Google News Navratilova: 'Everybody’s in the same boat, but Roger Federer and Serena Williams...'
by SIMONE BRUGNOLI
According to the legendary Martina Navratilova, the forced stop of the professional tour due to the Coronavirus emergency does not conceal any advantage for Roger Federer and Serena Williams. The former World number 1, who has won 59 slams overall, believes that such a long break will not benefit veterans.
Federer still holds the Slam record at 20, while Serena is trying to grab Margaret Court's 24 Major after losing the last four finals. “For players like Roger Federer and Serena Williams, it’s time lost. Particularly Serena, Wimbledon being her best chance to break Margaret Court’s record.
She’s stuck on 23 and tries to get to 24, maybe 25. It’s an opportunity lost when you’re not getting any younger. If I was sitting in that position I’d be going nuts that I can’t play" - Navratilova said in a recent interview with Laureus.com.
“Everybody’s in the same boat, but for the old players like Roger and even Rafa (Rafael Nadal) and particularly Serena, it’s more difficult, no doubt about that”. Martina also spoke about the cancellation of Wimbledon for the first time since the Second World War: “For tennis players, at New Year, we always toast Wimbledon.
I have been coming to Wimbledon since I was 16. I have not missed one of them. Now it’s the first time without Wimbledon and I’m itching to get on a plane and just touch the grass. Just to be there, just to ground yourself.
Boris (Becker), particularly, and myself, have always had a love affair with Wimbledon and I think the fans know it. Wimbledon transcends tennis and transcends sport. At these times, I think it also makes us realise how much sport is a luxury and we were so lucky that we were actually playing it for a living, but everybody misses it, it’s still such a big part of the fabric of our lives."