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Tag: martina navratilova

  • Julia Lemigova Marries Tennis Star Martina Navratilova

    Julia Lemigova says she was shocked when her longtime partner, tennis star Martina Navratilova, turned to her during an interview at the U.S. Open last year and got down on one knee to propose, complete with a diamond ring. Even for Navratilova, the moment was nearly as surprising.

    “I’m 58 years old, I got married for the first time – it’s about time, right? Growing up as a gay woman you just don’t ever think about that, and then I thought, about 10 years ago, ‘You know, I think within 10 years gay marriage will be legal.’ And here we are, 10 years later, making it legal,” Navratilova said recently.

    “I was so overwhelmed and completely surprised, but I would not expect anything less from Martina,” Lemigova said.

    The couple, who have been together since 2006, married on Monday in New York City, and for Navratilova, the union meant more than gaining a wife; she’s also now a parent for the first time in her life, as Lemigova has two children. Her daughter has reportedly been pushing the couple to marry for a long time.

    The longtime athlete has been a champion for gay rights for years after coming out in 1981, and says she’s surprised that so few people in the sports world have come out as openly gay.

    “I’m surprised more players haven’t come out. Particularly no male players. They’re so far in the closet, I don’t even know who they are,” she said.

  • Julia Lemigova Marries Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova

    Julia Lemigova and tennis great Martina Navratilova are married.

    The 58-year-old Tennis Channel analyst and fiancée Julia Lemigova said “I do” in front of family and friends at New York’s Peninsular hotel on Monday.

    The ecstatic tennis hall of famer spoke to the BBC following the nuptials to talk about their big day.

    “It’s just really odd,” she said. “I’m 58 years old and I got married for the first time. It’s about time, right?

    Navratilova, who came out as a lesbian in 1981, said she was feeling the gambit of emotions, admitting to feeling both “terrified and relieved.”

    “Growing up as a gay woman you just don’t think about that, but then about 10 years ago I thought, ‘In about 10 years, gay marriage will be legal,’ and here we are,” she said.

    Navratilova, who has won 18 Grand Slam titles, was decked out in a white turtleneck top, white pants and a sparkling silver jacket for her special day.

    Lemigova and Navratilova have been dating since 2006. In September, the tennis champion, who entertained fans with her rivalry with Chris Evert in the 1970s and 80s, publicly proposed on air to Lemigova at this year’s US Open.

    Russian model Lemigova, who has two daughters from a previous relationship, said the proposal came out of the blue.

    “I was so overwhelmed and surprised,” she told the BBC “But by proposing and marrying in such a public I way, I hope we’ll give inspiration to families like ours, that they too can be married legally one day.”

    Navratilova said times have changed since she first came out as a lesbian in the 1980s, but said there are still those, particularly in the sports arena, who keep their sexuality a secret.

    “I’m surprised more players haven’t come out,” said Navratilova. “Particularly no male players. They’re so far in the closet, I don’t even know who they are.”

  • Martina Navratilova Proposes to Girlfriend at U.S. Open

    Martina Navratilova proposed to her longtime girlfriend, Julia Lemigova, at the U.S. Open on Saturday afternoon, and Lemigova said yes. The two have been a couple for more than six years. Julia Lemigova wore a pencil skirt and top as Martina–dressed in white–got down on one knee to propose.

    “I have been waiting for the right time to ask Julia to marry me. I thought this was the right place and the right time to pop the question and thankfully I got a ‘yes’,” Navratilova said.

    Navratilova told reporters about the proposal after the fact.

    “I was very nervous. It came off, and she said yes,” she explained. “It was kind of an out-of-body experience. You’ve seen people propose at sporting events before, in movies, in real life and here it was happening to me.”

    “So I was like watching myself do that. It was cool,” she added.

    Martina Navratilova carried out her well thought out proposal right before she and Jana Novotna–her doubles partner–took to the court. The partners wound up winning the match against Tracy Austin and Gigi Fernandez. Maybe it had something to do with Julia Lemigova saying yes?

    The proposal was even broadcast on the big screen at the U.S. Open.

    Martina took to Twitter following the proposal–and the match–to thank everyone for their kind wishes.

    No word has yet been released as to when Martina Navratilova and Julia Lemigova will actually tie the knot.

    Congratulations to both Martina Navratilova and Julia Lemigova on their engagement. Fans are no doubt anxiously awaiting news as to when the two will wed.

  • Martina Navratilova Proposes to Julia Lemigova in Front of US Open Crowd

    Martina Navratilova, 59, proposed Saturday to her longtime girlfriend Julia Lemigova in a very big way — popping the question in front of the U.S. Open crowd via the Jumbotron at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York.

    As her Tennis Channel boss, Ken Solomon, was interviewing her, Navratilova turned toward her girlfriend and said that she had her own question she needed to ask, according to People.

    The Tennis Channel commentator then got down on one knee and presented her girlfriend with an engagement ring, according to New York Daily News.

    After asking the important question, Lemigova said, “Yes!”

    The newly engaged couple then opened a bottle of Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial champagne to celebrate their engagement and future together.

    “I have been waiting for the right time to ask Julia to marry me,” said the newly engaged, 18-time grand-slam-winning champion. “I thought this was the right place and the right time to pop the question, and thankfully I got a yes.”

    Navratilova, a former Dancing With the Stars contestant and breast cancer survivor, came out publicly as gay in 1981.

    This will be the first marriage for Navratilova, who won a history-making 1,442 singles matches.

    The tennis champion and the 42-year-old former Miss USSR have been a couple since 2006 and have two daughters from Lemigova’s previous relationships.

  • Martina Navratilova Proposes At US Open

    Tennis legend Martina Navratilova proposed to her longtime girlfriend Julia Lemigova at the US Open at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City on Saturday, September 6.

    Navratilova, 57, could be seen wearing a white ensemble as she got down on one knee to pop the question. Lemigova wore a black pencil skirt and a black and white V-neck top.

    “I have been waiting for the right time to ask Julia to marry me. I thought this was the right place and the right time to pop the question and thankfully I got a ‘yes’,” Navratilova said. The big screen then caught the couple as they kissed.

    Navratilova admitted that she was incredibly nervous to ask Lemigova, especially in front of so many people. “I was very nervous,” Navratilova said.

    “It came off. She said yes. It was kind of an out-of-body experience,” she continued. “You’ve seen people propose at sporting events before, in movies, in real life. Here it was happening to me. It was like I was watching myself do it.”

    Navratilova later tweeted about her proposal thanking her friends, fans, and family members for their support. “Thanks everyone for your good wishes. I am very happy, so is Julia and our whole family.”

    Navratilova and Lemigova have been dating for six years and currently live in Miami with Lemigova’s two daughters.

  • Serena Williams Recovers From ‘Viral Illness’, Will Defend Swedish Open Title

    After retiring at Wimbledon from her doubles match with sister Venus Williams, Serena Williams is now doing well and will be returning to the court to defend her Swedish Open title on July 14. Tournament director Nina Wennerstrom confirmed Williams’ participation through an email sent to ESPN.

    Before retiring from last Wednesday’s game, Williams looked disoriented and had trouble catching tennis balls from the ball girls. Williams withdrew from the game because of a viral illness. In a statement Williams said, “I am heartbroken I’m not able to continue in the tournament. I thought I could rally this morning, because I really wanted to compete, but this bug just got the best of me.”

    On Friday, the 32-year-old tennis star posted a picture of herself on Instagram where she was lying under a blanket. According to her agent Jill Smoller, she is now getting better.

    Amidst the rumors surrounding Williams’ withdrawal, nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova expressed her own opinion about the incident. “I find it distressing. I think virus, whatever they’re saying it was, I don’t think that was it. I think it’s clear that’s not the case. I don’t know what it is, but I hope Serena will be OK,” she told ESPNW in an interview.

    When the incident happened, Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou said that he had not seen Williams for two days. “How can you be a coach and not know anything? That’s wrong,” continued Navratilova.

    Whatever the reason for Williams’ withdrawal, Navratilova is sure that a virus was not the cause.

    Former No. 1 Andy Roddick, who is a close friend of Williams, texted the tennis champ after hearing of the incident. On his Fox Sports Radio show, he read her reply: “Andy, I’m just not well.”

    Whether her withdrawal was from a viral illness or something else, Williams seems to be doing well enough to play tennis again.

     Image via YouTube

  • Gavin Degraw Still In DWTS Game; Dancing Is In His Blood

    Singer Gavin Degraw and his partner Karina Smirnoff ended up in the bottom two on last night’s episode of “Dancing With The Stars”, and made it through by the skin of their teeth as tennis champ Martina Navratilova was sent home with a score of 17 to Degraw’s 21.

    With a 50’s-esque jive dance, the duo wowed the judges with their energy but all three said Degraw could have worked on his kicks a little better.

    Martina and partner Tony Dovolani started off a little slow and had several timing issues which were ultimately their downfall.

    Degraw tweeted about the decision, calling Navratilova a “true champion”.

    (image)@GavinDeGraw
    GavinDeGraw    None of us got any pleasure seeing Martina leave the show last night. She’s a TRUE CHAMPION for always seeking new challenges.#dwts #honored(image) 5 hours ago via WhoSay ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Twitter users are in support of Gav:

    (image)@dollytvann
    Dolly     Didn’t realize how PRECIOUS Gavin Degraw was until DWTS. Have been a fan forever. He is such a cutie!!!!!(image) 29 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@Lamya_27
    Lamya Al M    I thought Gavin degraw was really good on DWTS!!! The judges are crazy !!(image) 5 days ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@lvmyHBYnDC
    Kelly Harris    Gavin Degraw on the Tonight Show w/Jay Leno tonight – then he needs to get back to Karina to practice for next week on DWTS! #teamgavin(image) 11 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Degraw lists 25 things people probably don’t know about him, such as the fact that dancing is in his blood:

    “My great-grandpa Burnsie taught dirty dancing in the Catskills back in the day, just like Patrick Swayze.”

    His new album, “Sweeter”, is now available.