It was the year 2006. Martina Navratilova had returned to the Czech Republic to participate in the Prague Open. It was an emotional return for the tennis legend, who had returned to her native country to play after almost two decades.

Further, it was her first match in her native country since winning the 1986 Fed Cup final for the United States. During an interview at the tournament, the tennis legend opened up about her emotions while playing in her native country.

Martina Navratilova on how she controlled her emotions while playing in the Czech Republic

At that tournament, Navratilova played in front of approximately 4000 people. The crowd was vocal in support of her, cheering every point that she won. Talking about how she kept control of her emotions, Navratilova said, “I had to do something, at least look for my glasses, to keep myself from crying. But there must not be too much nostalgia.” 

Navratilova teamed up with Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic to play doubles at the 2006 Prague Open. The duo was the top-seeded pair in the tournament. They won their first-round match comfortably in straight sets. However, they bowed out of the Prague Open in the quarterfinals.

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That year was the final year of Navratilova’s illustrious career. She capped off her career in style by winning the US Open mixed doubles title.

Navratilova receives the Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award

Recently, the tennis legend received a massive honor as she got the 7th annual Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award. This award is given to honor women who represent the bold spirit, fierce independence, and distinctive character of the actress.

It is another feather in the cap for Navratilova who has won laurels and awards throughout her decorated career. Additionally, she is one of the most successful players in tennis, winning an astonishing 59 Grand Slam titles overall.

Watch this story: Martina Navratilova gives her opinion on the negative impact of social media