Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova is widely regarded as the greatest all-round tennis player in history, with 59 Grand Slam titles and a legacy that extends beyond the court through her outspoken advocacy for equality and human rights. She won the Wimbledon women's singles title a record 9 times and was famously described by Billie Jean King as "the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived." Martina now spends her time broadcasting as a presenter/commentator for the BBC, Tennis Channel and BT Sport, and she travels the world extensively giving speaking engagements on a variety of issues and taking part in other corporate activities.

Martina Navratilova is a tennis icon whose power, precision, and competitive fire transformed the sport and set new standards for excellence. Widely hailed by Billie Jean King as “the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who’s ever lived,” she brought a new level of athleticism and intensity to the women’s game, redefining what was possible for generations to come.

Her journey is remarkable. In 1975, aged just 18, Martina made the life-changing decision to defect from Soviet-controlled Czechoslovakia after the US Open—choosing freedom and the chance to pursue her dreams on her own terms.

Over an extraordinary 33-year professional career, Martina amassed achievements that remain unmatched. She captured 59 Grand Slam titles, 18 singles, 31 women’s doubles and 10 mixed doubles and is the only player ever to spend more than 200 weeks as world number one in both singles and doubles. Her record nine Wimbledon singles titles stand as one of the sport’s most enduring landmarks, while her ability to win across eras, surfaces, and formats made her a true all-court master. Remarkably, her final Grand Slam victory came at the 2006 US Open mixed doubles just weeks before her 50th birthday.

Since leaving the professional tour, Martina has built a distinguished second career as a speaker, broadcaster, and advocate. Her articulate and sometimes outspoken commentary has become a staple of major tennis coverage, including the Tennis Channel, BBC Wimbledon, and Sky Sports.

As a keynote speaker, Martina brings the same clarity, passion, and competitive spirit that defined her playing days. She speaks powerfully on leadership, resilience, peak performance, equality, and living authentically, drawing on her personal story, her time at the top of world sport, and her longstanding advocacy for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, environmental protection, and health causes. She connects effortlessly with audiences, often sharing candid stories from both her life in tennis and her work beyond it.

Her influence has been recognised globally. She has been named WTA Player of the Year seven times, ITF World Champion six times, and has twice received the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. Her activism has earned her the Human Rights Campaign’s National Equality Award, and the International Tennis Federation honoured her with the prestigious Philippe Chatrier Award for her contributions to the sport on and off the court.

Away from the spotlight, Martina divides her time between home and extensive global travel for speaking engagements and corporate work. She lives on a small family farm in Florida with her wife and a lively collection of animals.

With her rare blend of sporting brilliance, personal courage, and unwavering conviction, Martina Navratilova remains one of the most inspiring voices of our time, an exceptional choice for events seeking a speaker who can energise, challenge, and move audiences in equal measure.