‘USTA Certainly Wasn’t Supporting Me’ – Martina Navratilova Reveals Hardships Faced to Find a Coach When She First Moved to the US

Today Martina Navratilova is among the greatest tennis players of all time. The 65-year-old even today is among one of the most followed tennis personalities. However, the journey has always been difficult for her. There were various challenges on her way and Navratilova never stopped.

Earlier in her career, the 65-year-old had to leave behind her country and moved to the US. Her country was politically unstable, and it was hampering her career. However, in a new country, she lacked support and even had to play without a proper coach for the next six years. Recently, the legend opened up about her struggle to find a coach in her early days in America.

Martina Navratilova didn’t get any support from the USTA

When Navratilova moved to America, she was already one of the best tennis players in the world. However, any good player needs a coach. Although back then there was not a culture of traveling coaches, everybody went back to their coaches in their hometown. Navratilova had left behind her coach and hometown. Here’s what she said about the time. “When I left, I was on my own. For six years, I had nothing. The USTA certainly wasn’t supporting me. It didn’t occur to me to get a coach, at least when I was at home at the beginning.”

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“…I lived in Dallas, then I moved to Charlottesville, then I went back to Dallas. It didn’t occur to me to kind of get a coach. Everybody had their coaches in their hometown. A few players had their coach on the road with them, but most people did not, so it didn’t occur.”

Further, she revealed how she finally ended up getting a coach. “It was only in 81, six years after I defected, that by chance Renee Richards started helping me during the US Open and I asked her to coach me and that’s when I really took off with my career,” she added.

Navratilova’s Fight against cancer

The challenges never stopped for Navratilova. After finishing her career, the legend still had a tough test of life to pass. Back in 2010, she was detected with breast cancer. The news initially devastated the 65-year-old. However, brave as always, the former world number 1 fought her battle against the ready disease.

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Finally, after six months, she came out victorious. Ever since her treatment, Navratilova has been actively working for awareness of the disease. As the early stage detection is very critical in cancer.