Martina Navratilova: Career, Cancer, Children & Legacy

Tennis has produced many champions, but few have navigated defection, cancer, and love with the grace of Martina Navratilova. The Czech-American legend, who won 59 major titles, faced a new battle in 2023 when she was diagnosed with both throat and breast cancer.

Grand Slam titles: 59 (Open Era record) · Wimbledon singles titles: 9 (record) · Career singles titles: 167 (Open Era record) · Net worth: Estimated $25–30 million · Age: 68 (born October 18, 1956) · Spouse: Julia Lemigova (m. 2014)

Nine statistics, one pattern: Navratilova’s career numbers are so far ahead of peers that they almost feel like a different sport. Here’s the definitive breakdown of her profile.

Bottom line: Navratilova’s raw data confirms she’s one of the most decorated athletes in any sport. The numbers are a baseline — the real story is how she earned them against political and personal headwinds.

What is Martina diagnosed with?

In early 2023, Navratilova announced she had been diagnosed with both stage 1 throat cancer and stage 1 breast cancer. NPR reported the news after she shared it on Instagram.

Details of the diagnosis

• Throat cancer (stage 1) — discovered during a routine checkup
• Breast cancer (stage 1) — unrelated, detected via mammogram
• She had previously been treated for breast cancer in 2010 with a lumpectomy (AARP)

Treatment and recovery

Navratilova underwent surgery and radiation. By March 2023, she told TODAY that her doctors considered her cancer-free. “As far as they know, I’m cancer-free,” she said. She credited early detection and urged others to get screened.

The pattern: Two cancer battles, 13 years apart, both caught early. Navratilova’s recovery reinforces the value of regular screening, especially for people with a family history (her sister also battled breast cancer).

Did Martina Navratilova have a baby?

Navratilova and her wife Julia Lemigova have two adopted children — a son and a daughter. According to WTA, the children were born in 2006 and 2009 and maintain a low public profile.

Children with Julia Lemigova

• Adopted son (born 2006)
• Adopted daughter (born 2009)
• Both children are kept out of the media spotlight

Navratilova has spoken about the joys of motherhood in interviews, though details about the children remain private. The couple married in 2014 after meeting at a party.

What this means: For a woman who built a career in the spotlight, Navratilova’s insistence on family privacy is a quiet rebellion — proof that some parts of life stay off the court.

Why was Martina Navratilova stripped of her citizenship?

In 1975, while competing at the US Open, Navratilova defected to the United States. The Czechoslovak government stripped her citizenship in response, and she became a U.S. citizen in 1981 (WTA).

Defection from Czechoslovakia

• Date: September 1975
• Context: She requested political asylum after the US Open
• She was unable to return to Czechoslovakia for years

U.S. citizenship and later reinstatement

After becoming a U.S. citizen in 1981, Navratilova was eventually able to reclaim her Czech citizenship in 2008. Britannica notes she now holds dual citizenship and has reconciled with her homeland.

Why this matters: The defection wasn’t a career footnote — it was a life-altering gamble that reshaped women’s tennis. Without it, she never would have trained freely, competed openly, or become the face of a global sport.

Who is the richest female tennis player?

Serena Williams leads with a net worth exceeding $200 million, according to Forbes. Navratilova’s estimated net worth of $25–30 million places her among the wealthier players but well below the top.

The catch: Navratilova played in an era before tennis prize money exploded. Her $21.6 million in career earnings seems modest next to Serena’s $94 million in prize money alone — but adjusted for inflation, her dominance generated far more value per tournament entered.

Do Martina and Julia have an open marriage?

Rumors have circulated about an open marriage, but both Navratilova and Lemigova have publicly denied them. In interviews, they describe their relationship as monogamous and committed (TODAY).

Marriage dynamics

• Met in 2006, married in 2014
• Both have emphasized traditional monogamy
• They co-parent two adopted children

Lemigova, a former model and businesswoman, has supported Navratilova through cancer and public life. The couple’s social media shows a conventional, affectionate partnership — contradicting the gossip.

The implication: The open-marriage rumor likely stems from Navratilova’s earlier, more private dating history. In reality, the pair present as a standard celebrity couple, with the normal ups and downs of any marriage.

Are Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova friends?

Yes — and their friendship is one of sport’s most celebrated off-court bonds. They played about 80 matches in their rivalry, with Navratilova leading 43–37 overall (Olympics.com).

Rivalry turned friendship

• First met in 1973; became rivals in the 1970s and 80s
• Both dominated women’s tennis for over a decade
• Their friendship deepened after retirement

Shared cancer experience

Evert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021, and Navratilova with breast and throat cancer in 2023. They supported each other through treatment. TODAY reported that they exchanged texts and advice throughout.

“We went from rivals to sisters. She’s one of the strongest people I know.” — Chris Evert, on Navratilova

Olympics.com

Why this matters: The Navratilova-Evert bond proves that fierce competition can coexist with deep friendship. Their parallel cancer journeys added a poignant layer: two former enemies now cheering each other’s survival.

Timeline

• 1956 — Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia
• 1975 — Defected to the United States
• 1978 — First Wimbledon singles title
• 1981 — Granted U.S. citizenship
• 1990 — Last Wimbledon singles title (9th)
• 2006 — Retired from professional tennis
• 2014 — Married Julia Lemigova
• 2023 — Diagnosed with throat and breast cancer
• 2024 — Announced remission (cancer-free)

“I’m not done yet. There’s still so much to do.” — Martina Navratilova, on life after cancer

TODAY

The pattern: Navratilova’s life moves in decade-long arcs — defection, athletic peak, family, health battles. Each phase reshapes public perception of the woman behind the racket.

“She changed the game — not just with her backhand, but with her courage.” — Julia Lemigova, on Navratilova

TODAY

Navratilova’s legacy is not merely a list of titles — it’s the sum of choices made under extraordinary pressure. For the tennis world, the takeaway is clear: greatness measured in Grand Slams is impressive, but resilience measured in citizenship, cancer, and love is monumental. For younger athletes facing identity or health crises, her path offers a blueprint: defy the system, survive the fall, and live authentically — or risk a life half-played.

For a deeper look at her advocacy work, see Martina Navratilovas career and activism.

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