Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 16, 1994 TAG: 9411160162
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
All the flashes of brilliance that stamped Martina Navratilova's career for more than two decades - the darting volleys, the leaping overheads, the chip-and-charge backhands - were on display one last time.
But in the end, they just weren't nearly enough.
Navratilova's storied singles career, 22 years marked by a record 167 titles, came to a close with a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Gabriela Sabatini on Tuesday night in the first round of the Virginia Slims Championships.
Neither the gift of seven double-faults by Sabatini, nor the nonstop cheers of Navratilova's fans at Madison Square Garden affected the outcome. Navratilova could muster only moments that recalled the greatness of her career, and too often she couldn't reach the perfect lobs and sizzling passing shots of Sabatini.
For the history books, Navratilova's last shot came at 9:24 p.m., a backhand that drifted wide crosscourt.
``I got blown off the court tonight by someone who was playing in another zone,'' Navratilova said. ``If I have to lose my last match to anyone, I'd want to lose it to Gabriela Sabatini because she's a very, very nice human being besides being a hell of a tennis player.''
Navratilova began this most emotional night all smiles and ended it, predictably, in tears, flowers in one hand, tissues in the other during the post-match ceremony.
``This is a schizophrenic moment,'' Navratilova said. ``I don't know whether to cry or laugh. ... I'm ready for my new life.''
Navratilova hugged Sabatini at the net when the match ended and was overwhelmed by a ceremony that included a red banner with a yellow tennis ball raised in her honor - the first such tribute at the Garden for any woman and appropriate for the most successful tennis player, man or woman, in history.
A videotape of Navratilova's career reminded fans her tenure was marked by more than merely victories on court. It was a journey from communism in Czechoslovakia to freedom in the United States, perhaps her proudest moment when she gained American citizenship. Her legacy is not only nine Wimbledon championships, but years of honesty on her lesbian lifestyle and politics that won her worldwide respect.
Typically, in her last match, she wore a patch with a red ribbon on her blouse in support of the fight against AIDS.
It wasn't all sadness for Navratilova, though. She jumped up and down like a kid when she was given a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as a going-away gift, the song ``Born To Be Wild'' blaring as it was rolled out. Navratilova quickly hopped aboard, as if ready to ride off into the sunset.
It was a night that belonged to Navratilova, win or lose, and no one else seemed to matter to the crowd.
Jana Novotna acknowledged her role as a warmup act as she spoiled an impressive debut by Iva Majoli, beating the 17-year-old 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
The match served as a prelude to the pulsating, standing ovation that greeted Navratilova.
by CNB