‘You’re Full of S**T’ – When Martina Navratilova Disclosed Hard-Hitting Reality of Being the Best Tennis Player in the World

American tennis legend Martina Navratilova is one of the biggest names in the tennis world. Apart from her magnificent records, the 65-year-old also raised her voice for justice and persisting issues. In her playing days, the legend never faced any resistance from the media. All was well, and no one opposed or interrupted her.

Once in an interview, Navratilova revealed how her sudden retirement made her believe more in taking opinions from others.

When Navratilova started valuing others’ opinions

When Navratilova was dominating the tennis world as the number one player, she had people agreeing with her on everything. However, the legend later understood the importance of people who disapprove of her ideas when she was wrong. “I wish I had had more people around me who said no to me. People walk around you on tip-toes, especially if you’re number one. As a result, you don’t grow, because nobody dares say, ‘You’re full of sh*t,’ “ she said.

Read more: ‘This Guy Is an A**’ – Martina Navratilova Vents Out Frustration at a Media House for Violating Her Trust During a Family Outing

Further, the former world number 1 understood it when she declared her retirement in 1994. The new experience made her understand “how to look at things from the other person’s point of view. Which I hadn’t done. At all.”

The astonishing records of Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova with her compatriot Chris Evert dominated women’s tennis in the 70s and 80s. In her illustrious career, the 65-year-old claimed a total of 59 Grand Slam titles.

Out of this, 18 came in singles. After her debut in 1974, she won her first Major title in 1978 at the Wimbledon Championships. Later that year, she also topped the WTA rankings for the first time. The legendary tennis star spent a record 332 weeks on the pinnacle of WTA rankings. It’s second only to the former world number 1 Steffi Graf. Navratilova won her last Grand Slam title in 1990. It was a record 9th Wimbledon Championships title. A record that still stands after 32 years.

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

The 65-year-old had an intense rivalry with her compatriot and friend Chris Evert. The brilliance of their rivalry is evident by the fact that 10 out of her 18 Grand Slam titles came after defeating Evert in the final. At the beginning of her career, Navratilova had a long losing streak against Evert. However, she staged a brilliant comeback and ended their rivalry on high. After saying goodbye to her career, currently, the legend is counted among the most trusted tennis experts and commentators.