Playing for the last time on the court is a pure heartbreak for the players. They have spent their glorious careers on the court. The bold and fierce Martina Navratilova also could not contain herself from breaking down at her last match at the Chicago Open.

And her disappointment in herself was shattering for the player. She went off the court without attending the farewell ceremony that was organized especially for her.

When Navratilova broke down at her last Chicago Open

Navratilova was on the hard court turf one last time in 1994  and knew that she would give her best on it. It was her last time being on the court where she had reigned a whopping 12 times. So, when she lost to Magdalena Maleeva in the quarter-finals, it made her disappointed in her own performance.

The player could not fathom the loss and took a leave right away. It was then when some man showed his gratitude toward the legendary player, which brought tears to her eyes. She narrated the incident, “I was OK when I lost the match, but then when I walked off, some guy said, “Thank you, Martina,” and I just…”. 

What happened during the quarter-finals of the 1994 Chicago Open?

The unexpected loss made her reflect on her performance. She had said, “I really did not quite take it seriously enough in the beginning, and in the second set I was on my heels the whole time.” However, her opponent was on top of her game whereas Navratilova was laying as per her usual standard.

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She had announced that 1994 was going to be her last year on the tour. Undoubtedly, that broke her heart when she could not win. Dwelling on that match, she had said, “If this tournament is any indication, I’ll be crying after every match I play.”

How did Martina Navratilova do after 1994?

However, we all know that is not how the glorious career of the 18-time grand slam champion ended. She reached the finals of Wimbledon that year, where she won nine times.

She won the mixed doubles in the 2003 Australian Open with Leander Paes. Moreover, in 2006, she played along with Bob Bryan just before her 50th birthday and won the mixed doubles at the US Open.

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘Seems to Get Injured a Lot’ – Martina Navratilova Once Used Serena Williams’ Example to Talk About the ‘Fragmented’ Nature of Women’s Tennis. 

This is how the legendary player kept her racquet down. Though that does not mean she is away from tennis now. She was doing commentary at the Wimbledon as well and stays connected with the sport vehemently.