| | Associated Press
WIMBLEDON, England -- Martina Navratilova walked off the
court to applause, licked her index finger and made an imaginary
mark in the air to signify one victory -- her first at Wimbledon in
four years.
The nine-time singles champion made a successful return to the
All England Club, teaming with Mariaan de Swardt for a first-round
victory in doubles Wednesday. They beat Lubomira Bacheva and Amanda
Hopmans 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-3.
The match was the first since 1996 at Wimbledon for Navratilova,
43.
"It was nice," she said. "I've been thinking about it a long
time. Once you get out there, you bask in the applause for 30
seconds, then you have to play a match. You don't have a chance to
sit and relax and enjoy it very much. Doubles moves pretty fast.
You've got to get on with it."
Navratilova will also play mixed doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi.
Two more titles would give her 21 in singles and doubles at
Wimbledon, breaking the record of 20 held by her close friend,
Billie Jean King.
"Not bloody likely," said Navratilova, who has repeatedly
denied that the record is her motivation for returning. She said
she merely found herself with free time this summer and decided to
play doubles in the French Open and Wimbledon. She may also play at
the U.S. Open.
"Giving the old people hope," she joked. "I didn't have
anything planned for a couple of months. I thought, 'Ah, I'll play
Wimbledon.'"
Her return attracted an overflow crowd on Court 18, and fans in
the back were still standing at the end of the two-hour match. For
many, the sight of Navratilova moving gracefully on the immaculate
lawn likely brought back a flood of memories.
She's still trim, bespectacled and aggressive about charging the
net, just like in 1990, when she won her last Wimbledon singles
title. According to de Swardt, Navratilova remains a formidable
force today.
"I've been struggling to get points off her in practice," de
Swardt said. "She'll beat a lot of people if she still wants to
play singles."
She doesn't want to, saying it would require too much time and
effort to get into shape. Navratilova said she now has too many
other interests with family, hobbies and her work as a television
commentator, which she finds easier that playing.
"Up in the booth," she said with a laugh, "I never miss a
shot."
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