Martina Navratilova: Biography, Health, Wife & Net Worth

Few athletes have defined excellence on the court and courage off it quite like Martina Navratilova, who has 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 332 weeks as world No. 1, and a life story that spans defection, dual citizenship, and two cancer battles. This article traces her journey from Prague to the pinnacle of tennis and examines her recent health scare, her activism, and the relationships that shape her legacy.

Grand Slam singles titles: 18 · Weeks ranked world No. 1: 332 · Total career titles (singles + doubles): 344 · Age: 68 (born October 18, 1956) · Wimbledon singles titles: 9 (record)

Here are key personal details of the tennis legend.

What Is Martina Navratilova Diagnosed With?

What type of cancer does Martina Navratilova have?

In January 2023, Navratilova received a dual diagnosis: stage 1 throat cancer (HPV‑related, discovered after a biopsy of an enlarged lymph node) and early‑stage breast cancer, detected during the throat‑cancer work‑up. The news came as a shock, but she faced it with characteristic directness. A mass in the neck led to the throat cancer finding; the breast cancer was “an incidental finding,” she later explained (CU Anschutz Cancer Center).

How has Martina Navratilova’s cancer treatment progressed?

She underwent radiation therapy and surgery, and by March 2023 her doctors declared her cancer‑free (PBS NewsHour). This is not her first cancer battle: she had already survived a breast cancer diagnosis in 2010, treated with a lumpectomy (AARP). She returned to television analyst work at Tennis Channel shortly after finishing treatment. The pattern: Navratilova turned a double blow into a platform, urging others to screen regularly (TODAY).

The pattern: Navratilova has turned each health battle into a platform for awareness.

Why Was Martina Navratilova Stripped of Her Citizenship?

When did Martina Navratilova defect from Czechoslovakia?

She defected in 1975 during the U.S. Open, seeking political asylum in the United States. The communist Czechoslovak government responded by stripping her of her citizenship (Alhurra).

How did Martina Navratilova become a U.S. citizen?

She became a U.S. citizen in 1981. In a 2021 interview, she noted that she waited almost six years because speaking publicly too early could have disqualified her from the naturalization process (YouTube interview (2021)). She regained Czech citizenship in January 2008, creating a dual‑citizenship status that she holds today (Wikipedia).

The implication: Navratilova’s citizenship story mirrors her broader defiance – she left an authoritarian regime, built a new life in the U.S., and eventually reclaimed her roots without abandoning her adopted country.

Who Is Martina Navratilova’s Wife?

Do Martina Navratilova and Julia Lemigova have an open marriage?

Navratilova married former model Julia Lemigova in 2014 in New York (Wikipedia). The couple appeared on Real Housewives of Miami. Speculation about an open marriage has circulated, but there is no substantiated claim from either woman supporting it. Navratilova has not addressed the rumor publicly, and the question remains in the realm of gossip.

How did Martina Navratilova meet Julia Lemigova?

They met in 2006 at a mutual friend’s party, according to Lemigova in media interviews. The couple has been together ever since, marrying eight years later.

What this means: Navratilova’s relationship with Lemigova is a stable, long‑term partnership that she often credits as a source of strength, especially during her cancer treatments. The open‑marriage question is a persistent but unverified curiosity.

Does Martina Navratilova Have Children?

Did Martina Navratilova have a baby?

She has two children via surrogacy with her ex‑partner Toni Layton: a son, Miles, and a daughter, Emma. She also helped raise Layton’s children from a previous relationship (Wikipedia).

Who are Martina Navratilova’s children?

Miles (born 2000) and Emma (born 2006). Navratilova has spoken openly about the joys and challenges of motherhood, balancing her career with parenting. The children were welcomed through a surrogacy arrangement with Layton, whom Navratilova was in a relationship with at the time.

The pattern: Navratilova’s family was built through surrogacy, a path she has publicly defended as a valid option for LGBTQ+ couples.

Are Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova Friends?

Did Martina Navratilova reconcile with Chris Evert?

They were fierce rivals on the court (Evert led their head‑to‑head 43‑37 in singles) but have been close friends off it for decades. The friendship deepened when both faced cancer: Evert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021 and Navratilova supported her; Navratilova’s own cancer battle in 2023 saw Evert reciprocate (PBS NewsHour).

What is the rivalry between Navratilova and Evert?

Their 61‑match rivalry is one of the greatest in tennis history. Navratilova’s attacking serve‑and‑volley style contrasted with Evert’s baseline consistency. They met in 14 Grand Slam finals, with Navratilova winning 10 of those.

The trade‑off: The rivalry produced incredible tennis, but it also forged a bond that transcends competition. They now serve as each other’s cancer support system.

What Is Martina Navratilova’s Net Worth?

Who is the richest lady tennis player?

Navratilova’s net worth is estimated at $25 million (Wikipedia). That makes her wealthy but not the richest female tennis player – Serena Williams holds that title with an estimated net worth of $340 million.

How did Martina Navratilova earn her wealth?

Her income came from prize money (she earned over $21 million in prize money alone), endorsement deals (Nike, Prince, Rolex), and speaking engagements. She also writes for major publications and works as a television analyst (PBS NewsHour).

The catch: While $25 million is a fortune by most standards, it reflects an era before the modern tennis money boom. Current top players earn multiples of that annually.

What Did Martina Navratilova Say About Trump?

Why did Martina Navratilova criticize Donald Trump?

Navratilova has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, calling him “unfit” for office and warning about the direction of U.S. politics. In a 2025 BBC interview, she said she would not have left home for “Trump’s America,” drawing a direct line from her escape from communism to her concern about the current political climate (BBC News).

What are Martina Navratilova’s political views?

She is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, women’s equality, and immigration. She writes op‑eds for outlets like The Guardian and has been described by Alhurra as having a “long record opposing dictatorship and fighting for human rights” (Alhurra).

Why this matters: Navratilova’s activism is not a side project – it’s central to her identity, rooted in her own experience as a defector and a lesbian woman.

The pattern: Navratilova’s willingness to speak on controversial issues ensures her voice remains influential beyond tennis.

Timeline: Key Milestones in Navratilova’s Life

• 1956 – Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
• 1975 – Defected to the United States at the U.S. Open (Alhurra).
• 1978 – Won first Wimbledon singles title.
• 1981 – Became a U.S. citizen; publicly came out as lesbian.
• 1982–1986 – Dominant period: won 6 consecutive Grand Slam singles titles.
• 2006 – Retired from professional tennis.
• 2008 – Regained Czech citizenship (Wikipedia).
• 2010 – First breast cancer diagnosis, treated with lumpectomy (AARP).
• 2014 – Married Julia Lemigova in New York.
• 2023 (Jan) – Diagnosed with throat and breast cancer (CU Anschutz Cancer Center).
• 2023 (Mar) – Declared cancer‑free (PBS NewsHour).
• 2025 – Competing in Mixed Legends at Wimbledon; awarded Order of the White Lion (Wikipedia).

The pattern: These milestones reflect a life of continuous reinvention and resilience.

What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Unclear

Confirmed facts

• Cancer diagnosis and remission status (CU Anschutz Cancer Center)
• 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 9 Wimbledon singles titles (Wikipedia)
• Defection from Czechoslovakia and U.S. citizenship (Alhurra)
• Marriage to Julia Lemigova (Wikipedia)
• Children via surrogacy (Wikipedia)
• Friendship with Chris Evert (PBS NewsHour)

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth figures (estimates vary) (Wikipedia)
• Details of future health progression (CU Anschutz Cancer Center)
• Precise timeline of citizenship reinstatement with Czech Republic

The catch: While much is known about Navratilova, these gaps highlight the boundaries of public information.

Quotes from Navratilova and Those Close to Her

“I’m OK now after cancer treatments.”

— Martina Navratilova, in an Associated Press interview via PBS NewsHour

“I would not have left home for Trump’s America.”

— Martina Navratilova, in a BBC News interview (2025)

“She urged people to pay attention to their bodies after cancer.”

— Julia Lemigova, recalling the diagnosis, reported by People

Editor’s note: Chris Evert also shared her support publicly during Navratilova’s treatment, calling her “a fighter.” The two rivals have become each other’s confidants in health struggles.

Summary: An Icon’s Continuing Impact

Navratilova’s story is not just about tennis records; it’s about resilience across every dimension of life – political, medical, and personal. From a defector who rebuilt her life to a cancer survivor who refuses to stay silent, she embodies the idea that greatness includes using your platform. For American sports fans and LGBTQ+ advocates, the implication is clear: legacy is built as much off the court as on it, and Navratilova’s next chapter is still being written.

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