Martina speaks

Opinionated Navratilova still shoots from the hip

Martina chases Graf PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) -- Not satisfied with the numerous records already bearing her name or with her bulging bank balance, Martina Navratilova is now looking to overhaul Steffi Graf in the prize money stakes. Navratilova, who at 46 years and three months became the oldest Grand Slam winner as she took the mixed doubles crown at the Australian Open in January, is just over a million dollars short of becoming the women's leading prize money winner. While Graf banked $21,895,277, Navratilova has pocketed $20,646,201 during a career spanning four decades. "I better hurry up and try and win some more. I might beat her then and have the No. 1 spot for a while again," joked the nine-time Wimbledon champion. FULL STORY

PARIS (AP) -- Serve up any topic for Martina Navratilova, and she's happy to take a shot at it.

She did so Friday at the French Open, offering opinions regarding Annika Sorenstam, Vijay Singh and the mixed-doubles team of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.

Her assessments:

Sorenstam is the best.

Singh is not.

And Agassi-Graf would have had their hands full at Roland Garros against one team in particular that includes a certain famous left-hander.

Navratilova, 46, and Leander Paes won their opening match in mixed doubles Friday. Navratilova said it's too bad Graf's pregnancy prevented Agassi-Graf from entering doubles at Roland Garros.

"I know we would have played them," Navratilova said. "That would have been the match of the tournament, I think.

"Neither one was really much of a specialist in doubles. So the two of them together, I would have liked our chances. No matter how great Andre and Steffi are, it would have been more difficult for them in the mixed, but it would have been fun."

Navratilova applauded Sorenstam, who last week became the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA Tour. Sorenstam missed the cut at the Colonial, but Navratilova said the performance was still an admirable response to Singh's claim that a woman didn't belong in the tournament. Sorenstam shot 5 over par.

"She held up beautifully," Navratilova said. "To me that shut up Vijay Singh. He'll never say another word about her not belonging, I'll guarantee you that.

"From tee to green she played the best golf out there. She couldn't putt because the pressure was the biggest pressure anybody has ever had on them."

Navratilova knows about pressure. She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including two at the French Open.

This year she's playing women's and mixed doubles. She and Svetlana Kuznetsova have won three doubles titles this year, and she teamed with Paes to win mixed doubles at the Australian Open, making her the oldest Grand Slam champion ever.

Given her achievements, the reception she received Friday on court 2 was predictable.

"The ovation I got was the biggest ovation I think I ever got here," she said. "My knees were knocking."

 

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