Martina Navratilova goes against local sentiment, expresses delight as Wimbledon's controversial £210M expansion plan gets approval

After three years of intense debate and opposition, Martina Navratilova recently expressed her delight at Wimbledon's controversial £210M expansion plan's approval by the Greater London Authority on September 27, 2024. The project, long desired by the All Lawn Tennis England Club, will increase the size of the Wimbledon grounds from 42 to 115 acres by incorporating the neighboring Wimbledon Park Golf Club.

The expansion includes the construction of 39 new grass courts, including an 8,000-seat stadium to accommodate qualifying matches and relieve overcrowding. The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Navratilova reacted to the news on X (formerly Twitter), where she wrote:

"I first started playing at Wimbledon in the 1970s - the AELTC always do everything with precision and perfection - this development will be no different and for me, it’s a win all around."

The expansion has faced strong opposition from residents and environmentalists concerned about the loss of green space and habitat destruction. The All England Club, however, has committed to restoring parts of the park, planting 1,500 new trees.

The construction, expected to take eight years, will move Wimbledon’s qualifying tournament on-site by 2030 at the earliest. The project is estimated to contribute £336 million annually to the British economy and ensure Wimbledon remains at the pinnacle of tennis.

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A look at Martina Navratilova's Wimbledon performance over the years

Martina Navratilova | Getty Images

Martina Navratilova’s career at the Wimbledon Championships is nothing short of legendary. Competing from 1973 to 2006, Navratilova made an indelible mark on the prestigious grass-court tournament.

Navratilova holds several records at Wimbledon, showcasing her dominance across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. The 67-year-old has won 20 titles at Wimbledon from 1976 to 2003, which includes nine singles titles, seven doubles titles, and four mixed doubles titles in the Open Era.

Navratilova's nine singles titles (1978–1979, 1982–1987, 1990) are the most by any player in the Open Era. Her doubles titles were won in 1976 with Chris Evert, 1979 with Billie Jean King, and 1986 with Pam Shriver, apart from four consecutive doubles titles from 1981 to 1984. In mixed doubles, she won in 1985 with Paul McNamee, 1993 with Mark Woodforde, 1995 with Jonathan Stark, and 2003 with Leander Paes.

Navratilova has won 120 singles matches at Wimbledon from 1973 to 2004, the most by any female player in the Open Era. She has played 326 matches at Wimbledon from 1973 to 2006, the most by any female player. The Czech-American made her Wimbledon debut in 1973. Her first major singles title at Wimbledon came in 1978 when she defeated Chris Evert in a thrilling three-set final (2-6, 6-4, 7-5) to capture her first Grand Slam singles trophy.

Martina Navratilova’s last singles title at Wimbledon came in 1990 when she defeated Zina Garrison in the final (6-4, 6-1). Her final match at Wimbledon was in 2006 when she competed in the mixed doubles event.