Navratilova bids glorious farewell<\/p>\n
By Dwiatmanta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Winning and losing come and go, but wisdom stays
\nforever.<\/p>\n
It was true wisdom that lead Martina Navratilova to the
\ndecision to step down from the glimmering world of tennis while
\neverybody still believes she deserves distinction amid young
\ntennis prodigies.<\/p>\n
"I just listened to my heart that I had to retire, that's
\nall," 38-year-old Navratilova said. "Of course I'm leaving the
\ngame that I love, but I won't regret it."<\/p>\n
The Czech-born American has scooped 167 singles and 163
\ndoubles titles, more than any man or woman player, which earned
\nher a whopping US$20 million in prize money during her 20-year
\nprofessional career. Her nine times victories at Wimbledon may
\nlive forever in the record books.<\/p>\n
She carved out a tennis history with a record seven years of
\nreign in the 1980s. She finished 1994 as the world number eight
\nbehind Argentinean Gabriela Sabatini, who spoiled her farewell
\nparty in the season-end Virginia Slims at Madison Square last
\nNovember.<\/p>\n
Retirement was just a matter of time as Navratilova has never
\nbeen back at the top since German Steffi Graf dethroned her in
\n1986. The whole of 1994 was a frustrating year, which saw
\nNavratilova drop her ranking from number three to eight.<\/p>\n
Indonesian tennis enthusiasts were lucky to join the farewell
\ncelebration last Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Her impressive showing in Wednesday's exhibition against
\nIndonesia's number one Yayuk Basuki reminded fans of her
\nmasterful serve and volley game which has painted a thousand
\nwords of amazement.<\/p>\n
A skillful combination of muscles and brain has brought
\nNavratilova to the pinnacle, but she does mind if people call her
\na legend.<\/p>\n
"I'm not quite like that. I'm old in tennis but my period is
\nnot that long to become a legend," she says.<\/p>\n
Navratilova definitely rejects any second thoughts of a
\ncomeback, which are common for athletes who have tasted
\nsuperstardom. Sweden's former world number one, men's singles,
\nBjorn Borg is an example. However, he never got close to his past
\nsupremacy.<\/p>\n
"I'm not thinking about a comeback. It's all enough,"
\nNavratilova declared.<\/p>\n
Tennis earned her more than satisfaction as she says: "I have
\nsuccesses much more than disappointments." The only upsets she
\nsuffers is the fact that she misses her family following her
\ndefection to the U.S.<\/p>\n
WTA president<\/p>\n
But the world will not have to miss the player who brought
\nexcitement to the game tennis during her heyday. Navratilova
\nremains very much involved with tennis as president of the
\nWomen's Tennis Association, the official body of women's tennis
\nprofessionals.<\/p>\n
"I'm working on drafting a number of changes in the format of
\nwomen's tennis tour," she told a press conference prior to her
\nmatch against Yayuk last Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The rest of Navratilova's life, following her withdrawal from
\ncompetitive tennis, will be full of social activities. As an
\nactive player, she supported numerous non-profit groups and
\ncharity causes, including extensive work to help the
\nunderprivileged and abused children in cities throughout the
\nworld.<\/p>\n
"I will get much more involved with the environmental
\nmovement, opposing the massive slaughter of protected animals and
\nadvocating gay rights," she says.<\/p>\n
However, her concern for children brought an insulting
\nquestion about her sex life from the local press. A local
\nreporter asked her if the rumor that she has asked an Italian
\ndoctor for sperm in order to get pregnant were true. While
\nanswering the question, she appeared to be holding back tears.<\/p>\n
"I've never figured out this case. My answer is no," she said
\nin a high temper.<\/p>\n
"None of the reports are true. I've never told any journalist
\nwhether I wanted to be pregnant or adopt a child," she added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/navratilova-bids-glorious-farewell-1447893297",
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