While everyone thinks of Martina Navratilova as the all-time tennis singles champion (167 total championships, 18 Grand Slam singles titles), few realize that she is also the all-time doubles champion (177 total championships, 31 Women's Grand Slams, 10 Mixed Doubles Grand Slams).
What is even more amazing is that five years after retiring from competitive tennis, in 2000 Navratilova mounted a doubles comeback. In 2003, at 46, an age where most athletes are working on their golf game, Navratilova and her partner Leander Peas won both the Australian and Wimbledon mixed doubles, becoming the oldest Grand Slam champion ever. In 2006, at Navratilova's final tournament, the US Open, she paired with doubles specialist Bob Bryan, and, just a month shy of her 50th birthday, Navratilova went out in style, winning the mixed doubles championship and increasing her record
.Mounted in a specially made shadowbox, Martina used this custom made Bosworth tennis racquet and wore this Under Armour tank top and shorts, in her September 7, 2006 US Open quarterfinal mixed doubles match. Navratilova and Bryan defeated Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) and Frantisek Cerniak (CZE) 6-3, 6-4. She has signed all three pieces in black sharpie and has also included a letter hand signed by her attesting to the authenticity of these pieces.
In the New York Times article recounting the quarterfinals match her partner Bryan said he felt that Navratilova could play for another 5 to 10 years. "I'm learning a lot playing with her," Bryan said. "Because she doesn't have the big power, she's doing it with a 90-mile-an-hour serve and just with her brain and her reflexes.
"Navratilova said, "You're only as old as you feel, and I certainly don't feel 49. I just wanted to inspire people."
Condition: Racquet and outfit are in excellent overall condition, with minor wear from use. LOA from PSA/DNA.
10,000 USD - 15,000 USD