Martina Navratilova is one of the most dominant forces in tennis history. The Czech-born superstar was the complete player – aggressive and athletic with exceptional fitness, and lethal net play.
And while her name is synonymous with Wimbledon, the Grand Slam icon is also part of Liverpool International Tennis Tournament history, featuring in the 2005 edition as one of our headline legends.
Her vast achievements and remarkable legacy are exactly why she belongs in our LITT Legends series.
Major Achievements
With a career spanning four decades, Martina Navratilova won every trophy the sport had to offer, including:
59 Grand Slams
An Open-era record of 18 singles, 31 women’s doubles, and 10 mixed doubles.
Wimbledon:
A record nine Wimbledon singles titles, the most by any player.
Rankings:
Navratilova spent 332 weeks as world No.1 in singles and a record 237 weeks as world No.1 in doubles, which shows the sheer level of her supremacy.
Playing Style
Navratilova was the prototype of the modern all-court tennis player. She was relentlessly fit, fearless at the net, and tactically ruthless.
Her powerful left-handed serve, first volley, and court coverage made her a nightmare to play against – and her attacking instincts helped define a golden era of women’s tennis.
Key Strengths
Serve-and-volley attack
One of the most effective net-rushing games the sport has ever seen, particularly on grass.
Athleticism & fitness
A pioneer of elite conditioning standards in the women’s game, she pushed expectations of what top-level tennis preparation looked like.
All-round excellence
Her record-breaking major haul across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles shows that Navratilova mastered every format of the sport.
Martina Navratilova’s Influence on Tennis
As well as dominating tennis throughout the 80s, Martina Navratilova was a key figure in advancing the women’s game.
Her fierce but friendly rivalry with Chris Evert became one of the sport’s defining match-ups and helped drive women’s tennis to a new level of global attention.
She also set a template for longevity at the top. Navratilova won majors across four different decades, including her final Grand Slam title – the 2006 US Open mixed doubles – just over a month before turning 50.
When Navratilova Played At The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament
Martina Navratilova brought her star power to The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament in 2005, joining Wimbledon champion Pat Cash and defending champion Ivan Ljubicic on an epic line-up.
Martina was treated to thunderous applause following her last match. And in an emotional speech, she thanked Tournament Director Anders Borg for the invite.
During her time in Liverpool, she also got her hands on a different type of silverware – posing with the Champions League trophy during a trip to The Reds’ Museum at Anfield.
We were delighted when Martina returned to the tournament in 2011, where she played exhibition matches alongside tennis legends like Martina Hingis and Virginia Wade, the last British woman to win Wimbledon.
Martina’s Most Memorable Moments
Navratilova’s career is packed with landmark moments. Here are a few of the most memorable:
1983: the near-perfect season
Martina achieved a professional record 86–1 during the year, including a 74-match winning streak.
1990: Wimbledon glory, one last time
She won her record ninth Wimbledon singles title, defeating Zina Garrison in the final.
2006: a final Grand Slam at 49
She signed off her major career by winning the US Open mixed doubles title, becoming the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era.
Why Martina Navratilova is a Liverpool International Tennis Legend
Anybody who wins a record nine Wimbledon singles titles and 59 majors across three disciplines will be near the very top of any list of tennis legends, including ours.
Celebrating Navratilova’s appearance at LITT more than 20 years ago reminds us what our event is all about – the chance to witness greatness, up close.
See the next generation of LITT Legends in the making at Liverpool Cricket Club, 18 – 20 June 2026.
