal rights, and LGBTQ+ equality.

A significant personal challenge emerged in late 2022 when Navratilova was diagnosed with two unrelated cancers: Stage 1 throat cancer (HPV-related) and early-stage breast cancer, after discovering a swollen lymph node in her neck. She described the diagnosis as a "double whammy" but approached her treatment with characteristic determination. Following a regimen of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and lumpectomy surgery, she announced in March 2023 that she was cancer-free.

As of June 2026, Martina Navratilova continues to thrive. In August 2024, she and Julia Lemigova announced they had adopted two young boys, fulfilling their long-held desire to expand their family, which had been postponed due to Navratilova's cancer treatment. She remains a highly respected voice in tennis commentary, providing analysis for major events. In May 2026, she anchored Tennis Channel's Roland Garros coverage, offering insights into the leading contenders. Most recently, on June 29, 2026, she joined the BBC's punditry panel for Wimbledon and received the QT Imaging Sports Shiftmaker Award in London, recognizing her leadership and advocacy in women's health as a breast cancer survivor. She also made a surprise appearance on "Mask Singer Spain" in April 2026, showcasing her playful side.