Martina Hints At Comeback
After winning the mixed doubles championship Sunday for her 19th Wimbledon title, Martina Navratilova said there’s a slim chance she might play singles next year at the All England Club.
Navratilova said her coach, Mike Estep, was so pleased with her play he suggested she return to the singles competition.
“I don’t think I have the nerve for it anymore,” said Navratilova, who retired from singles after the 1994 season. “When the time comes, if I’m fit, who knows.”
Navratilova, who won a record nine Wimbledon singles titles, teamed with Jonathan Stark to defeat Cyril Suk and Gigi Fernandez 6-4, 6-4.
Navratilova needs only one more title to match Billie Jean King’s record of 20 at Wimbledon.
In mixed doubles, Navratilova was supposed to play with John McEnroe. Both were working as television commentators at different networks at Wimbledon. However, McEnroe’s broadcast commitments kept him from playing.
That left Navratilova in search of a partner, and she chose Stark.
“I consider that an honor,” Stark told The Mail Tribune in his hometown of Medford, Ore. “A mixed doubles title at Wimbledon is very special, but it is also special to have played with Martina, who is the best women’s player of all time.”
Vicario gets her win doubles final in three sets.
Sanchez Vicario and Novotna, seeded second, split the first two sets Saturday with top-seeded Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva and were tied 4-4 in the third when play was halted because of darkness.
They made quick work of things when the match resumed Sunday, winning the only two games played for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory.
Star-gazing
Tennis fan Princess Diana saved her only Wimbledon appearance for the final day. With movie star Tom Cruise sitting not far away with his actress wife Nicole Kidman, the royals did their own star-gazing.
Princess Michael spotted the movie star in the crowd and passed the word to the others in the Royal Box. Princess Diana bent forward and lowered her sunglasses to get a better look at the couple.