Martina Navratilova Born in 1956 in Prague, Czech Republic, Martina Navratilova became a U.S. Citizen in 1981. She ranks among the world's top tennis players ever. This outstanding sportswoman, who played lefthanded, turned professional in 1975 and retired in 1994. She released her autobiography Martina in 1985 and supports numerous non-profit groups and charitable causes, including extensive work to benefit the underpriviledged and abused children in cities throughout the world; contributes to scholarship funds for needy children and with friendly rival Chris Evert has competed in many exhibition matches to fund charities. She contributed $ 150,000 to the Women 's Sports Foundation to support development of sports for women; taped ads for the Statue of Liberty Commemorative Coins in the summer of 1986 in conjuction with that restoration project in her adopted homeland; member and supporter of Sierra Club, a wildlife and nature organization, she also supports Ms. Foundation and Planned Parenthood. Tennis aside, Martina Navratilova enjoys skiing, golf, basketball and horseback riding. But in tennis, she excelled. She holds 167 singles titles-more than any man/woman player-165 doubles titles, and won at least one Tour event a year for 21 consecutive years. In 1995, she won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title which represented her 19th title at Wimbledon (singles, doubles and mixed)-one short of the world record of 20 which is held by Billie Jean King. Two years earlier, at the 1993 Paris Indoors, Martina toppled Monica Seles in third-set tie-break to become the oldest player ever to defeat a current No. 1 player, and Martina, at age 36 years, 4 months and 3 days, broke the record previously held by Billie Jean King, who was 36 years, 3 months and 9 clays on March 2, 1980, when King defeated the then-No. 1 Navratilova. Martina broke Chris Evert 's all-time record of 1,309 singles-match wins at 1991 Milan and ended her career with a record 1,438 singles-match wins. All-time World Team Tennis prize money leader with $ 264,514, she topped world team prize money list for four consecutive years (1991-94), and was voted tennis Female Most Valuable Player three years in a row (1991-93). February 12, 1992, was proclaimed Martina Navr atilova Day in Chicago, in recognition of Navratilova 's outstanding achievements as a tennis professional; although not a native of Chicago, she became the only woman to be specially nominated into the Chicago Hall of Fame and automatically became a member upon her retirement. Navratilova's many successes and honors include: ranked No. 1 for a total of 331 weeks, second to Steffi Graf; her 18 Grand Slam singles titles are fourth among all women players (tied with Chris Evert); in 1991, she became the oldest female finalist in U.S. Open history; in 1990 won record-breaking ninth Wimbledon singles title (Helen Wills Moody 's record eight wins held since 1938); named Female Athlete of the Decade (80's) by the National Sports Review, UPI and AP; named WTA Player of the Year a record-tying 7 times (1978-79, 1982-86, tied with Steffi Graf); named Women 's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year 3 times consecutively (1982-84); named 1983 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year; received Women's Sports Foundation Flo Hyman Award in 1987, which is presented to a female who exemplifies the dignity, spirit and commitment to excellence of the late 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team captain; with Pam Shrivel-, beginning in 1981, she was named WTA Tour Doubles Team of the Year a record 8 consecutive years; also won with Betty Slove in 1977 and Billie Jean King in 1978 and 1979.