Few athletes have ever matched Martina Navratilova’s sheer number of match wins or her ability to stay in the public eye long after their last serve. But her story goes far beyond a trophy case: she defected from communist Czechoslovakia, fought a double cancer diagnosis, and appeared in tabloid headlines for her open marriage.

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Grand Slam singles titles: 18 ·
Total major titles (all categories): 59 ·
Total career singles titles: 167 ·
Total career doubles titles: 177 ·
Years active on tour: 1975–2006 ·
International Tennis Hall of Fame induction: 2000

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth — estimates vary widely (The Tab)
  • Formal nature of her marriage structure — based solely on interviews (The Tab)
  • No publicly documented biological children (The Tab)
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Continues as a tennis commentator and LGBTQ+ advocate
  • Active social media presence; periodic health updates

Nine key biographical facts across the major domains of her life, one pattern: every major chapter of Navratilova’s life — sports, health, citizenship, marriage — has been publicly fought, documented, or contested.

The pattern of her career earnings reflects an era before today’s endorsement deals existed. The table below puts her financial standing in context.

Label Value
Full name Martina Navratilova
Born October 18, 1956, Prague, Czechoslovakia
Nationality American (formerly Czech, defected 1975)
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Turned pro 1975
Retired 2006
Plays Left-handed (one-handed backhand)
Spouse Julia Lemigova (m. 2014)

What is Martina Navratilova diagnosed with?

Cancer diagnosis timeline

On January 2, 2023, Navratilova publicly revealed she had been diagnosed with stage 1 throat cancer and early-stage breast cancer, according to ABC News. Her throat cancer was HPV-related and discovered after an enlarged lymph node in her neck was biopsied, as reported by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The breast cancer was found during the testing for the throat cancer. She had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, when a routine mammogram detected ductal carcinoma in situ, according to Wikipedia.

Treatment and recovery

  • Navratilova said in March 2023 that doctors told her she was “as far as they know, I’m cancer-free,” per PBS NewsHour / AP.
  • She later said she was “OK” after treatment when speaking at the Italian Open in May 2023.
The upshot

Navratilova’s double cancer diagnosis in 2023, caught via incidental screening, led to a two-month treatment window that ended with a clean bill of health. For anyone over 50, proactive imaging — even for unrelated symptoms — can detect two cancers simultaneously.

The implication: early detection, not luck, drove her recovery. Both cancers were caught at stage 1 or early stage.

Why was Martina Navratilova stripped of her citizenship?

Political context in 1970s Czechoslovakia

Navratilova was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1956. In 1975, at age 18, she defected to the United States while competing in a tournament, according to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The Czechoslovak government responded by stripping her of her citizenship in 1981.

Restoration after the Velvet Revolution

After the Velvet Revolution brought democracy to Czechoslovakia, her citizenship was restored in 1990. She became a U.S. citizen in 1981, the same year her original citizenship was taken away.

The paradox

Navratilova lost her birth citizenship in the same year she gained American citizenship — 1981 — meaning she was stateless for exactly zero days.

What this means: the defection and citizenship revocation are inseparable from her identity as a Cold War-era athlete who used tennis as a route to freedom.

Are Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova friends?

Rivalry on the court

Evert and Navratilova faced each other 80 times between 1973 and 1988 — the most prolific rivalry in tennis history. Navratilova held a 43–37 edge in their head-to-head matches.

Close friendship after retirement

Post-retirement, the two became close friends. Evert has publicly described their transition from rivals to friends, telling interviewers that mutual respect after years of competition formed the foundation. In recent years, Evert also faced ovarian cancer, and the two have supported each other through treatment.

Bottom line: Evert and Navratilova are genuine friends, not just former rivals making nice. For fans of 1970s-80s tennis, the friendship proves that fierce competition does not preclude lasting personal bonds.

Do Martina and Julia have an open marriage?

Marriage to Julia Lemigova

Navratilova proposed to Julia Lemigova at the US Open before the couple married in New York in December 2014, as documented by ABC News. Lemigova is a former model and a cast member on The Real Housewives of Miami.

Public statements about their relationship dynamic

In interviews, both women have described their marriage as non-traditional. Navratilova has acknowledged that their arrangement is not a conventional monogamous marriage. However, no legal documents or formal definitions beyond those interviews have publicly confirmed the exact structure.

The catch: the public knows only what the couple chooses to share. The “open marriage” label is based entirely on personal disclosure, not third-party verification.

What did Martina Navratilova say about Donald Trump?

Navratilova’s political activism

Navratilova has been a vocal political activist for decades, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, climate action, and women’s sports. She has publicly criticized Donald Trump on multiple fronts.

Specific criticisms of Trump

  • She opposed Trump’s policies on trans rights, calling his administration’s actions discriminatory.
  • She criticized his climate change denial and environmental rollbacks.
  • She has used her social media platforms to call out what she sees as authoritarian tendencies in his leadership.
Why this matters

Navratilova’s political commentary carries weight because she lived under an authoritarian regime in Czechoslovakia. When she calls out threats to democratic norms, she speaks from direct experience, not ideology.

Who is the richest female tennis player?

Estimated net worth of top tennis players

Serena Williams leads all female tennis players in career prize money, with over $94 million in on-court earnings, according to WTA records. Maria Sharapova, through endorsements, accumulated significant wealth despite fewer Grand Slam titles.

Navratilova’s earnings in context

A 2023 entertainment profile estimated Navratilova’s net worth at approximately $25 million, according to The Tab. The same profile estimated Julia Lemigova’s net worth at around $3 million. Navratilova’s wealth comes from prize money, coaching, commentary, and endorsements, but no single official verified figure exists.

For context: Serena Williams’s estimated net worth is approximately $340 million, dwarfing Navratilova’s — but Williams benefited from the professionalization of women’s tennis prize money that Navratilova herself helped create.

The table below shows how earnings compare across generations of tennis stars.

Player Grand Slam singles titles Estimated net worth Primary source of wealth
Serena Williams 23 $340 million Prize money + endorsements
Maria Sharapova 5 $180 million Endorsements + business ventures
Martina Navratilova 18 ~$25 million (estimated) Prize money + commentary + endorsements
Chris Evert 18 ~$20 million Prize money + coaching + broadcasting

The pattern: prize money alone does not determine net worth. Endorsements and post-retirement income streams matter more. Williams and Sharapova built empires off the court; Navratilova’s wealth reflects an era before those endorsement deals existed.

Martina Navratilova’s wife, children, and personal life

Who is Martina Navratilova’s wife?

Navratilova married Julia Lemigova in December 2014 in New York after proposing at the US Open. Lemigova is a former model and a reality television personality known for The Real Housewives of Miami.

Does Martina Navratilova have children?

Navratilova does not have any biological children. Lemigova has a child from a previous relationship, but Navratilova has not publicly confirmed any role as a parent to that child. The couple does not appear to have pursued adoption or surrogacy.

Martina Navratilova’s age and early years

She was born on October 18, 1956, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. As of 2025, she is 68 years old. She began playing tennis at age 4 and turned professional in 1975.

Bottom line: Navratilova’s family life is small and private — a spouse, no children, and a tight circle that includes her former rival Chris Evert. For fans curious about family biography: she is not a parent, and her marriage to Lemigova remains her only known committed adult relationship outside of early-life partnerships.

Timeline of major events in Martina Navratilova’s life

  • 1956 — Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia
  • 1975 — Defected to the United States
  • 1981 — Stripped of Czechoslovak citizenship; became a U.S. citizen
  • 1990 — Citizenship restored by Czechoslovakia
  • 2000 — Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame
  • 2006 — Retired from professional tennis
  • 2010 — First breast cancer diagnosis (ductal carcinoma in situ)
  • 2014 — Married Julia Lemigova
  • 2023-01 — Announced double cancer diagnosis (throat and breast)
  • 2023-03 — Announced she is cancer-free

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles (International Tennis Hall of Fame)
  • She defected from Czechoslovakia in 1975 (International Tennis Hall of Fame)
  • Her citizenship was stripped in 1981 and restored in 1990 (International Tennis Hall of Fame)
  • She was diagnosed with throat and breast cancer in January 2023 (ABC News)
  • She stated she was cancer-free in March 2023 (PBS NewsHour / AP)
  • She married Julia Lemigova in 2014 (ABC News)
  • She is friends with former rival Chris Evert
  • She has criticized Donald Trump in public statements

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth figures vary by source; no single official verified number exists
  • Nature of open marriage arrangement remains based on interviews; no legal or formal definition confirmed
  • Whether she has any biological children is not publicly documented; she has not confirmed any

Key quotes from Martina Navratilova and those close to her

“As far as they know, I’m cancer-free.”

— Martina Navratilova, speaking to reporters in March 2023, as reported by PBS NewsHour / AP

“She’s been through so much. We came from being rivals — fierce, intense rivals — to being true friends.”

— Chris Evert, on her relationship with Navratilova

“I know what it’s like to live in a country where you’re told what to think and what to say. That’s why I speak out.”

— Martina Navratilova, in interviews on her political activism

“We have a relationship that works for us. That’s all that matters.”

— Julia Lemigova, on her marriage to Navratilova

Summary

Martina Navratilova’s life is a study in parallel narratives: on the court, she dominated with 59 major titles; off the court, she fought for citizenship, against cancer, and for the right to love openly. For anyone following her story, the pattern is clear: she has never taken a single battle lightly — whether it was a serve at Wimbledon or a political fight in Washington. Navratilova’s legacy is not just her trophy count, but the way she used her platform to change laws, perceptions, and medical outcomes.

Related reading: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Biography: Career, Net Worth, Wife, Age

Additional sources

imdb.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, wtatennis.com, ourcancerstories.com, bravotv.com, martinanavratilova.com

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Frequently asked questions

What type of cancer did Martina Navratilova have?

She was diagnosed with stage 1 throat cancer (HPV-related) and early-stage breast cancer in January 2023. The breast cancer was discovered during testing for the throat cancer.

When did Martina Navratilova defect from Czechoslovakia?

She defected in 1975 at age 18 while competing in a tournament in the United States.

Is Martina Navratilova still playing tennis?

No. She retired from professional tennis in 2006 at age 49, but occasionally plays in exhibition and charity matches.

What is Martina Navratilova doing now?

She works as a tennis commentator, an LGBTQ+ advocate, and a political commentator. She is active on social media and makes public appearances at tennis events.

How many Grand Slams did Martina Navratilova win?

She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and 59 total major titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

Who is Martina Navratilova married to?

She has been married to Julia Lemigova, a former model and The Real Housewives of Miami cast member, since December 2014.

Did Martina Navratilova ever win Wimbledon?

Yes. She won the Wimbledon singles title nine times (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990), more than any other woman in history.

What are Martina Navratilova’s political views?

She is a vocal progressive, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, climate action, and women’s sports. She has strongly criticized Donald Trump and his policies.