|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Back in action Navratilova excited to return to the courts
Posted: Thursday June 15, 2000 03:15 PM
After more than five years out of the game, Martina Navratilova announced earlier this year that she would play return to play doubles at Wimbledon, where she won 19 career singles and doubles titles. Navratilova, who is partnering with Mariaan de Swardt, expanded her original plans, returned in Madrid and played in the French Open as well. Just before her return, Navratilova sat down with CNNSI.com's Saxon Baines to discuss her comeback. Saxon Baines: Much has been made of you playing doubles this year at Wimbledon where you are tied for the most titles won at the event with 20. But you've made it very clear that's breaking the record has got nothing to do with it. So why are you doing it? Martina Navratilova: Well there's a whole lot more to tennis than breaking records. The only record I went after actively was the nine Wimbledon singles titles. This record was not in my mind at all. If it had been I would have been playing the last four years. I practiced last year during Wimbledon because I was getting ready for Team Tennis and I was in good shape and I thought, "I should have played" because it felt really good. I was playing on grass again and I knew I could have competed then. But I didn't have a partner and it was too late at that point. So this year I'm again playing Team Tennis and decided to play with a very good partner, Mariaan de Swardt from South Africa. She didn't have a partner either. She was in the finals there last year in doubles and she said, "Come and play a bunch of tournaments with me." And I said, "No, no, no, let's just play at Wimbledon." So that's how it came about. Baines: Are you actually playing in the French as well? Navratilova: Yes I am. Of course, then seeing that I was going to play at Wimbledon I needed to get ready for that and I didn't want to just go in cold not having played in any matches in four years. So I decided to play Eastbourne and then I still felt that wasn't quite enough match play so then I backed up some more and played the French Open. And of course I didn't want to play the French Open as my first tournament being a Grand Slam event and on clay, so I'm playing Madrid next week getting ready for the French, and then the French will get me ready for Wimbledon. So that's how it happened. Baines: Well you've got obviously a couple of titles in the French, but is grass still your favorite? Do you still have a few blades of grass, as is rumored, in your jewelry box? Navratilova: I grew up on the red clay, I love playing on the red clay or any clay because it is easier on the body. You really get to appreciate that once you hit about 35. But grass is just nice because if you fall you don't get dirty. You don't get that red clay on your socks and you can stretch before and after. It's just a pleasant surface to play on. It's really nice on the body. It's aesthetically very pleasing and of course Wimbledon is what tennis is all about to me. So it just seemed like a natural. Baines: Well, you are still in fantastic shape obviously. Do you feel as young as ever or are you going to have to rely on being a little bit more wily perhaps than your younger opponents? Navratilova: Definitely, wily. See these wrinkles? (points to the wrinkles under her left eye) They're not just on my face, they're on the rest of my body as well and probably inside as well. So, I can't hit the ball as hard as I use to. But I know where to hit and in doubles that's half the battle, being in the right position and hitting the ball in the right place. And of course I still remember how to do that. What is it? "Old age and treachery will overcome youth and inexperience." And I have a very good partner. Maryann hits the ball very hard so I think I'll be able to compliment her. And I'll come in with the finesse and she'll come in with the big brawn power and maybe we'll win a few matches. Baines: Excellent. Thanks very much for joining us. Navratilova: OK Saxon, thank you.
| ||||||||||||||||
