Nifty Navratilova nets mixed doubles final
Twenty-eight years after Martina Navratilova made her first Australian Open final, the 46-year-old has reached another, partnering India's Leander Paes.
Twenty-eight years after reaching her first Australian Open final, Martina Navratilova has served her way into another.
The 46-year-old, partnered India's Leander Paes - a one-year-old baby when she lost that final in 1975 to Evonne Goolagong- to reach the mixed doubles championship match.
Defending champions Kevin Ullyett and Daniela Hantuchova had no answer to Navratilova and Paes's court craft and doubles acumen and the crowds' favourites ran away with the match 6-3, 6-1.
Navratilova now looks short and slight compared to the heavy-hitting giants of the modern game, but she has lost none of her ability around the net.
Volleying superbly and serving with great authority, Navratilova put herself one step away from a 39th grand slam doubles title.
The US-Indian duo face Australia's Todd Woodbridge and Greek Eleni Daniilidou in the final. Navratilova quit tennis in 1994 but returned six years later to play occasional doubles.
The holder of 18 grand slam singles titles and 31 women's grand slam doubles crowns, Navratilova last won a major title in the mixed event at Wimbledon in 1995, teamed with Jonathan Stark.
The 46-year-old, partnered India's Leander Paes - a one-year-old baby when she lost that final in 1975 to Evonne Goolagong- to reach the mixed doubles championship match.
Defending champions Kevin Ullyett and Daniela Hantuchova had no answer to Navratilova and Paes's court craft and doubles acumen and the crowds' favourites ran away with the match 6-3, 6-1.
Navratilova now looks short and slight compared to the heavy-hitting giants of the modern game, but she has lost none of her ability around the net.
Volleying superbly and serving with great authority, Navratilova put herself one step away from a 39th grand slam doubles title.
The US-Indian duo face Australia's Todd Woodbridge and Greek Eleni Daniilidou in the final. Navratilova quit tennis in 1994 but returned six years later to play occasional doubles.
The holder of 18 grand slam singles titles and 31 women's grand slam doubles crowns, Navratilova last won a major title in the mixed event at Wimbledon in 1995, teamed with Jonathan Stark.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Martina Navratilova on How She Won Over Her Critics
- Tennis: Navratilova Says British System is Doubly at Fault With Young Talent
- Wimbledon: Navratilova Rolls Back the Years in Quick Time
- Navratilova Rolls Back the Years
- Navratilova Gets Wimbledon Wild Card
- Navratilova in Singles Revival
- Interview: Martina Navratilova
- Navratilova Returns to Play Fed Cup
- Hingis talent wasted, says Navratilova
- Navratilova adds to grand slam tally at 46
- Navratilova loses after 22 years
- Crunch day for fortysomething Navratilova
- Martina, let it go!
- Navratilova says US can be as oppressive as Czechoslovakia